Large sumps and internal oil filters??

CB Performance (probably among others) offers a larger oil sump with a 'permanent'internal oil filter. I assume this means it's cleanable as opposed to when the engine blows you put in a new filter. Question is, what's the group's opinion on these filters as opposed to an external replacable one as I'm running now? I need to ad an external oil cooler and the elimination of the plumbing to the filter would simplify the project, and would make it look less like an explosion in a spaghetti factory under there. Maybe the sump would even add a little cooling. Is this type filtering system worth a crap? Opinions solicited.
Thanks Bill

Bill:

I'm in the middle of installing a full-flow filter/cooler set up in my Speedster, and you're right - it's gonna look like a basket of snakes back there but it shouldn't be too bad.

Everything I read before I started this project told me that oil pumps (especially VW types) are not designed for ANY kind of resistance on the input (sump) side. Any resistance seen at the input vastly reduces the pressure on the output side. This means that when the sump filter starts to get clogged your output pressure will start to drop off.

It's far better to install a full-flow system with the pump output going through a cooler, then through the filter and, finally, into the oil gallery to feed the engine's internals. That way, your bearings will always get cooler, cleaner oil and your bearings will last longer.

I would stay away from the sump filter, but definitely go with a bigger sump.

gn

I agree with Gordon. The oil lines are not a big concern, if you check and double check their clearances. Just be REALLY careful that the lines do not touch the header system. I ended up putting an insulating cover over the lines where they came close the the header system. Pay attention to the small details and double check everything after a short drive.
Ron

THANKS GUYS
I knew there must be a reason why I hadn't heard more about that setup here. Was blissfully ignorant of the sensitivity on the suction side - more than enough reason not to do it.

Have a full flow system now with and external filter, was just trying to hold down the clutter. Well.... it'd also be easier to plumb if the filter weren't in the loop - oh well.

Having a filter of some sort on the suction side is NOT a bad thing... I have used the sumps with the filters inside them and not seen any losses of oil pressure or volume on engines running up to 8,000 RPM rev ranges..The pick up tube is designed to hold a charge of oil pre filtered to satisfy the oil pumps desire for volume. Before the screen would slow any oil down that "Charge" in and around the pick up tube would have to be depleted.

What definately sucks is to have one tiny chip from a piston enter the oil pump because some sort of filter was not installed before the pump! This piston chip entered the pump, locked the gears, and they spun on their shafts (just an interferance fit is all they run)The result was a rod tossed from the case at 6700 RPM and 5000.00 down the drain.... The engine was not one of mine, but came to me for repair and I found the culprit on teardown..

Some people use a "Cow magnet" to pick up debris in the sump, but a piston is not magnetic and the magnet is worthless.

Last year i did a Type I for a car that was entered in the Carrera Panamerica and he ran the filter sump for 1800 miles all the way through Mexico, in all typoes of climates and terrain... I tore the engine down 3 weeks ago and didn't find one bearing in the copper- so it never starved for oil if you ask me!