What options(clearance) do I have when it comes to the oil filter on a Buick 455 in a G-body? All you regal guys know what I'm talking about if you have a 455 in a regal. I have the same problem with my cutlass. So what can I do about the problem?
You can use a V6 metric pump cover. It has a slightly different angle then the SAE (inch) cover and you should use the bigger 52 filter and not the 47 the book calls for. Mike
Are you saying you can't get the filter on/off? Both my Regal and my friends Regal (both 455 powered) are close but there is room to get on/off.
What type of filter are you using? I have a fram filter on there right now and it's going to be hell trying to get it off w/o taking the housing apart.
AC PF 24. I wonder if you didn't move you motor back as far as possible when you installed it in your Regal?
Well the engine is back as far as it could go w/o touching the firewall and the a/c box. The frame pads are all the way to the front on the frame and I still don't have enough room to take the oil filter off. I need to see if they have a shorter filter than that fram anyway. Everybody says fram filters are a piece of crap.
My frame pads are no where near the front of the frame, they are closer to the rear of the frame but I don't have a A/C box or for that matter the Regal as I sold it two weeks ago. What holes on the engine are your motor mounts bolted to, 2 & 4 or 1 & 3 (I'm going by memory now)? I had to go look it up but you should be using block holes 2 & 4 for the engine mounts to bolt to with #1 hole being the one closest to the front of the engine.
You never have said why you can't get the oil filter off. Is it because of the frame or the bolt that holds the idler arm?
I think the reason the metic cover/end works better, besides filter size, if more of the angle it places the filter at. Pick up a booster plate while you got it off, besides they come with new metric bolts, and they are cheap. A Cutlass was mentioned, is it sporting a Buick motor? If its an Olds motor, look for an oil filter adapter from a T/A, or Toro, also at a different angle. Score the right exhaust manifold while you're there for true duals.
Another one of my friends had the same problem when he put a 455 Buick in a Pontiac "G" body car. He just cut off the portion of the bolt that protuded through the idler arm flush with the nut/nutplate. If you don't feel good about doing that then you could just back the bolt out to where it is flush with the nut/nutplate, change the filter, and tighten the bolt back up.
I had similar problem when converted to RHD,the oil filter was up against the steering box. Simple solution was to go to short filter Ryco Z160. Ford2.
WIX filter 51042, shorter fits perfectly without hitting frame or bolts if you want a different brand just have them cross reference it. good luck !
Thanks, Is this the same filter you are using on your 455 with no problems? Is it basically the same filter just shorter cause I looked up that part # and it's for v-6 engines and a few v-8's
I have that filter on my 455 in an 83 regal. It works well. no pressure problems, just change it often, as with the oil.
A smaller filter is ok I guess id just change it more and make sure that brand or style has a good bypass valve in it. Not all of them do. Id take some unfiltered oil over oil starved.
