[Custodian]

I normally get the AC/Delco filters on sale at a local farm store called Rural King when they are on sale for 2/$7.00.

Over the summer... I havent seen them in the sale circular... so I just picked one up at WM with my Supertech synthetic... & noted the change in part #.

I get the feeling that with corporate mergers... all filters except the premium brands... may come down the same line in different batches... & I bet that you are correct about the base plate being a common part sourced overseas & fitted with the different dimension threaded fittings for various applications.