Least invasive way to add oil cooler on 74 2.7

[pranderson]

I've been glued to this forum for nearly a year now and I think that I've read myself into a paranoid state?
I have a 74' 2.7 with 130K miles on it, which mechanically I think is strong and runs great. But, I live in the central valley in California where Summer temps frequently top high 90's-low 100's.
On really hot days my temp gauge reads near the middle of the gauge. This makes me nervous. I keep reading that keeping oil temp down is the key to making these engines last.
On one hand, I tell myself that the car has made it 34+ yrs and 130K the way it is. On the other hand there's a little voice inside my head that keeps saying "Gotta keep temperature down or you're gonna ruin it".
Am I just paranoid?
It's my understanding that installing an oil cooler in the front is expensive and involves a lot of difficult plumbing? Are there alternative measures that I can take aside from an under the front fender mounted cooler?
Thanks for your help.

[dtw]

Best way (other than buying all-new, which I did for my '72T - $2,100...youch!!!) is to buy a complete factory setup from a wreck. The idea is to make sure the setup isn't coming from a car that had a grenaded engine - you don't want lots of piston chunks in the plumbing... The installation/plumbing is not that bad at all when you use factory parts - I just installed a full '83 setup on my '76 2.7, it took about 3 hours. It was a real pleasure to install versus the semi-custom setup I did on my '72 - that took an entire weekend and a lot of swearing.

I just so happen to have an extra-nice full factory oil cooler setup up for sale soon. Right after I bought my own set, I bought two '83 parts cars that both had factory coolers. I sold one already but the next one will be ready to go soon (gotta disassemble first). Shoot me an email or PM if you are interested.

[pranderson]

Thanks. PM sent.

[BlueSideUp]

How do you ship something like oil cooler lines across the country?

I am thinking it may be more economical to buy a parts car at some point. I'm eventually going to need a lot of Carrera or SC parts for my '70T. Front Strut housings, brakes all around, rear spring plates/trailing arms, aluminum 915 to replace the '74 915 in my car now, and perhaps a nice 3.2 swap.

[dtw]

Jess - it is doable - have shipped and received 'em no problem. Requires very good but very efficient packing. Shipping is well under $100.

[Walter_Middie]

pranderson,

I just made this change on my 1975. I had already back-dated my exhaust and engine oil lines, but had no external oil cooler, so my initial set-up was probably very close to yours. I purchased the front oil cooler, the hard lines, and the thermostat from a wrecked car. The parts I needed to add were the 2 flexible oil lines that go from the end of the hard lines in the right rear wheel well, to the hard engine oil line that runs under the front of the engine, and one to the oil tank. If dtw includes these you are set - if not you will need these.

There are a couple of write ups in Tech Articles that are good:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_carrera_oil_cooler/911_carrera_oil_cooler.htm
or
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_mocal_oil_cooler/911_mocal_oil_cooler.htm

You will also need to attach the hard lines that run along the side of your car to the heater boxes (rocker panels).

[John Watson]

I also live in the central valley (vacaville) andI too was worried about temp. I installed a complete factory cooler set up for a 74. it was a combination of new and used parts. it works great even though its only a loop cooler, lowered my temps by almost 20 degrees. good luck.

John Watson
74' 911S