Trying To Change Oil Filter

[jdiesel33]

I feel a little stupid asking this. Car has been sitting for 15 years. Just finished changing the oil. Now trying to change the oil filter. It is a 440 Magnum. Oil Filter appears to be at the bottom left of engine. How the heck do you get to this thing? From the bottom, I can squeeze my hand in and get hold of it, but no way it would fit thru there. From the top it looks as if I would have to remove some components to get to it. I am on the right track here? Also, there is a hose going from the air cleaner to a cap on top on the cylinder head. When I lift it off, it is a pretty good sized hole. I believe this is called the oil filler cap and the new oil goes in here. Never have put oil in a vehicle with that set up. Just wanted to make sure I was putting it in the right place. Thanks for all help.

Thanks

[jdiesel33]

It is a 68 R/T

[Duey]

Jdiesel, on the other side of the engine, there will be a cap on the valve cover that is not attached to the air cleaner -- that's the oil filler cap, you don't need to pull the PCV breather of the valve cover. 

The oil filter comes out easiest straight forward over the power steering belt...no way around it, it can get a bit messy.  I put a tray directly below the filter, turn it a few threads of the oil pump pad and let the oil drain out sideways out of the filter, then with a rag under to keep oil from getting on the power steering belt, pull the filter straight forward then down once you've cleared the p/s belt.

[jdiesel33]

Thanks, but i do not see another cap that isnt attached to air cleaner anywhere on the engine.

[Duey]

oops...you're right!  On a 68 Magnum, you'll have to bull the breather to add oil.  My bad.

[mikepmcs]

As far as the oil filter goes.  The strap wrench has always been my best friend in tight places.  Get yourself a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and one of these.

[Finn]

I noticed that too when I first popped the hood. It looks impossible to get too.
My friend was telling me about a setup that mounts (somewhere) and has a bigger filter or something, I dont remember the details but it sounded like a good system.
Any of you folks on here move the filter to another location?

[RD]

i just removed one of those filter relocation kits off of a 71 charger (dual filter system).  it was cool, but didnt need to buy two filters each time i changed the oil, so it was dumped.  summit, jegs, hell all the big parts stores carries them or can order them.  needed? no, cool factor, somewhat; easier yes.

[rarefish]

I went through a similar thing when I first went to change the  oil and filter on my 68 R/T. I was able to spin the filter off but, I could not take the filter up or down to remove it from the engine compartment . I did find out that I could take the filter to the rear and remove it through the mounting arms of the K-frame.  Still it's a messy job...

[histoy]

I use a screwdriver and hammer to punch a hole in the bottom front edge of the filter to drain out the oil before I try removing it.  Helps eliminate alot of the mess.

[hemigeno]

I went through a similar thing when I first went to change the  oil and filter on my 68 R/T. I was able to spin the filter off but, I could not take the filter up or down to remove it from the engine compartment . I did find out that I could take the filter to the rear and remove it through the mounting arms of the K-frame.  Still it's a messy job...

That's what I do with mine.  There's even less room with the Hemi exhaust manifolds than with an RB, but it does work.  Like rarefish says, it can be a little messy, but there's no way around it.  I pull the filter off, turn it around and rest it on the sway bar to drain out as much into a pan off as possible.  Then, I point the threaded end towards the radiator, and slide it across the top surface of the K-frame towards the space between the front and rear "arms" of the K-frame.  The filter just barely has enough room to drop down into that hole and out the bottom of the vehicle.  By starting with the threaded end of the filter pointed towards the front, it doesn't spill as much since the closed end is down when the filter drops out.  Still not the cleanest of operations, for sure.  IIRC, that won't work on a '70 due to the reconfigured sway bar, but that same reconfigured sway bar might open up an even easier hole elsewhere.

I can't wait to see how much fun it is when it's time for the first oil change on the Daytona.  Those originally had a very stiff rubber K-frame seal which completely covered that large gap between the radiator yoke and the K-frame.  Talk about messy...  I think that's why there are so few of those cars found with their original seal intact - they all got pitched after that first oil filter change.