Front/Additional Oil Cooler?

[Fishcop]

Hi Everyone

What are my options for the addition of an external/additional oil cooler for my 69T which came without anything?

Basically I'm putting a hotrod 2.7 in the car and I want/need to add additional cooling. I have been quoted on a complete front cooler, lines, oil-tank and thermostat from a wrecked SC ($1500 Aussie dollars), but I thought I'd ask what others have done or used from other makes of cars and what parts are ESSENTIAL to any conversion?

Any photos would be great too!

Cheers

[KobaltBlau]

Check out the price on the Elephant Racing finned lines; If I was adding to a car that didn't come with a front cooler I would want to do them. The Elephant widemouth cooler kit is also a very good product. I think to get a front mount into a pre impact bumper car you may have to cut the tub like a 2.8RSR. I'm not sure if people have installed front mount cooler kits without doing this on early cars. If your 2.7 is to be carb/mfi without cat/thermal reactor stuff, I think you should be fine even at the track with a setup like a carrera 3.2 radiator style cooler (like the widemouth), just duct some air to it. The finned lines would be gravy on top of that. Don't bother with the trombone.

Just MHO.

oh, and there should be plenty of info on the board... you could search around a bit if you haven't yet, but you probably know that

[aigel]

Shipping those lines to down under may be a challenge. I'd go with used lines and a carrera fender mounted cooler. I agree, don't bother with the trombone. It may be sufficient, but if you start drilling holes, you want to be done the first time around. It won't run too cool, that's what the thermostat is for.

George

[Fishcop]

Do I need a different oil tank to the one I've got?

[aigel]

I am not an expert on this, but the oil pump pumps the oil into the tank directly if you have no external cooler in the front. So, if you add a cooler, you only detour the oil coming back into the tank, right? There should be all hookups needed. Ask this question to the forum though or search it...

George

[Grady Clay]

John,

Yes, you will need a front cooler. The original ‘69S to ‘71S lines, pipes, fittings were smaller than the ’72S and later plumbing. If you can find a good used set, great. You will need to pay attention to a lot of details if you want to keep it “as original.” Not an easy job.

No, you don’t need another oil tank unless you feel the need for a totally later system. What is the condition of your oil tank?

If you are willing and able to “mix & match” components, you can have a better oil cooling system than Porsche originally delivered. Go find what is available locally and report back.

You also should incorporate the 1.81:1 engine fan solution. That cools the important parts of the engine; heads and cylinders.

Best,
Grady

[911pcars]

Not sure how far Aussie dollars go, but if that's the best price for the conversion, you might try sourcing parts from the US or Europe (along with freight) just to compare. You'll end up paying more for new stuff. Plan on installing a fan to increase air flow through the cooler, and if the ambient temps are really warm, lose the passenger side battery box as well. A front-mount cooler in an appropriate front bumper is the most effective oil cooling solution for your setup. Use the cooler setup found in '77-'86 (or so) 911s.

Sherwood

[Fishcop]

Great advice guys, thanks.

More than happy to mix and match. The car is more a Bastard than anything else anyway!

I regards to the oil thank, the reason I ask is that I'm continuing to run my sporto (yes, yes, I know. But it was good enough to win Porsche a race or two ) so I need to keep the associated oil lines.

I take it that George is right and that the oil comes out the lower pipe on the stock cooler, heads into an external thermostat, runs up to a cooler in the front, comes back through the thermostat and into the oil tank? Therefore I need to hunt an external thermostat, oil lines, as good a cooler as I can find/make/bastardize and the appropriate brackets/support hardware?

Sherwood, I will definitely check out comparative US supplies, and I do like the idea of Chuck's (Elephant Racing) cooler lines.

Thanks

[Matt Holcomb]

John,

If you opt for a 3.2, fender-mounted cooler, you will have to do as KobaltBlau suggested and duct some air to it -- my '74 2.7 Carrera used to get up to 110°C in no time (on the track) with a 3.2 cooler that was only hit by what air came through the gap between the left indicator and the piece of bumper bellow.

[Fishcop]

Hmmm, I might have to put an RS bumper on or look at a fan.

[KobaltBlau]

The problem that Matt mentions is not really the cooler's fault (he knows this). it's just not getting any air! Ducting air to the cooler is a proven method, many posts describing this. This is the way to go for track cooling as opposed to a fan. However, if you're not opposed to a bumper change, the front-mount _is_ the ultimate for track cooling.

[Matt Holcomb]

Andy,

My '75 RSR replica has a front-mounted cooler, and the engine flat-out refuses to get any hotter than 85°C on the track!

[obrut]

Hey John

I had a front mounted cooler in car - 'til I broke it in Targa Tas 03 (in a pretty minor shunt). I think its too vulnerable a position and changed to a 3.2 cooler in the fender. It wasn't great at first but after removing the battery box and sealing the edges to the inside of the fender its fine.

I'm going to do some more testing in Summer to see if I need a fan as it can rise a little in very slow traffic - which the car rarely sees.

[Doug Steinel]

John,

Some people on this board have used Mocal oil coolers. Our Hosts's technical articles include one which explains how to install a Mocal oil cooler. Go to their website and take a look: http://www.batinc.net/ They sell complete kits for 911s and you can save a bundle.

[Fishcop]

Cheers Doug.