"The Raiders of the Lost Filter"
or
"Will the REAL Tiger Fuel Filter please stand up!"
An Article by
March, 2003
Page 5
- Intrepid Explorer Finds some False Treasure Rooms!
, uncovers many other hidden chambers. Unfortunately, the Pharoahs had taken steps to thwart erstwhile Tomb Raiders by constructing their final tombs with many secret passages, all but one of which ended up in a phony "treasure room". These "Wooden Nickels" were meant to persuade the Raider that the Tomb had already been discovered and looted. We Thank David for his Trek Story, which should be a caution to us all.
I would like to add my $.02 to the Tiger fuel filter discussion. This is probably more than anyone wants to know about Tiger filters :^) About 15 years ago I tried to locate an original Tiger fuel filter, I can't count how many C2RZ-9155-A filters I bought trying to get the correct one, the only ones I received were the all steel can type, I never could find the correct plastic type recently shown on the Tiger List. If I hadn't seen the photo by Bob Palmer (previous page) of the "Rotunda" filter I would have said the filter didn't exist.
Someone did send me a replacment filter which is very close.
It has been so long ago I don't remember who sent it.
----
Close-up of replacement filter.
The package is marked " Cobra Fuel Filter Universal In-Line, part number is UNF516"
(universal filter 5/16 nipples). It was manufactured by: Cobraline Manufacturing Corp Westbury, NY 11590.
I tried to find this company but had no luck, either they changed the name or went out of business.
----
There is a current filter made by Fram which is fairly close but can be used. The part number is "G2". This filter has a plastic top, not steel like the original.
I have a FoMoCo-Autolite-Rotunda "Ready Reference Catalog 1966 edition which lists the C2RZ-9155-A as first being used on the 1961 T-Bird, Falcon, and Fords. It shows "C2RZ-9155-A KIT (Fuel Filter) - in line - Rotunda No. R-29-A" . ----
BUT, I have the "Ford factory illustrated catalog 1960-1964 Ford Car Parts and Accessories, FORM AF 7682" reprinted in 1969. All the "in-line" filters shown are the all steel can type part number C2RZ-9155-A. The photo below shows the 1960-62 Falcon page, note that one model filter has a threaded connection (this has a different part number). There are no photos of the "Tiger" style plastic body filter.
Also most Fords went to a large spin-on filter canister in 1964/65.
----
Then around 1967/68 Ford went to a screw on filter located right on the carburetor inlet.
----
BUT, I also have an (Autolite Ford Shop Tips Vol. 8, No 2, October, 1969) which is a factory publication bulletin booklet sent to Ford Dealers and Auto Repair shops. On the rear is an advertisement for Autolite filters which shows another one of the "Tiger" filters with "Autolite" printed on the side. This could just be "old advertising artwork" still being used or the filter still might have been available in 1969.
I believe the C2RZ-9155-A was more of a replacement add-on filter.
----
Why are there so few original style filters? My guess is they were superseded because of the plastic body for safety reasons. Why did the Tiger continue to use the plastic filter (all "period"photos I have seen show the plastic filter) and not up-date to the all steel variation? Maybe Ford sent Rootes all their old style filters to get rid of them?
Since the Tiger didn't use the standard Ford fuel pump, it has a different fuel line set-up and the filter probably wouldn't have been installed on the engine when shipped from Ford. Where they sent with the engines to be installed later, or?
Does anyone have a "period photo" of what fuel filter the MKII Tiger used? I can't find my 1967 magazine article on the MKII.
Now for another question:
What oil filter was used on the Tiger? Were engines supplied to Rootes with the filters installed on the block, then Rootes removed the oil filter and re-used them on the Tiger remote set-up? I can't see them doing this, did Ford send a shipment of filters along with the engines, or did Rootes have to supply there own?
David Franchi
**
