Exploding oil filter saga continues!, FUCH!! What now?? Options

[mudfoot76]

Due to impending track time and my total inability to resolve the problem, I tracked down a local P-car mechanic who said he was very familiar with 914s and cut his teeth working as a mech at Vasek Polak. I figure 'what the hell, can't fuch it up any worse than it already is'. So he's got my car, checks out the pressure relief valves, inspects the bores, blows compressed air through the oil passages. Air goes, he doesn't notice anything fall out. Check valves move freely. We both agree he should put in oil, new Mahle filter, and give it a whirl.

He has a pressure gauge hooked up on the engine to see what happens. I wasn't there, but apparently his gauge only goes up to 100#. It pegs shortly after starting the motor (2.0L) and the Mahle deforms just like all the other filters and oil pukes all over the shop floor. Oil was Castrol 20w50, car was inside a heated garage so temps were probably mid-60s.

He's stumped. He calls someone out in California (I didn't catch a name) and both of them are stumped. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Oil is getting picked up from the sump and pumped into the filter. Where is the next stop after oil leaves the filter? I've seen the diagram in haynes and find it not very helpful. Any ideas on what is wrong?