TD fuel filter location

[veeman]

I'm doing a TD swap into my 81 caddy and I want to install the factory TD fuel filter / shield in the factory location.  I've got the parts, but the problem is that I can't exactly tell where to attach it in my engine bay.  Obviously don't want the thing too close to the turbo.

Does anyone have a close pic of the mounting bracket and where it's located on a factory A1 TD?  It might be useful as well to get some measurements from its location compared to the brake booster / landmarks on the firewall.

Any help?  I want to put the engine in tonight and I'd really like to drill the holes before I put the engine in.

Thanks!

[fspGTD]

This is not a factory TD, but is copied closely from one.  Kind of a crappy pic; it's really old:


Edit - I found some other pics that more clearly show the location of the TD fuel filter bracket:





And here is one with the fuel filter mounted:

[Josh]

If you've not done it yet, you might consider mounting the filter elsewhere to avoid problems with hot fuel!  

Folks've mounted their filters under the bumper, etc, well out of the engine compartment, and the racers have reported better performance afterwards.  

Just a thought!

  -Josh

[veeman]

Jake... Thanks for the pics.  That helps immensely.  Is that a separate bracket from the filter stand?  The one that I have for the filter has a bracket that ressembles that one, but has the two rubber mounts on top.  

I may be missing one of the pieces.  I think the bracket I have, mounts to the one you have in the engine compartment.  

>>If you've not done it yet, you might consider mounting the filter elsewhere to avoid problems with hot fuel!

Funny you should say that... I just did some reading in the archives this morning and found posts by Jake and others describing the same thing.  I plan on turning up my TD just a touch and feel that cool fuel will be an advantage.  

I guess I was focusing more on the "correct" factory swap rather than what's better for the engine.  That can't be too good to have the filter stand right next to the turbo like that.

I'm leaning right now towards putting the filter in the fender well with a fender liner.  May be a silly question, but would the fuel be "too" cool in the winter time in that location?

[fspGTD]

Regarding the factory A1 1.6lTD fuel filter: yes there is a bracket with studs that is welded to the firewall.  A small bracket with the rubber isolators bolts to the firewall-welded stud piece (and there is a heat shield that gets sandwiched in between).

------------------------------------------

Regarding the fuel filter relocation:
I mounted an A2 style fuel filter and A2 fuel filter mounting flange inside the passenger fender on a couple turbo-diesel westmoreland Rabbits now.  I like the modification because it cleans up the engine bay as well as improves consistency of performance due to the fuel not heating up so much.

I bent the bottom of the A2 flange a little to make it conform better to the contour of the inner fender, and I bolted it to an unused factory stud in the fender which is there I believe to hold an evaporative emissions container in fuel injected gasser applications.  I found the threads on the stud were serviceable after removing the undercoating using an M8x1.25 thread chaser.

Installed pics:



The factory A1 fender liner does fit with the fuel filter in the fender as described above as well, and is probably desirable on a daily driver to help prevent the fuel filter from getting mud-caked/road debris damaged/etc.

To route lines I used two factory holes that were in the passenger inner fender - one down low in the back to get fuel from the tank to the filter, and one on the top near the strut tower for the line from filter to injection pump.  Both are visible in this picture (although in this installation I used a hardline for the tank to filter):


Both of these holes are there in the westmoreland Rabbits and I think were intended for gasser application evap lines.  I just removed the plugs and cleaned up the undercoating goop around the holes using a razor blade before installing grommets and pushing the fuel line through.  The fuel hose I used is the same stuff as is used on the factory fuel return line(cloth-braided rubber hose.)

I also like to install a section of the clear polyethelyne tubing (available cheap at the hardware store) before the pump inlet so I can see if the fuel line is completely full with fuel or if there are any bubbles in the fuel line (which tell me that it's time to change the filter.)  Heating this PE tubing to the point it is just about to melt (when it will change from cloudy to clear) makes it easier to push over tight fittings and bend it without it just springing back to original shape, etc.

Where I live we don't see very cold winters and I have never experienced fuel gelling, so I can't say if it makes that problem worse or not.  However, I can't see that the location of the fuel filter matters for the first start of the morning.  The fuel is going to be at ambient temps in that scenario regardless of the fuel filter's location.

[veeman]

Just as an update...

I went to put my TD filter stand in the pass. fender well and found out that due to its size, it won't work there.  The A1 NA bracket / filter stand seems to be a better fit.  It doesn't have the rubber "shock mounts" that the TD unit does, but it should be fine.

The other unfortunate thing is that I discovered quite a bit of rust in that fender well area where Jake describes bolting his filter.  I'll use that same stud, but it's rusty right next to there...to the point I'm going to have to repair that panel or something....  Grrr.....  I guess all caddies turn out like that.  I thought mine was clean.

[RabbitJockey]

my car has the evaporator, i guess because it's  a german built car?  i dunno,  i wonder if i could still stick it in the fender well to de clutter the engine bay a little...

[hillfolk'r]

i just posted somethin about this,,i welded 2 studs to the core support,under the right "framerail",and put the bracket and filter pad on there,,its under the rail,really cant see it from top,i made a  cheezy fender liner down low,,sorta like an a2 belt shield,,but covering more upfront,thanon the side,it does help the belts too,,i took a scrap heater cover and a heat gun,and got creative with myrecycling,lets say

[stewardc]

Here's the best spot.

[regcheeseman]

not on a right hand drive it isn't! :wink:

[hillfolk'r]

ididnt like mine there on my td jetta stock location,,,,too close to my downpipe,,im tellinya,,under the right side framerail is a good spot,,sorta out of the weather,,,,and its a dead space not being used anyways,,,just need tolay down to change it,,,,iadded a euro duckbill,,so that helps protect  it some,,,and idid trim some of the lower valance lip to fit it,,but it shouldnt require cutting,if you place it up about 1  inch higher than i did, itll be ok,i sorta eyeballed the first stud i welded on,,i shoulda eyeballed up about an inch higher :wink:,,oh there are some acess holes in the core support,,you probably wouldnt have to weld studs on,,you could use a long bolt and nut,secure that up,,put the bracket on,and use another nut on the outside,,,,sort of a stud setup

[regcheeseman]

Hillfolk'r

Good thinking but my preheater type filter doesn't fit in the gap  

[hillfolk'r]

ok sorry ,,,if anyone has an a1 give it a try!!