I have a '68 442 with the 400 325hp engine and auto trans. Looking for advice on the best choice for an engine oil filter. See lots of choices out there. My car is a super nice driver so would like it to look correct BUT do not want to overpay for some repro oil filter that is actually garbage. Most importantly, want it to work and fit correctly.

Thanks,
Phil
'68 442 convertible

 

Phil, my 0.02 is this: it probably doesn't matter that much. Let me explain ... I use a Fram in mine, which many sources will tell you isn't very good, but that's what the local parts store has that fits a 1969 G-block. I put limited mileage on, always less than 1000 a year, and I change the oil and filter every fall before I put the car away. So seeing as the filter is being replaced every year with less than 1000K on it and the oil always comes out nearly as clean as it went in, I'd say the Fram is doing just fine.

My guess is your situation isn't that different from mine and unless you're getting the car judged, nobody's looking at the oil filter. So buy whatever's easiest.

 

x2

I also use Fram oil filters in my 71 98. I even have a Fram Air Hog reusable air filter on it. Use whatever brand you like best, unless you are having it judged in a concourse show, or if you use your Olds as an Uber driver (that would be pretty sever usage).

 

WIX, Baldwin, AC Delco, NAPA Gold, Mobil 1, Royal Purple, K n N et al... You'll get a thousand responses here. All will filter. Some better some worse. Some are constructed sturdier some not. Application drives the choice sometimes. EG a race engine with excessive oil PSI will require a higher quality filter housing and media and how the media is affixed within the canister. Do some homework or cut a few open and see for yourself. Personally, I'm down to WIX & WIX XPs now. Note if you use synthetic oil the filter must be for synthetic. Don't mix n match dino juice and synthetic filters.

 

X2 on the WIX (or NAPA Gold, which are the same WIX filters in a NAPA box). I formerly used AC Delco exclusively, but when production moved to Mexico, quality suffered. The new ones have obvious cost-cutting measures (like a noticeably thinner top plate).

 

Wix hands down. Napa gold is wix.

 

GAH...scratch AC off the list. Haven't purchased one in years! Shoulda known better with everything moving south of the border except for its residents.

 

I use NAPA / Wix as well but instead of the shorty 1258 filter I use the larger 1049 filter.

 

Wow... it seems Wix 51258 is the way to go. Does the NAPA Gold have the same Wix P/N or does NAPA have their own P/N?

phil

 

NAPA simply drops the leading "5". Their number is 1258.

 

Super! Thank you so much.

Phil

 

That's actually the one I use also. About an inch taller for added filter area. Unless you have a clearance problem with headers, I'd go with the longer one.

 

Here's research I did on Baldwin filter options last year:

http://realoldspower.prophpbb.com/topic13574.html

The Wix filters are excellent choices too.

 

Way back in a previous life I ran a small machine shop at a Napa store(remember when parts stores had machine shops!) Back around 1980 or so we received an oil filter promo display that had 3 oil filters that had been cut open so you could see how they were made. There was of course a Napa/Wix an A/C & a Fram. The difference was quite shocking. The Fram was by far the worst of the 3. The Wix was clearly the best with metal end caps on the paper filter part & a good spring loaded valve. The a/c was a close 2nd but the Fram was awful. It had cardboard end caps on the filter part & a simple rubber washer instead of a real valve. It was really junk! I use the Napa 1258 filters on my '68 but paint them gloss white & add the repop a/c decals that I found on epay. The decals are really well made, they go on easily. It's a nice detail touch.

 

Baldwin B9 - it's a long 1 quart filter.

 

That's a great technical summary. Thanks.

 

We had the same filter display at the NAPA store where I worked. Also, I recall that the Wix and AC filter elements had a long metal piece crimping the filter edges together whereas the Fram was glued and had a string tied around it. Yes, absolute piece of garbage compared to the other two.

It would be interesting to see how today's filters compare.

 

How could I forget the piece of string tied around the filter pleats!!!

 

I blame the company that asked Mexico to make an inferior part, not the source. Regarding the people, you are the one that crossed the line. Please don't make racist statements here.

 

Thank you for including part numbers. Super helpful!

 

I use NAPA Gold. It's the larger filter with good capacity. Something I did was take an alcohol pad and remove all of the lettering on the filter and leaves it white. I bought the repo AC Delco decals from Inline Tube and put them on the filter. It makes for a nice looking OEM style looking filter.

A note to Fram users,do your engine a favor and get a good filter for it. Just Google or youtube the proof.