Turbo Trans Am Oil Filter Comparison

Due to all the differences in opinion about the best oil filter to use on the Turbo Trans Am, I got some of these filters and opened them up and found the following information so everyone can be sure of the facts.

The filter of choice for the Turbo Regals is the AC PF-52 for its extra capacity, so being that most owners consider this a good filter to run on these cars (as do I) and that the TTA engine is (basically) the same, the following filters will be compared to this one. I was unable to find the micron rating of all elements, however they all appeared to be the same.

AC PF-52

• 8 piece construction
• 4 7/8" tall
• 36 pleats
• No saftey bypass valve
• Media with caps: 4 3/16" x 2 11/16"
• Shell .015 " thick
• Drainback valve: heavy construction, .075" thick, also used to compress media firmly into shell.
• Element: 4.250" x 50" = 212.5 sq. in. of filter (important to remember this when comparing)
• End caps: steel

NAPA 1086

• 9 piece construction
• 3 1/2" tall (extremely high clearances to frame, Ford metal arrester also easily installs)
• 65 pleats
• No safety bypass valve although box indicates one might be contained
• Media with caps: 2 7/8" x 3 1/2"
• Shell: .015 "thick
• Drainback valve: heavy construction, .060" thick
• Element: 3" x 94" = 282 sq. in. of filter
• End caps: steel with heavy steel spring at bottom of shell to hold element very firmly into anti drainback valve

AC PF-1218

• 8 piece construction
• 5 1/2" tall
• 36 pleats
• No safety bypass valve
• Media with caps: 4 9/16" x 3 7/16"
• Shell: .015 thick
• Drainback valve: heavy construction, .075" thick, also used to compress media firmly into bottom of shell.
• Element: 4.5" x 67" = 301.5 sq. in. of filter
• End caps: steel

FRAM HP4

• 11 piece construction
• 5 3/4" tall
• 65 pleats
• Media with cardboard caps: 4 1/2" x 3" tall
• Shell: .020 thick
• Drainback valve: rubber seal only .030 thick, steel support with cork gasket (3 pieces)
• Element: 4.375" x 87" = 380.625 sq.in. of filter
• Endcaps: cardboard
• Uses stamped pop metal bung at bottom of shell to support media into anti drainback valve. NOTE: once excessive oil pressure compresses this bung, the cartridge will lose its seat and leak unfiltered oil back into the engine.

I contend the best filter to use for the TTA is the NAPA 1086 due to its construction, filtration area, and clearances to the frame. Filtration is only 19.5 sq.in. less than the larger PF-1218, but it's also 69.5 sq. in. larger than the PF-52. The 1086 is a better filter in many ways than the PF-1218, so why is even more filtering media needed? However if TTA owners really feel the need to go ballistic with oil filtration, the longer version of the 1086 is available with NAPA PN 1186, but like the the PF-1218 and the HP4, safe clearances to the frame will be sacrificed. I don't see the need for a longer filter on the TTA especially when you consider how much better this filter is than the long PF-52 or the short PF-47 filter is for the TRs.