Here's a topic for discussion...has anybody ever used an oil filter (Wix #51060) on the SUCTION side of an oil system?? I have never seen an oil filter used this way. Screen filters on the suction side of a dry sump system, but no media filters. The #51060 does NOT have an anti drain back feature. Your thoughts...

I would think you would suck the gut's right out of a media filter.

My thoughts exactly. I do know that the engine ran for 4-5 hours total time. Some idle/shop revving time with no signs of oil pressure problems and several laps on the dirt (40-50) before any signs of problems. I have not done any investigation as of yet. They just dropped the motor off to me Saturday evening. I DO know that #4 rod is missing and #3 was about to go with it by looking in the hole on the side of the block. I sat it in the shop and was just looking things over when I noticed the way they had plumbed it. This being a Gen 3 Hemi, and the history of them tossing #4 rod, I am looking/progressing slow and methodically. I put in a message to Wix about the filter's capabilities to work this way, but have not heard from them. I would never have even thought about putting a filter on the suction side, but I imagine they were trying to protect the pump.
Wish they would have asked me about this. I'm wondering if maybe the filter came apart at higher RPM and plugged off. I guess time will tell when I get into it..