Fender mounted oil coolers

[deanp]

I've searched and searched on the subject but would like some opinions:

1976 911with 2.7 and no factory fender cooler of any sort. Ambient temps in upper 70's/low 80's see oil temps at 210 degrees on my one hour commute, temps in the 60's see oil temps at 180-190 depending on how hard I push.

I don't expect to do AutoX's or DE's this year, but potentially in the future.

I am considering a Lemke kit from our host or a Mocal kit from BAT. I know the BEST solution is the factory thermostat with Chuck's finned lines and widemouth cooler but the budget won't allow for that and I want new components.

So with those temps do I forego a fender mounted cooler for this year and save for the best or will the Lemke or Mocal work for my application? If the Lemke or Mocal will work, is one constructed better than the other?

Thanks....

[deanp]

No one???

[Driver8]

I would say that thoes temps are fine. If you plan on doing any DE or AX then a fender mounted cooler would be in order. There are may aftermarket ones to choose from, the later Carrera type with the fans seem to work really well.

[sundaypunch]

I don't think 210 is a problem. The factory thermostat opens up around 195 so you would see some benefit. I guess it can't hurt to have the cooler if you budget allows.

[7of911]

deanp,

I'd go with the consensus of the responses; 210 degF ain't that bad. My 76S 2.7L had temps into the 250 degF during spirited highway runs. THAT was too high. I put in a Vertex cooler w/ fan. You can check out the install, with pics at:


http://www.powergate.ca/~adeluca/web/vertex_Album.html


With the cooler installed, temps rarely exceed 210 degF even while sitting in traffic.


Oh, and nice car, nice year!

Ian

[IROC]

Me personally - I would add a cooler. 210 isn't the end of the world, but it's been my experience that keeping a 2.7 cool is nothing but a good thing.

I installed the Mocal kit (with a 6 inch Spal fan) on my '76 2.7 and temps would never go over 80C on the street. Even in 95F Alabama summers, the temps would only get to 100C on the track.

That same Mocal cooler and fan is now keeping my 3.2 (with about 80hp more than the 2.7) just as cool.

Definitely worth the money, IMHO.

Mike

[fintstone]

Those temps are fine. Especially in a 2.7. You could always do it in phases like I did. Get the lines this year and a loop. That is a big improvement . The lines and thermostat are pricey, but you can get the loop very cheap if not free and it can be mounted with no changes under the front fender. Upgrade to the Carrera cooler later when you can afford it if necessary.

[vash]

deanp, i was in the same situation as you. nothing for any external oil cooling. but my car ran hotter than yours. even if it didnt, my area gets hot in the summer and i agree with keeping these pesky 2.7's as cool as possible. i dont trust 911 temp gauges anyways, so i bought an entire cooling system from a salvage yard. if i were you, i would get over any phobias you have for a used system. mine came off of a 87 carrera that was hit from behind and saw a bit of FIRE! i got the system for $900. from the fan relay, all the way back to the tstat. i needed to buy new lines in back because of the fire, but i needed a different line from the crossover tube to tstat anyways. i lucked out on the purchase. i think you should keep your eye out for a donor car with an entire system. i priced out a new system from pelican, and i almost dropped a load! i think i remember $2100 for everything. nuts and all.

[deanp]

Thanks for all the input.

This will be my first summer with the car and although I haven't had any temp issues, I am not sure what higher ambient temps will do.

Will another 10 degrees in ambient temps cause 10 degrees, 20 degrees, more in oil temps? I would rather put my mind at ease and install a cooler and know that I am doing everything I can for longevity.

[vash]

tell you the truth, i got a freaky early hot day, i think it hit 99 deg, and my new oil coolered car got hotter by 20 degrees. from 180 to 210. my oil lines were not even getting hot on the cooler days! ambient temps are everything for an air cooled car.

[aigel]

I would go to your favorite dismantler and get factory lines and the trombone out of an SC. Then, if that isn't enough, in the future, you can put a radiator style in place of the trombone.

I would avoid the soft lines routed all the way from the back of the car. It just doesn't feel right.

George

[vash]

yes a trombone cooler system from partsheaven will run you $500ish.

[Bill Verburg]

210&degF is fine, there is a school of thought that it is optimal because of the increased evaporation of condensates at the higher temp.


If you put an external cooler where the external oil temp t-stat opens at ~180 &degFyou may get into the position where the temps stay in the 180-200&degF range where decreased evaporation will mean more frequent oil changes.

Should you go that route the Lemke unit is a nice improvement on the trombone. Use w/ either factory or Elephant hard lines.

[rfix'n]

"yes a trombone cooler system from partsheaven will run you $500ish."

Yikes, I think for a $100 more you can get brand new lines from Elephant, with increased cooling over the factory lines. If you need a trombone loop I think I have one laying around. It's your for the price of shipping.

[deanp]

Thanks Rob, that's extremely generous of you. That along with a used T-stat, new oil lines to and from the tank / t-stat and Elephant finned lines I think I can get this done for ~$1000 which is my budget.

I'll PM you shipping details.

[rfix'n]

Got the shipping details, I'm travelling until Thursday of this week but will send it out on Friday.

[deanp]

THANK YOU!!!