OK, now for an update.
After unsucsessfully looking for a 7/8" OD pipe that I could thread to 14 TPI, Desert Rat asked why I was reinventing the wheel? Stupid me, I asked "What do you mean?"
His reply SOLVED the problem. He replied, "Just take an old middle post, thread it and cut it to length".
WELL DUH, AM I STUPID OR WHAT?
So I purchased a 'cannister set' from Saturn Surplus (thx jay) so I could have one to 'play' with and not booger up the one on my truck. Plus it got me a new cannister, filter, spring, shim and the two gaskets - the lower one is leaking.
I am about to order the die. RandyLBarnes has the 2" die handle I can borrow.
When I spoke with DR, who coincidentally is on his way BACK to Howard Hammonds as I type this, (he will call me on Friday evening), Howard said he could have as many as he could find. And he said they were 'laying all over the place'. I told Brent to get ALL that he could find. Once my die comes in, I will cut the threads on the new one I have and then we will see. Hopefully this is an 'easy' conversion.
I have ordered ONE Napa filter (145
and will MAKE SURE that it IS a 7/8" 14 TPI thread count before spending money on TWO of them. Guy said it was at the warehouse and he would have it dropped into the 'next run' , which would be there in a couple of hours.
I WILL report back.
jim