I recently purchased an 86' Pontiac firebird with a 5.0, carbureted. Today I went to do an oil change using the NAPA gold 1040 filter (which should have been the right filter) but no matter how I played with it I couldn't get it to thread on. Took it back, and went to autozone and got a fram PH30, which was what autozone said was the right filter. Same problem as the NAPA filter, I couldn't get it to thread on. While I was there I also got a fram PH8A, which was the filter that was on the car when I got it and it fits as it should. The interesting part is that the fram PH8A is a filter for a few different ford engines and things. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem with the right filters just not wanting to thread on or if they use the PH8A on your car? As far as I know its a stock engine so the napa 1040 and fram PH30 filters should have been the right filters to use

 

Fram TG5 ( or equivalent ) is all I use. It's a little bigger than stock and will fit auto or stick - even WITH oil cooler - with no problems.

 

If you want to be correct, it's an AC Delco PF454. Used to be PF25, but then they dropped that part number, and redirected to the smaller PF454.

 

 

The PH8A and their equivalents have a 3/4-16 thread which is commonly found on Fords.

The NAPA Gold 1040 has a M18-1.5 thread which some GM's use.

The filter for your application should be a PF25/PF35/PF454 which has a 13/16-16 thread.

I don't know why your engine takes a filter with a 3/4-16 thread, but my guess is that someone swapped in a filter adapter so they could run a "Ford" style hi-po filter.

 

That's the only thing that I could guess too, but it really looked like it was stock, didn't look like it had any kind of adapter. But I'm not sure if that is even something you would see just by looking at it???

 

I've been using the PF1218 for years on my '67Camaro, '77 Vette, and now my '92 camaro...larger capacity filter, but fits the same as the PF454

 

The part that the filter spins onto is an adapter....two bolts hold it in place...very easy to replace if the thread size is wrong....

 

I had always wondered if the two were interchangeable...I probably put thousands of PF1218s on 1996-98 full size trucks back in the day when I was working at the Chevy dealer.

That being said, I would strongly recommend a PF1218 over a PF454 for its much larger capacity as long as the PF1218 doesn't stick down far enough to become a problem. It's not like the PF454 was really "correct" for our cars anyway now that there's no more PF25's.

 

If an AC oil filter is your filter of choice, open the box and look down the center hole of the filter. If you see that nylon cage instead of a metal tube, move on. There are better choices in filters.

http://www.champlabs.com/content/oil-filters

Just my

 

No Offense intended here,... but quit buying that filter !!


The PF1218 is said to be one of the worst performing filters out there. You can get a better filtering TG5 off the self at any Wall Mart 24/7/365. It has a drain back valve, a relieve valve, more capacity than stock Thirdgen filer, and captures smaller particles. Well worth the extra $2 over the PF1218. ( The grip on the filter alone is worth the $2. )


Want the BEST,........ Royal Purple 30-1218



Oil Filter Comparison Study
http://www.gmtruckcentral.com/articl...lterstudy.html

 

Will stick with wix racing, napa gold, K&N or a couple others

Delco, fram and several others started using cheap parts 4 their internals several yrs ago

 

Check out the study ---> you might be surprised.


Your paying +2x as much for a K&N over the TG5 for the nut on the bottom; might as well spend another $1-2 and get Purple ! WIX and Napa Gold are about = too TG5,... but no where near as easy to get in the next 5 minutes.

 

There have been many filter study's done through the years and I do read them when I see them.
Personally don't use the K&N. Happy with wix racing for now. (I buy them a case or more at a time)
Have seen to many internal failures with fram through the yrs (cuz lost a Hemi due to fram failure) and delco got me twice a few yrs ago right after the unannounced switch.

 

I use purolator on my crate engine. Made in the usa and here recently Wal-Mart has been putting them on crazy clearance (we're talking like 0.75 a filter!). I think I have 6 at the moment. . .

But then again, I have a crate engine, so any filter that would fit a 76+ small block chevy is A-OK for me.