Maybe time to go with a changable element style filter.

That is rough.

nice catch on that one quality control does not exist anymore

SB, where was that filter made? It seems like the ones i have that are US made all have the black seals in them...yours has red....my buddy that had the Napa Gold from China had the red seal in it as well....

Found this doing a search, a filter list for the 496 HO & 502mag. I assume the 454 would also be the same? The funny part is the Mercruiser filter on my 502 Mag remote housing isnt in this list, it is a 35-866340K01

Fram: PH5, DG5
Purolator: L34631
Purolator Pure One: PL34631, PL36461
AC: PF1218
Motorcraft: FL-12A
Napa: 1060
Wix: 51060
Baldwin: B1428 (top rated)
K&N: HP3002
Amsoil: SDF-24
Hastings: LF279
Fleetguard: LF3679
Mercruiser: 35-802885Q
Champ/Luberfiner = PH454
Mighty = M454
Mobil = MO5313
Mobile 1: M1-302, M1-111
Kendall: K31
Penzoil: PZ45
Quaker State: QS5
Shell: S63, SH38
Texaco: T38, T38B
Warner: PH1218
Royal Purple = 10-454
Service Champ = OF5313
Valvoline = VO65
STP: S01218, S8873
Valvoline: V056
Warner = WPH454

yes they all have the same thread size for the filter 13/16-16 the only difference is the height of the filter. Im not sure if they put the small ones on because of some bean counter figured its the smallest cheapest they can fit on and still get away with enough filtration or what.

I have spaced my filter housing up so I have plenty of room for a longer filter. I need to start cross referencing filters to try and find dimensions. I am thinking Pure 1, baldwin and Wix/napa gold.

Wally,

I picked up a K&N HP3002 for mine. Any way to tell where it's made, if they might be made "elsewhere"?

Thanks. Brad.

I heard recently from someone I consider very reliable that Baldwin was the company that was manufacturing the filters for brands like K&N and others, and Baldwin decided to no longer do that. This is why we are seeing revised part numbers and certain filters from K&N being discontinued. Because of this, we are going to be seeing many of the performance brand name filters being produced in China going forward. Filters will be produced to the brand's spec so it doesn't necessarily mean the filters will be of bad quality. We will see.

Example - The K&N HP3002 is now a HP3003. I haven't cut open the new one yet to see what it looks like. I like to do that to filters prior to running them.

Delete. Didn't see 87Mirage's post before typing.

Box says "Made in Mexico", to answer my own question from above.

Thanks. Brad.