Just went through a complete rebuild of a 68 396 and am getting ready to "button it up". I found that according to a rebuild book I have that I am missing the oil canister adapter. The engine had an ?aftermarket? spin on oil filter adapter on it. According to the rebuild book "How to Build Max Performance Chevy Rat Motors", it is not uncommon for people to toss the origional adapter when converting the engine to a spin on adapter, thus making the conversion a total failure as the oil does not circulate through the filter anymore. My question is, is this a dealer only item or can I get the "canister adapter" aftermarket to use with my spin on adapter. Finding a '68 or earlier adapter in the salvage yard is not yielding any success.

If your engine is a 1968 it should not have come with a canister filter. They stoped them in 1967. The one adapter you had on it is probably all you need ,it should have the bypass valve built in.If you have an engine earlier than 68, YEAR ONE 1-800-950-9503 sells the canister type adapter, and the conversion kit also.

[This message has been edited by shooter (edited 06-27-99).]

M,
If your motor had a spin on type filter from the factory, all you need is the adapter you have, as Shooter said, however the oil filter adapter for non canister blocks does not use a gasket between it and the block. I am not sure exactly when they stopped the canister type filters, you may have an early 68 with a block that still used the canister filter. In this case you will need the adapter, but I do not think it is available from GM any longer. Mr Gasket makes one and so does Fram, but getting your parts store to find the Fram one could be a trick, most of them do not know where to look in the book.
Assuming that you had a complete running motor at the start of the project, and if you have not thrown anything away, you may have all you need.
Just to be certain, I would take the adapter you have to your machine shop and ask thier opinion. This is one of those deals where you really need to see what you have to give the correct advice.

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Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

1971 Heavy Chevy - original owner
Team Chevelle #100

Yes, the engine was complete and in ran, just used oil and needed a rebuild. The spin on adapter on the engine is a one piece design with no bypass built in. The book I mentioned in the origional post has a picture of my exact spin on adapter and that is what got me started down this path to find the right setup. I would not have been the wiser if I had not read and saw this info in the book, but now I am "stuck" until I sort this out.

M,
Was there oil in the filter when you removed it ?? If so, the adapter must be correct. I have never seen an adapter that can stop the oil from getting to the filter. There are adapters available that have no bypass, but this only makes sure that all the oil goes through the filter, and none of it bypasses under cold conditions. I would be interested in seeing the article you mentioned. Is there any way you could scan a picture of your adapter ? Just a quick question that may help sort it out, does your spin on oil filter gasket seat on the engine block or on the adapter itself ?


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Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

1971 Heavy Chevy - original owner
Team Chevelle #100



[This message has been edited by BillK (edited 06-27-99).]

mshort,
Shooter is right, 67 was the last year for an oil canister. Trust me, if your block is a true 68 then it had a spin on and very probably the adaptor you have is the correct one with NO gasket. The spin on has the gasket, so you get a new gasket with each change. Your adaptor should be about 2in or so in diameter with 2 holes for the attaching bolts, a threaded fitting for the spin on filter and a bypass valve. Does this sound like what you have?

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Hey guys
I just traded a 69 truck code YR 396 that had the canister oil filter.Were trucks different?

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John 67SS
ACES #2887
TC #127

Maybe this helps (?).
If the engine had a canister type filter from the factory, the block will have a cast-dome shape where the filter goes. If it is the spin on type (67 or later) it will have a flat machined surface where the filter goes.

I have posted a page from the book at www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Port/1856. It is just a quick scan but identifies the situation that caught my attention.