Frank, yep that's the hope. Last change I had to hammer 2 screwdrivers into the filter to get it out, then all the oil at the top poured out over my arm and the exhaust. It still smells like a jalopy after it's warmed up.

Hans, not a bad idea. I'll see if this fixes the problem, if not that sure would be tempting. The next newer model of this engine has the filter up top, so it's a simple reach into the engine bay, unscrew and replace. I guess the engineers came to their senses!