Front oil lines for '72 -- what's the trick solution?
 

I want to run hard lines to my front oil cooler in my new toy.

I don't expect to find Factory hard lines, and I'm sure none of the aftermarket guys like Elephant make 'em.

So how do those of you with '72s solve this problem?

Techweenie,

I am yet to solve this.... when I do run my car on the track, I run until it gets hot then cool it for a bit. Saving grace is 2.4 'E' spec motor, so with 160 ish hp, heat comes in smaller doses.

I think Chuck's hand made Elephant lines would be the way to go for an O.E. style install.

I am waiting for someone creative to come up with an engine oil / water heat exchanger, so we can run a small front water radiator and plastic low pressure water hoses to the front.....

Regards

Hayden

Talk with Chuck Moreland. The Elephant finned lines are the way to go if you can afford them. I exchanged emails with him over a year ago on '72 hard lines, and he was interested in doing them then. Then I found a set of factory lines...

Maybe if we can get enough folks together to commit, we can get somebody to engineer a solution. right now, people tell me they're cutting one line, adding a fitting and going with hose to the oil tank...

As for a 'creative solution' for water/oil: arent' you one of the most creative engineering minds in this here neighborhood?

techweenie,

I am sure Chuck would be able to make lines to the '72 patterns, requiring no compromise away from the O.E. packaging solution. Proven effective, the large bore lines of the post '73 designs and better O.E. cooler core (with Chuck's mods) would make a real sano set up.

I said I was waiting........for test parts!

Regards

Hayden

Elephant Racing does make finned oil lines for the '72.

The lines for the '72 have male threaded fittings at the oil-tank end to make it easy to connect flex hose. The flex hose can then be terminated where you need it; one will go into the bottom of the tank, the other to your thermostat.

This setup give you flexibility to use the factory '72 thermostat/filter console or an alternative thermostat.

You can buy these through Pelican.

Techweenie,
You could order up supplies to do an Earl's or Aeroquip setup. This isn't a cheap solution either and would require quite a bit of time to get right, though. Also, some people don't like the look of the braided soft lines hanging underneath the car. (I dig it, myself).

The Elephant lines are the best way to go, in my opinion.

Of course, I didn't follow my own advice, and my shop ran braided lines through the rockers, where the dealer-installed AC hoses had been. It's less effective than either factory hard lines or the Elephant lines, in terms of cooling, but it gets rid of visible oil lines, so the cosmetics are cleaner.

Obligatory picture:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1071257632.jpg

I used standard SC/Carrera lines and made modifications to the ends where they go into the tank and up to the Oil filter housing. came out nice and have been tracking it like that for 3 years.

This was done before there was an Elephant Racing. Now I'd just by his lines and be done with it.

Michael, the current Elephant lines still require a flex hose extension to the thermostat, so I may as well get stock non-'72 lines & add an AN 16 hose end fitting if I'm gonna go that route.

I was looking for a 100% hard line solution.

Tech

Like the Elephant solution, the factory 72 parts also combine hard lines with flex hose. You don't want an all rigid solution, vibration and flexing would make this fatigue and fail.

Chuck, I guess I'm living & learning.

Thanks for the info.

I like your product, because the lines themselves have much more surface area than any cooler I can fit in a fenderwell.

Now all I need is that big Pelican 20% off sale!