96 C4 Corvette Grand Sport oil filter ?

[Peter M.]

What is the correct oil filter for a 96 C4 Grand Sport Corvette? I'm looking for the OEM factory installed filter specs. A photo of an original factory filter would be great, if at all possible.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

P.

[George W.]

Re: 96 C4 Corvette Grand Sport oil filter ?

Peter,
Use a AC brand PF-52, originals were black with a silver label; replacements are blue with the word Duraguard on the label;
they are a standard deduct of 40%...with a total of 5 points original judged, while judging 3 items, oil filter, oil pan and oil cooler
(see line 9 of page 2 of Chassis judge sheet); therefore, paint the blue filter black and with CDCIF the oil filter would be 1/3 of 5 points which is 1.66 points or it will be 40% off of 1.66 points or a standard deduct of 40 percent of 1.6 points which is a 1 point deduct...
A good example of how CDCIF is a wonderful judging tool.
Put on the AC PF 52Duraguard filter painted black and drive it like you stole it and have fun.

[Floyd B.]

Re: 96 C4 Corvette Grand Sport oil filter ?

This has been the subject of some spirited debate. There was a long thread with pictures a few years ago but the search engine on this site is so counterintuitive I can't find it (can't include the string "LT4" in a search). I've never heard of there being different filters used on LT4's vs. LT1's, coupes vs. convertibles, they were all PF-52's (LT5's are a whole other animal).

If memory serves me correctly (which is questionable since I can't remember my own phone number), a few original owners posted pics of their original filters and some were black with the silver label (early production I think) and others were Delco blue with no label, just a dot matrix ink stamp on the bottom surface that started with "OE" then some numbers that may have been a date code of some sort. I think someone also recalled seeing a crate of blue filters while touring the BG plant in early '96. I don't think it was ever determined when the change from black to blue occurred.

I think the basic consensus was no one really knows what color PF-52 was originally installed on any particular '96 Corvette unless the owner kept the original filter.

Perhaps someone else can find that thread.

[Joe L.]

Re: 96 C4 Corvette Grand Sport oil filter ?

This has been the subject of some spirited debate. There was a long thread with pictures a few years ago but the search engine on this site is so counterintuitive I can't find it (can't include the string "LT4" in a search). I've never heard of there being different filters used on LT4's vs. LT1's, coupes vs. convertibles, they were all PF-52's (LT5's are a whole other animal).

If memory serves me correctly (which is questionable since I can't remember my own phone number), a few original owners posted pics of their original filters and some were black with the silver label (early production I think) and others were Delco blue with no label, just a dot matrix ink stamp on the bottom surface that started with "OE" then some numbers that may have been a date code of some sort. I think someone also recalled seeing a crate of blue filters while touring the BG plant in early '96. I don't think it was ever determined when the change from black to blue occurred.

I think the basic consensus was no one really knows what color PF-52 was originally installed on any particular '96 Corvette unless the owner kept the original filter.

Perhaps someone else can find that thread.

Floyd------


I was the guy that saw the blue filters in a palletized bin at the Flint Engine Plant. This was in July, 1992 in connection with a tour organized through the NCRS National Convention that year in Warren, MI. At that time, I was told that these filters were for the 1993 Corvette engines which were just starting to be manufactured. I don't recall, for sure, if the filters were PF-51's or PF-52's but I do recall FOR CERTAIN that they were BLUE. I do not recall if there were labels also on the filters. Not only was I told that the filters were for the 1993 Corvette engines, those are the ONLY engines being manufactured at Flint at that time that would have used the PF-51/52 size filter. All other small block V-8's used the PF-25-sized filters.

I took several rolls of 35mm film at the engine plant. I may even have taken pictures of the blue filters. However, the pictures are in boxes of THOUSANDS of other miscellaneous pictures I have taken over the years and I'm too lazy to go through it.

My 1992 LT1, built in November, 1991, was delivered with a BLACK PF-51.

[Jim T.]

Re: 96 C4 Corvette Grand Sport oil filter ?

I cannot say my original owner 1996 LT4 engined Corvette definitely had the black filter, I personally did remove it and I think it was black. Did not even consider keeping it and punched a hole the filter's bottom to drain the oil filter before removal. Have used Mobil 1 M1-201 since first oil change and the filter can color is black.