external oil filter, is there a guard/shield available for protection

my oil filter hangs vertically from frame directly behind the drivers rear wheel. im concerned about rocks/road debris puncturing it.
was thinking about a thin metal plate to fit in front of it.

Easy way to protect would be to visit a muffler shop and get a short piece of tubing that is about 1/2" larger diameter than you filter. Weld or braze some sort of securing tabs to the tubing and fit it around your filter.

Chuck

Use a pc of aluminum (as a gravel guard) a bit longer and wider than the filter, wrapped 3/4 of the way around the filter also bending a flange on it so that it can be anchored to the wheel well.

I recall seeing (JC Whitney?) a finned aluminum cover that you put around an oil filter to mainly dissipate the heat. I always thought they looked sharp - but questioned how much heat they would dissipate. Might be quick easy solution.

These are a little more costly than I recall! But look sharp - Summit Racing and JEGS probably carry too!

http://www.thehotrodcompany.com/shopnow/finned-aluminum.asp

how does this one look...
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2002803/c-10101/Nty-1/p-2002803/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10101/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=oil+filter

Bob - One I recall was real basic - looked like corregated sheet of aluminum wraped around the filter and held with a hose clamp.

I wish someone would come up with a short filter kit that fits right in the factory place with no more than a inch hanging out of the case that replaces the stock screen perfectly,and that still flows good..

I know Im asking for a lot. and maybe a impossible idea, But I have always felt that would be the BEST way to do it.

Barry - there is one. I have one on my Speedie. It might stick down little more than that. I'll have to measure. Doesn't seem to have a whole lot of filtering capacity - but far more than the OEM strainer.

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D5978

ACC-C10-5978 - MAXI FILTER SUMP KIT -
REPLACES STOCK OIL STRAINER & DRAIN PLATE ON 40HP 1200CC-1600CC BEETLE STYLE
$54.95

Wolfgang,
Concerning if a finned, external strap-on filter cover would really cool the oil? In a word NO.

I used to design, instal and maintain very high temperature furnaces (that were used to manufacture nuclear fuel - but that is another story) in the 3000 degree F range. One thing I learned real quick is if you want something to cool by conduction (the most efficient method), it had better be in continuous contact. By that I mean NO AIR GAP. An air gap as small as .005 can drop the cooling effect to about 10% or 20% of what it would be if in solid contact. Why? because heat is radiating across the gap instead of directly transfering thru solid material. We used to fill many gaps with a high temp material called 'Thermon" heat transfer cement - a clay like substance for irregular surfaces. So IMHO the JC Whitney item wouldn't appreciably cool your oil.

HOWEVER, I have been tempted to buy one simply for the stone protection qualities, because I too have a remote mounted oil filter directly behind the drivers rear wheel. If it cools the oil another 5% thats good, but it just wouldn't be a primary reason to buy it. And what to do about exposed oil lines?

Yes ,, I have looked at and held one of those in my hand.

I always felt that if the oil stump in the case could be made different. you could fix that problem.

That one just is begging to be knocked off by a peace of road debre..

The Maxi-filter doesn't sit down any further than the cast addon sumps though and it is rather small so chances to whack it are slim. Since owning MGs and Triumphs though in distant past - I always hated speed bumps. They are everywhere now --- broader ones are now called speed humps. I can't get in or out of my neighborhood with out traversing one.

Id rather have a 911 style aluminum finned oil tank up in the wheel well out of harms way, than to put a stump on a vw engine. and it would not be oh so hard to do using a auto stick oil pump altered to use the SS teflon hose.

The stumps are prone to get knocked off too. and you know that can be a very ugly wet can of worms.

Think about how close to the ground most of these speedster are.. Even with a side winder exhaust on the beetle It can snag on something. and its higher up than my D is. I trie to get Tiger to make a adjustment on mine But NO GOOD Its pretty peace of workmanship I'd hate to see it damaged when I still say it can be improved also. I do want one on the D

But looks like I will have to adjust it my self. to get better ground clearance.

"I do declare"! I think these guys WANT you to tear up your stuff. and buy more..That mind set NEEDS to change..

Bob Baumer:

Those spin-on oil filter covers for sale at the Hot Rod Company come from O'Brien Truckers in Massachusetts. They attach with pretty secure allen screws and the material is 1/4" thick cast aluminum, then polished to a show-quality shine. Really nice.

I've seen them on street and show cars all over the place and they're really well made and, because they're so thick, should be able to easily take care of any wheel debris that heads toward them. Bee thinking of getting one for Pearl, too.

gn

gordon,
good call, it is the sturdiest one ive seen. cheap insurance for $25
http://www.thehotrodcompany.com/shopnow/show_item.asp?product_id=92517480

Forgive my stupidity but aren't we talking about protecting the filter from getting knocked off? Or are we talking about it getting dinged? Are the filters really that fragile that they'll perforate from road debris? Otherwise wouldn't it be better to protect the bracket AND filter from being bashed by road debris with some sort of screen like in the old carreras?
I too have a remote cooler up in the wheel well and I'll be doing some stuff this winter around that area of the car so I am interested in this subject.

Mickey, I agree with you. I think the idea is to protect the whole assembly. I seem to recall that mine has a rubber flap between the wheel and the filter assembly. It's sort of like a small truck mudguard.

Now that using your head for more than a hat stand! Simple and effective. I like it. I think that'll be my solution.

Both oil filter and cooler perforation are speculation. Not saying it can't happen, just that I don't recall anyone here having a problem.
Filter protection: Shield it with a piece of aluminum or rubber flap material.
Cooler: Cover the cooler with 1/4" mesh galvanized hardware cloth available at any hardware store or home center.

If you are concerned about denting the oil filter with road debris, buy a K&N or Mobil-1 heavy duty filter. The filter shell is .020 thick as compared to .013 on most name brand filters. The K&N also has a 1 inch hex nut on the top for installation and removal. Also, the internal metal components and the threaded baseplates are proportionally thicker. They also have silicone anti-drainback valves for high temp and long life. These filters are rated at 500 psi burst as compared to 250 to 300 psi for standard filters. The filter media is also more efficient using a cellulose/polyester blend.

I looked while under the car yesterday. It's just a thick piece of rubber held in a piece of aluminum bracket and riveted to the car. Looks easy-peasy to make, and certainly does the trick.

Ron, please don't tell me you INSTALL your oil filter with a wrench. Hand tighten ONLY, unless you like problems, like not getting it back off!

THE filter to use is from Wixx, 51515r:

http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlookup/ResultsPart.asp?PartNo=51515r

It is recommended by Larry J, the Spyder guru over at Spyderclub. It is the only one to use in a remote full-flow setup. Oil pressure in a VW type1 can exceed 200 psi on a cool morning with 20w50 oil and remote cooler. Other filters can leak and/or burst from the pressure(I used a Fram HP1 once, just once). My engine has over 100 psi at cold idle startup! Watch out when you rev it up!

I like the idea of a rubber shield like Lane has, nice touch. I would think the Wix filter is heavy gauge also, the Nascar boys use them with engines revving to 9000 plus.

The cooler I have and recommend is a Mesa plate cooler, very thick and durable. I really don't think road debris would hurt it at all. Just be careful when you tighten the fittings, put a wrench on the cooler as well as the fitting you are installing so as not to damage the cooler.

Have to agree with Danny on this...the Wix 51515r is the right filter. One of the bigger problems with a number of filters is they are set to bypass filtration at a certain pressure....and in the case of a Fram 1 I understand that pressure to be as little as 10 pounds. If that is true, then most of the time oil in my car was bypassing the filter. I noticed with a Fram 1 that the filter was never very "dirty". Yet, the oil in my engine was looking nasty in short order. Not the case with the Wix....oil stays much cleaner in appearance for far longer....is it really cleaner? Don't know for certain but it looks like it. And oh by the way, the filters when removed have much more byproduct in them.... noticeably so...I have to order the Wix via my local NAPA store, but they are only about $12