Newbie question regaurding fuel filter

[CrawlerHauler]

Sorry this is a totally newbie post but I ran through and did some searches and came up with a few answers but nothing 100%. I have got an 89 f250 7.3 that has been jerry rigged to the max! I am trying to pull the kinks out of it as we speak and I am stuck at the fuel filter and housing.

Whoever had the truck before me had removed the filter and housing and put a piece of 11/32 hose in its place. Along with wiring the glow plugs to a toggle switch in the cab.

It looks like the alternator bracket is where the filter housing is attached. The problem I am facing is I cant seem to find where I can purchase a new housing to put it back to factory specs. I thought about just putting an inline filter there and calling it a day but I would much rather do it right. Along with the housing I noticed there are 3-4 wires dangling there and was wondering if they go to the filter.

Thanks ahead for any advice!!

Chris

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

There is no "housing", as the filter is a canister-type, just like an oil filter.

Immediately behind the alternator is where the filter head should reside on a stock set-up.

Since you have nothing there, you would be better off to go to a big truck graveyard and get a frame-mounted dual-filter set-up, with a huge primary and secondary filter.

This can be mounted out of the way, somewhere that is a lot easier to service than the stock location.

The only reason that Ford puts them where they are is so that when the truck comes down the assembly-line, they can drop engine, filter, and all in there at the same time; it is an assembly-line expedient, more so than any forethought for future service.

 

[CrawlerHauler]

Sounds like a good idea.

Hopefully I can find a good scrap yard somewhere local. I had a hard time find axles for my Toyota that I built and couldn't find anything in my area.

Again I appreciate the advice!