FAQ
Full Flow Oil Conversion Kits
Q Didn't you guys used to offer the Full Flow Oil Conversion Kits with the French Flathead oil pumps?
A Yes, but unfortunately the supply of French pumps has run out. They are no longer available. So we've re-designed the kits to work with a standard Ford pump. We now use Melling M-19 pumps that are made in the USA.
Q What is the difference between the kit for '32-'48 engines versus the '49-'53 engines?
A The only difference is the length of the 1/2" stainless steel tube. The oil pans are different between the two engine series. The earlier engine's oil pan is 3/4" wider than the later pans in the area where the bulkhead fitting goes through the side, so the tube for the earlier engines is 3/4" longer.
Q How is the oil pump modified to redirect oil out the bottom?
A The internal oil passage inside the pump is blocked off which prevents pressurized oil from flowing up the stem and out of the normal outlet hole. A hole is drilled into the original bottom cover. The pressurized oil will now flow out the new hole. We make the additional bottom cover with an internal passage that connects the new hole in the original cover to the outlet of the cover. An O-ring is sandwiched between the two covers to prevent any leaks.
Q Why do you put another bottom cover over the original one rather than just making a new bottom cover like in the "other guy's" kit?
A The original cover is engineered (machined and hardened) in such a way that it "survives" in contact with the spinning gears inside the pump. Hardening is an involved, precise process that can be expensive. Our method of stacking another cover on top, allows the engineered, original cover to stay in place. This means hardening is not required for our new cover, so it can be made of easily manufactured 6061-T1 aluminum. All our cover has to do is seal to the original and direct the oil to the tubing.
Q Why use the stainless steel tubing inside the pan rather than a flexible line?
A We use the the 1/2" stainless tubing to eliminate several possible problems associated with flex lines. As the name implies, flex lines flex. This flex can allow the line to move inside the pan. If installed incorrectly this movement could allow the line to contact the rotating assembly resulting in a ruptured line and lost oil pressure. Not good. The other problem is that its possible for the flex line to kink if installed incorrectly. A kinked line will at a minimum reduce oil flow and can possibly block flow completely. Not good either. Because its impossible to see inside the pan once the line is installed, there's no way to guarantee that the line is installed correctly. The stainless tubing prevents these issues. The 1/2" stainless tube we use will not move once installed and will never kink. It has a theoretical burst pressure of over 10,000 psi. Even assuming a safety factor of 4, its rated to a working pressure of 2,500 psi. It will never cause a problem in the oiling system of a flathead.
Q What type of fittings are used with the 1/2" stainless tubing?
A The fittings supplied in the kit are called convert-a-flare fittings. They allow tubing to be connected to AN type fittings without requiring the tubing to be flared. They are basically a compression fitting for AN systems. They DO NOT require any type of thread sealer. The fittings are rated to a 6,000 psi maximum working pressure, so there's no need to worry about them leaking. The instructions are very clear on how to install the fittings.
Q Does the pressure relief valve still function with this conversion?
A Yes, the pressure relief valve in the pump still functions normally.
Q Does the kit come with an oil filter?
A No, we do not supply a filter with the kit because no special filter is necessary. We recommend a Motorcraft FL-1A that can be bought at any parts store. There's no point shipping a filter that you will walk right past in the parts store while picking up the oil for the engine.
Q What type and/or weight oil do you recommend running in my flathead?
A We do not make oil recommendations. The type and/or weight oil used is completely dependent upon the usage of the engine and the climate the engine is operated in. The conversion kit doesn't change that fact. The conversion kit simply guarantees that all of your oil gets filtered continuously, therefore keeping it cleaner for a longer period of time than without the kit. The other benefit of the kit is that your engine stays cleaner too, because of the reduction of sludge build up due to dirty oil.
A Yes, but unfortunately the supply of French pumps has run out. They are no longer available. So we've re-designed the kits to work with a standard Ford pump. We now use Melling M-19 pumps that are made in the USA.
Q What is the difference between the kit for '32-'48 engines versus the '49-'53 engines?
A The only difference is the length of the 1/2" stainless steel tube. The oil pans are different between the two engine series. The earlier engine's oil pan is 3/4" wider than the later pans in the area where the bulkhead fitting goes through the side, so the tube for the earlier engines is 3/4" longer.
Q How is the oil pump modified to redirect oil out the bottom?
A The internal oil passage inside the pump is blocked off which prevents pressurized oil from flowing up the stem and out of the normal outlet hole. A hole is drilled into the original bottom cover. The pressurized oil will now flow out the new hole. We make the additional bottom cover with an internal passage that connects the new hole in the original cover to the outlet of the cover. An O-ring is sandwiched between the two covers to prevent any leaks.
Q Why do you put another bottom cover over the original one rather than just making a new bottom cover like in the "other guy's" kit?
A The original cover is engineered (machined and hardened) in such a way that it "survives" in contact with the spinning gears inside the pump. Hardening is an involved, precise process that can be expensive. Our method of stacking another cover on top, allows the engineered, original cover to stay in place. This means hardening is not required for our new cover, so it can be made of easily manufactured 6061-T1 aluminum. All our cover has to do is seal to the original and direct the oil to the tubing.
Q Why use the stainless steel tubing inside the pan rather than a flexible line?
A We use the the 1/2" stainless tubing to eliminate several possible problems associated with flex lines. As the name implies, flex lines flex. This flex can allow the line to move inside the pan. If installed incorrectly this movement could allow the line to contact the rotating assembly resulting in a ruptured line and lost oil pressure. Not good. The other problem is that its possible for the flex line to kink if installed incorrectly. A kinked line will at a minimum reduce oil flow and can possibly block flow completely. Not good either. Because its impossible to see inside the pan once the line is installed, there's no way to guarantee that the line is installed correctly. The stainless tubing prevents these issues. The 1/2" stainless tube we use will not move once installed and will never kink. It has a theoretical burst pressure of over 10,000 psi. Even assuming a safety factor of 4, its rated to a working pressure of 2,500 psi. It will never cause a problem in the oiling system of a flathead.
Q What type of fittings are used with the 1/2" stainless tubing?
A The fittings supplied in the kit are called convert-a-flare fittings. They allow tubing to be connected to AN type fittings without requiring the tubing to be flared. They are basically a compression fitting for AN systems. They DO NOT require any type of thread sealer. The fittings are rated to a 6,000 psi maximum working pressure, so there's no need to worry about them leaking. The instructions are very clear on how to install the fittings.
Q Does the pressure relief valve still function with this conversion?
A Yes, the pressure relief valve in the pump still functions normally.
Q Does the kit come with an oil filter?
A No, we do not supply a filter with the kit because no special filter is necessary. We recommend a Motorcraft FL-1A that can be bought at any parts store. There's no point shipping a filter that you will walk right past in the parts store while picking up the oil for the engine.
Q What type and/or weight oil do you recommend running in my flathead?
A We do not make oil recommendations. The type and/or weight oil used is completely dependent upon the usage of the engine and the climate the engine is operated in. The conversion kit doesn't change that fact. The conversion kit simply guarantees that all of your oil gets filtered continuously, therefore keeping it cleaner for a longer period of time than without the kit. The other benefit of the kit is that your engine stays cleaner too, because of the reduction of sludge build up due to dirty oil.
EFI
FAQ coming soon!
