That ball valve over the filter on the air cooled engines is the filter
bypass valve, not a pressure relief valve. The oil filter adapter is
removable for repair or replacement.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jim Morgan
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2010 7:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Relief valve parts

I was just getting my 80 air-cooled ready for winter and when I removed the
 oil filter and parts from the relief valve on the engine/filter  housing
fell out. Holy s**t.  It was a spring, ball bearing, and  press fit
retainer.
My Guru said to expand the retainer a bit and put them back in. I did so
and so far nothing bad has happened after 50 miles driving

Dogged a bullet, I hope.

Jim Morgan

80 Air-cooled" stink bomb"