M38A1 fuel filter mod

[Wayne Hingley]

Rob: it sounds like you might "know someone" who can do some quick work at a stop sign.

Good info. I have been planning to add a fuel filter also. I was hoping to find a filter that would thread on to the rubber hose connection down by the shut-off valve. Post some photos when you get yours set up Chris.

[rob love]

You can merely splice the rubber hose with a regular inline (might I suggest the clear ones) fuel filter. Or you can get fancy and install the inline filter off a 70s Ford truck (that was what the M151A2 used). It shoudl thread in to the fuel pump, although you may have to use a 1/4" m-f pipe elbow to get the direction right. I think, by memory though, that the stock flex fuel line might be too small a fitting to match up to the Ford fuel filter. I'll check when I am at work tomorrow, I stock both items there. Personally, I have usually gone with the filter at the carb and spliced one in at the pump.

[Frank v R]

the stock filters only stop boulders, I had the same problem Rob spoke of with my first A1 in the early 80's, I have a mod that I do on all the A1's I touch , I pull the rubber flex line between the shutoff and the fuel pump, bend up some new steel tubing and install a fram see through inline filter, with the rubber sections there I still have the flex needed for the engine movement in the mounts, no hacking into the original system , one of the mods that bubba really seems to like is hacking into the line between the pump and carb and having his mod hang over the exhaust manifold , fire looking for a place to happen,

[chris vickery]

Frank, I understand the concept but do you have a picture to add? Also, which Fram filer do you use?

[rob love]

I did a quick check, and the existing flex line from the frame is the correct flare size to go into the small Ford fuel filter. I may try this setup on my own M38A1 at home. A 1/4 elbow, the Ford filter, and then the flex line onto the filter. The only difficulty that I can foresee is the close proximity of the lower rad hose to the filter. I would prefer a little more clearance between the hose and the filter so as to minimize heat transfer.

[Wayne Hingley]

Im looking forward to seeing what you come up with Rob. Do you have the part number of the Ford filter?

[rob love]

Napa no is 3081 (wix 33081) . Seems to me there is a narrower version of this filter which might be perfect....I'll do some investigating.