Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

[Tom S.]

I have an 88 roadster with 10k miles on it and want to get it judged. The judging manual say's it should have a black PF-25 with a silver background label and black letters. The G.M. part # is 6438261.Does anyone know how many years they made these and where I can get one?I have checked E-bay daily and never see any.Thanks in advance for any help.Tom

[Patrick H.]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

Tom,

They were only used on production engines, never in service. This was done so if you showed up with 25000 miles on your car and a black filter, they knew you hadn't changed your oil. Service filters have been blue since the mid 70s.

So, you likely will wait a long time for one on eBay. The odds of one being taken off early, saved, and sold on eBay are small.

Patrick

[John D.]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

Tom, The black AC PF-25 filter was used by the assembly line from '83 to '91. As far as we can determine it was not sold aftermarket. If you look in the early 'C4 judging manual you will see a photo of one as you described. Semi-gloss black with a black and silver decal. I supplied that photo. The ZR1's used a black oil filter which you see available but it's a different configuration and part number. Typical replacements are blue. Late replacements have a smaller round circle on the bottom of the can about the size of a quarter or a tab bigger. Exact replacements have a circle about the size of a silver dollar. Paint those semi-gloss black and all you need is a decal which I understand someone is making for the restorers. John E. DeGregory

[Tom S.]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

Thanks for the help.But I have wonder why do they deduct 40% for a blue filter if you cannot buy a black one, and never could? Or is my judging manual wrong? I really don't want to take a hit on the point's ,but if having a black filter would suggest the oil has never been changed I would think that would be a bigger hit?Is it because that is how it was delivered to the customer?
Thanks again for the help. Tom

[John H.]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

Tom -

Yup, that's because the judging standard is as the car was delivered after normal dealer prep.

[Tom S.]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

John
Thanks for clarifing that. That is what I thought.Back to the drawing board. Tom

[Mark #28455]

just paint a blue one black

You'll only lose some points on the sticker, all in all not a bunch of points.
Mark

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

if you get the Mobil 1 filter in the PF25 it comes black, pull the Mobil 1 sticker off. make a copy of the PF25 sticker. you will have a much better filter. it should be easier since it comes painted black, all you need is a copy of the sticker, I think I can find one this weekend off a oil filter that is a black PF25 from 87/89. if you can not find the sticker. let me know an I will look for that old filter.

Lyndon

[Tom S.]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

Lyndon
Thanks for your help. I think I have one located, but just in case I would appreciate you looking.I don't plan on getting rid of this car anytime soon so I could not have too many.Let me know how it goes. Thanks again Tom Stanton

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

Tom------

I would not be concerned about obtaining a large supply of the black PF-25 oil filter. All you need is one. You use it for judging only. That's all; the rest of the time you just use a regular filter. You can easily remove the regular filter before judging (let the car sit overnight before you remove it so that you minimize "over-flow"). Then, install the black filter. After judging, remove it and let it drain fully (about 5 days) before storing it.

Except for 1 detail, it's very easy to re-create the original, assembly line filter. Simply find an NOS AC PF-25 filter, remove the label on it and paint it semi-gloss black. Now, you're 90% of the way there. The hard part is getting one of the labels as used on the assembly line filter. It's NOT the same label used on SERVICE filters. Someone mentioned that it might be being reproduced. If so, all you need to do is to obtain one, apply it and you've got something that no one will be able to discern from the assembly line part.

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

Lyndon-----

I have not seen a Mobil 1 filter that is black unless they've changed recently. The ones that I'm familiar with are painted gray. Nevertheless, it would still be a filter that could be painted black and come pretty close to the originals.

[Myron Sleeva]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

This is a case where the judging manual while technically correct, is morally wrong. Rather than preserve, it is demanding counterfeiting. Is there not ethicially something wrong with taking a filter from a third party supplier, painting it and then falsifying identification, all in the name of authenticity? My ethics professor, may he rest in peace, would not only be turning over in his grave but would be doing cartwheels if he was privy to this practice. Where has this pursuit of superficial laurels driven otherwise normal, thinking, grown men? What a classic illustration of putting lipstick on a pig !

Allowing this filter fiasco logic, then aging tank stickers would be appropriate too. After all, since the required original does not exist then of course creating one is appropriate. Restamping blocks and changing vin tags could be rationalized. After all if it's no longer available, then.... Where will it end?

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

Yeah, Joe you need to get out more. the gray filter is old stock there are a few still on the shelfs but the new ones are black.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: Oil filter help black PF-25 ?

all of the above is going on, a few years ago any clones were looked down on. just check out what a clone will bring, I am not talking about faking the paper work to fool some one. but making a car that is more desireable, then selling it for big money. alot of the people buying these cars are driving them they dont care about numbers. just look what is going on in the MOPOR camp! I am not saying this is good, just the way the hobby is going. where will it all end?

[Jack H.]

Morally wrong????

From the NCRS Judging Reference Manual, Section 2, Rule 1:

NCRS JUDGING STANDARD

"Cars are to be judged to the standard of vehicle appearance, and as equipped, at the time and point of final assembly by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors Corporation. Presentation for judging is to be in the condition normally associated with that of a Corvette which has undergone the then-current standard Chevrolet Dealer New Car Preparation for delivery to a purchaser, exclusive of any dealer or purchaser inspired additions, deletions or changes."

Notice the word 'appearance' in the first sentence. This says our sport/hobby is clearly based on looks vs. actual construction.

So, judging a car and expecting to see a black PF-25 oil filter (proper year) with its unique label is perfectly in keeping with our standard. We don't judge tank stickers, but if we did, we'd expect them to look 'fresh' (printed yesterday) and NOT artificially aged with some loss of condition points for the real original with age on it. NCRS does NOT encourage third party suppliers to make 'bogus' reproduction parts that falsely indicate age!

Now, all of the above applies to RESTORED Corvettes. We have a separate award category (Star/Bowtie) for judging un-restored Corvettes. There, the question isn't "Could this car, as I see it today, have left the factory as I see it?" but changes to "Did this car, as I see it today, leave the factory as I see it?" That's a big difference and there we judge for originality ONLY without deduction(s) for condition.

I fail to see how NCRS as an organization is 'morally wrong'... Our standard is clear even though it may not be the objective of each/every Corvette owner...