28 Tube Brass Cooler Internals

[2jmotorsports]

Had a 28 tube brass cooler cleaned and painted a few months ago.



I am just getting around to installing it when I stuck a flashlight into the holes and noticed something interesting in each tube. There seems to be a wire in every tube I could see.









I stuck my pinky in there and I could move each wire around in each tube bore but they do not move axially. Maybe they are looped around the closed bottom end of the cooler. Also if you gently tap the palm of your hand against the tubes you can hear the wires shake.

Any idea what these are for? Breaking up built up crud in the tubes? The things you notice when parts are clean!

[frankc]

I can't offer any suggestions on what the wires might be for, but I'm curious to see what responses you get as I have one of these coolers in my '77.

I had mine cleaned by Pacific Oil Cooler and don't remember seeing such wires, but I didn't inspect it very closely.

[grant lyon]

Guessing: helps convert laminar to turbulent flow, for better heat transfer.

[2jmotorsports]

Originally Posted by grant lyon

Guessing: helps convert laminar to turbulent flow, for better heat transfer.

Would definitely change the flow from straight to tumbly thats for sure.

[Trackrash]

I'm guessing, as above, they are to improve the efficiancy of the cooler. FWIW I took apart an RX-7 cooler which had thin perforated strips of aluminum in each tube. I removed them all and welded the end cap back on. Can't tell the difference in operation.

[RSTarga]

Turbatrol used to have a cooler with internal fins. Apparently doing this to the oil makes it cool more efficiently.

[Flojo]

do an ultrasonoic bath.
I did that and was astonisched how much dirt came out.