1UZ Short Oil Filter Housing: From 3D Scan to CNC Milled Aluminum

The Perfect Solution for a 1UZ Engine Swap in a Volvo 240 8HP or other swap where there is no room for the OEM oil filter housing

During a 1UZ engine swap in a Volvo 245, we ran into a problem: the standard oil filter position did not fit because of the custom engine mounts needed to mount the 8HP ZF transmission.

A common solution is an oil filter relocation kit, where AN hoses are routed through the engine bay to mount the oil filter elsewhere. While this works, it introduces additional potential leakage points, extra brackets and a less sleek finish. We wanted an OEM-like solution that fits directly on the engine.

Since there were no off-the-shelf 1UZ oil filter housing options available that met our requirements, we decided to make one ourselves. Thanks to modern 3D scanning and 3D printing technologies, we were able to develop a customized and compact solution.

3D Scan and CAD Modeling in Fusion 360

Using our Creality Raptor 3D laser scanner, a budget-friendly but highly accurate scanner, we scanned the engine block around the flange of the original oil filter housing. This scan was then imported into Fusion 360, a powerful CAD software program, to model a compact 1UZ short oil filter housing.

Thanks to this detailed scan (with an accuracy of up to 0.05 mm), we were able to:

• Correctly position all required bolt holes and dimensions.
• Identify any obstructions.
• Design the enclosure as small as possible without compromise.

Prototyping with 3D Printing

The first version of our design was 3D printed in PLA to test the fit and functionality. The prototype turned out to be almost perfect, but required some minor modifications:

• Two internal bolts were located within the oil filter housing and required additional O-rings to prevent oil pressure loss.
• O-ring grooves were modeled and calculated to accommodate internal oil pressure (pushing out from inside).
• An M10x1mm thread was added for the option of installing a Bosch Motorsport pressure and temperature sensor.

After a second 3D print, the design was final: everything fit perfectly, sometimes with less than 1 mm of play.

From Prototype to CNC Milled Aluminum

With the final design in hand, we CNC machined the oil filter housing from solid aluminum for maximum strength and durability. Finally, we anodized the aluminum black for a sleek, OEM-grade finish.

Possible Sales via Webshop

After extensive testing, we are considering offering this 1UZ short oil filter housing on our web shop. This could be an ideal solution for anyone doing a 1UZ-FE swap and needing a compact, reliable oil filter solution.

Conclusion

Developing this solution took a lot of time and precision work, but the result is a perfectly fitting oil filter housing that provides a neat and efficient installation in a 1UZ engine swap. Projects like this make it fun to perfect engine swaps and custom builds and come up with OEM-like solutions where standard parts fall short.