I was under my fury today and noticed a in-line filter that seems to run to the transmission. Am i crazy or is this a filter for something else?

 

It must be an after market unit. Is it about 10" long with fins on it? 2-3" dia. Jegs has the replacment elements for most of them.

 

If you can take a picture of it and give us about the size of it, we can probably figure it out.

I've never heard of an inline filter for a tranny as what would happen if it were to clog...... your tranny would over heat and fry.

 

I'm taking the car to a buddies shop with a lift this week so that will give me a chance to really check it out. I'm hoping it's just a fuel filter in an odd place but until I can get under the car better I won't know for sure. Low car, big guy= no fun.

 

here's the pictures of the filter. It appears to run from the outlet line of the cooler to the tranny body. 67 Service Manual doesn't show the filter nor at the parts house. Any ideas?

 

That is an inline fuel filter. If I were you, I'd remove it. If that clogs, it can cause some damage. Also, remove the pan and look at the filter and change it if you have not yet. Maybe even get a transmission flush done on it.

 

I've seen external tranny filters on trucks, buses, & even garden tractor riding mowers. They ALL have looked like an oil filter in shape / size & were ALL spin on type with a mounting base like an oil filter. I agree with whoever said fuel filter. That's what it looks like to me. You might be able to take the part # & mfg. to look it up to see what it is supposed to be.

 

I have seen those remote, external filters too. They are much like a remote oil filter.

 

I would get a longer piece of rubber hose ( be sure it is rated for ATF) and eliminate the filter. If it is indeed a fuel filter, it is not designed to handle ATF which is more visqous (thicker)
Rubber fuel line may disingrate when used with ATF. I would check all of the rubber line on the transmission cooler to be certain is is marked for ATF use.

 

well it turns out that it was a in -line transmission cooler filter. I have no idea why someone would use it but hey i've done wierd stuff too. Pulled the filter, yanked the old line and replaced it with tranny hose. I did the "blow in the hole" technique and after getting red in the face a huge glob of grey muck blasted out of the filter. Gee, maybe that has to do with the hard shifting? Anyway, she runs oh so much better now.

 

I would at least drop the pan because who knows how much stuff you have in there too then.

Glad that the tranny is working better.

 

I dropped the pan to check and change the filter adn only found very slight sludge in the bottom and maybe a dozen or so very small metal flakes. All in all better than I expected after 43 years.

 

Well it sounds like it was doing it's job, it just needed replaced on a regular bases, like any filter. Of course knowing it's there helps.

 

I put those on every time I do a trans swap to catcxh any garbage that may have been in the cooler or lines; even if flushed you can't get it all out. some parts stores carry them, if not definitely a trans place would. cheap insurance. and yeah the ones I use look like a larger version of an inline gas filter.

 

I guess I better check my 94 Plymouth van for one of those the guy I bought it from a few months ago told me he had the trans reworked cause it went out and it has been shifting a little funny if so that will be getting removed and I will be flushing and replacing a trans filter real soon.