Oil Re-location Kits.

[ThomS]

Does anyone think these kits are a good idea? What brand do you think is the best if it is a good idea? I never have had a problem with changing my oil but with the SC installed the amount of room to work with is smaller. Even with that wheel off. Unless I move the intake.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

This http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=39638 is the one I have in the 99. I have had it for a couple years and have had no problems. I mounted the filter in front of the fender well on the passenger side on that flat shelf area.

[chuckerants]

Thom, Trans Dapt also sells a oil filter relo kit that you can buy from Summit Racing that is less than $50. This is the same kit that some e-tailers charge more than double for. I don't know if it's the same kit that Tom has though.

I have been re-thinking about a re-lo kit myself and may go this route:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/123091/12

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/123000-123999/123091_58_full.jpg

[bogey]

I like that! I have been trying to figure out a good mounting point, and inside the fender looks like a great idea.

[ThomS]

Tom Did you put on the complete kit ? Oil cooler and everything.You think that is the way to go. The hose seem to be rubber are those the best to use. I have heard of some leaking. Any truth to that as far as you know.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Yes. I did the whole kit. Anyrhing you do to help lower oil temp when racing is a good thing. The re-lo kit also adds a quart of oil to the system.

[ThomS]

Yes. I did the whole kit. Anyrhing you do to help lower oil temp when racing is a good thing. The re-lo kit also adds a quart of oil to the system.
I like that idea alot. Thanks Tom

[Banshee]

I have one from thompson automotive. Works great and quality is top notched. It even have a port for a oil temp probe.

[bogey]

I want one of those, but they stil have not come up with a good mount on an NA. I have considered relocating the radiator overflow to the drivers side since I now have a lot of room.

Also they are quite expensive. The $50 kits are not flashy, but they do the job.

[ThomS]

I have one from thompson automotive. Works great and quality is top notched. It even have a port for a oil temp probe.

I like that idea. And you like the quality of all the piping, no leaks.

[Banshee]

No leaks, just install it right the first time. Piping is hard rubber. SS lines are optional. Buy the hard pipe cover for $2 and your tubing will be resistant to scratches and tears.

[jsinnard]

I've got the Thompson kit too... Love the thing. Pre-tapped for most oil temp / pressure sender units and solid construction of the base assembly and hoses. The hardest part of oil changes is getting to the drain plug. ;)

It's more expensive than some of the other kits... but sometimes you find an item worth the cost. I think this was it. I gave away a Moss relocation kit I'd bought last year for about $75 when I had the hotside / high hp fever. The Moss kit wouldn't work with a coldside.

[ThomS]

Can you guys tell me where the best place to buy the Thomson's kit is? Thank you ALL
jsinnard what re-lo kit did you have from MOss that wouldn't fit? Tom your kits works fine with coldside SC right?

[chuckerants]

http://www.thompson-automotive.com/Thompson_Automotive_Home.html

[Kyp J]

I have a coldside and a Thompson. I just got a pressure take off adapter and also have a temp sender option in the filter base which is included now. Works good, don't know about any others. Just that it has "AN" fittings and not barbs.

[bogey]

I assume your car is a 99 or later model?

[ThomS]

http://www.thompson-automotive.com/Thompson_Automotive_Home.html

Thanks chuck:D

I have a coldside and a Thompson. I just got a pressure take off adapter and also have a temp sender option in the filter base which is included now. Works good, don't know about any others. Just that it has "AN" fittings and not barbs.

pressure take off adapter ?:confused:

I assume your car is a 99 or later model?

Yes look at my signature:rolleyes:

[bogey]

Actually I was referring to Kyp J's car!

[jsinnard]

jsinnard what re-lo kit did you have from MOss that wouldn't fit? Tom your kits works fine with coldside SC right?


This kit (http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=36385) wow.... I don't remember paying $130.00. It's set up to mount to the firewall. With all the crap I have there now (vacuum manifold block) and the length of the hoses that comes with the kit, I was really limited in the places to mount it. The Thompson kit made it very easy. to mount behind the headlight. Also, the pre-tapped holes for the senders helped finalize the deal.

[Kyp J]

I assume your car is a 99 or later model?

My car is a 2001.

For Thom: Look in the "gauges" section of the Thompson site for the pressure take off. It allows a sender to be installed easily for a real oil pressure gauge. I needed to know for sure I had good oil pressure since I had the engine rebuilt and had no way of telling. It is good by the way. Almost 75 lbs cold, pre filter. I haven't warmed it up yet.

[ThomS]

This kit (http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=36385) wow.... I don't remember paying $130.00. It's set up to mount to the firewall. With all the crap I have there now (vacuum manifold block) and the length of the hoses that comes with the kit, I was really limited in the places to mount it. The Thompson kit made it very easy. to mount behind the headlight. Also, the pre-tapped holes for the senders helped finalize the deal.

jsinnard when you mount the oil filter behind the head light and that seems like a good place to mount it, I noticed that it gets mounted in such a way that when you take off the oil filter for an oil change and it unscrews upward do you lose oil out of the filter all over the place?
Thom

My car is a 2001.

For Thom: Look in the "gauges" section of the Thompson site for the pressure take off. It allows a sender to be installed easily for a real oil pressure gauge. I needed to know for sure I had good oil pressure since I had the engine rebuilt and had no way of telling. It is good by the way. Almost 75 lbs cold, pre filter. I haven't warmed it up yet.

Kyp J do you think that is a good thing for most cars to have ?

[Kyp J]

The upside down filter will drain back to the engine, especially if you put it uphill a bit either by parking on a slope or a couple of boards. It is recommended to punch a hole in the center of the top so it will drain better. The other day, I just unscrewed it a little before I disconnected the inlet hose and it didn't lose a drop. Once, on flat ground, the well in the filter base had some oil in it but not enough to over flow.

If you have a good engine and never had reason to suspect oil pressure it probably isn't that important. Since I have a problem that could be caused by low pressure and it may have been rebuilt badly, I needed to know. Now I know that isn't it.

[jsinnard]

The upside down filter will drain back to the engine, especially if you put it uphill a bit either by parking on a slope or a couple of boards. It is recommended to punch a hole in the center of the top so it will drain better. The other day, I just unscrewed it a little before I disconnected the inlet hose and it didn't lose a drop. Once, on flat ground, the well in the filter base had some oil in it but not enough to over flow.

If you have a good engine and never had reason to suspect oil pressure it probably isn't that important. Since I have a problem that could be caused by low pressure and it may have been rebuilt badly, I needed to know. Now I know that isn't it.

What Kyp said is correct. The base is of sufficient size that it catches all the oil from the filter.

I thought about putting in a "real time" oil pressure gauge too. It's not been too high on the to do list yet. Pressure fluctutions also make some people believe they might have a problem with their car when in reality, they don't. Pressure will fluctuate under different driving conditions.

[ThomS]

One more question ? With the Thompson oil re-location kit or any kit which is better black hoses with Aluminum fittings or the braided hoses or does it not matter??

[jsinnard]

The braided are more durable than the black hoses and provide alittle extra bling factor. Wayne (da zooom) runs the braided lines and I run the black. Neither of us have had any problems at all. If you race the car regularly, I'd opt for the braids.

[dazooom]

Here's a picture of my Thompson install. I've had it for more than 4 years, and 35K miles, with no problems...

[ThomS]

Here's a picture of my Thompson install. I've had it for more than 4 years, and 35K miles, with no problems...
Thaks for all the info. I will be doing this in the spring time when I do my next oil change. Dazooom You really have a very clean engine. LOOKS GREAT.Here is a pic of mine.

[ThomS]

This is where I should be able to fit the new filter location

[dazooom]

Your engine compartment looks great, and that kit will fit with no problems. That was an earlier picture of my Thompson install. This is how my engine compartment looks now. And you can see why I went with the braided hoses. I like shiny stuff....

[ThomS]

Wow what a difference in the pics. Both look great and you are right you do like the shiny stuff. I see you got rid of the other yellow hoses. :)
Thanks.
Thom

[jsinnard]

You shouldn't have any problems fitting it there. The only hassle is installing the adapter and hoses to the old oil filter location with the manifold in place. It's a pretty tight work area and you'll want to ensure you do it properly so you won't have any leaks. It would have been alot easier to install and route the hoses while I was installing the CS.

The install isn't complicated and the instructions are pretty thorough. It's just a tight work area.

Here's a pic of my install.

[ThomS]

Yep that is where I plan on installing my filter in its new location. Boy another very clean car and engine. Glad to see many guys really take care of there cars. Nice engine bay. Thanks for your help Jisnnard, and your right, just getting to the filter let alone replacing it is tought now with CS installed. I have been taking off front wheel and that is starting to get old a little.

[Kyp J]

When I put mine in I couldn't use the holes suggested because the hoses are too confined threading between the coldside manifold and car. I let the base position itself and drilled new holes and used (I think) #12 sheet metal screws. Use hose protectors where they are close to fender well.

Another note. If you put an oil temp sender in the base, scratch off some of the anodizing at one of the screw holes and also at the threaded hole for the sender so the sender body will be grounded. Verify it with a continuity chaeck. Anodizing is an insulator (at least when you don't want it insulated, I wouldn't depend on it).

[ThomS]

You shouldn't have any problems fitting it there. The only hassle is installing the adapter and hoses to the old oil filter location with the manifold in place. It's a pretty tight work area and you'll want to ensure you do it properly so you won't have any leaks. It would have been alot easier to install and route the hoses while I was installing the CS.

The install isn't complicated and the instructions are pretty thorough. It's just a tight work area.

Here's a pic of my install.
Very nice install and very clean engine bay.. VERY NICE..:smile:
Anyone else show us your install on your re-location kits for oil changes,
or any pics from your engine bay.:smile:

[jsinnard]

Here's a pic of my engine before the oil kit was installed. The advantage of having a white car is knowing immediately when something goes wrong. It tends to leave a mark. ;)

No problems yet after 5k miles. :)