help w/ front cooler setup

joyaux · 07-22-2004, 08:21 AM

Have a 66 911 SWB race car, with the newer factory hard lines and front fender carrera cooler. Looks like I have a very small leak on the cooler, or maybe the short flex lines that connect between the cooler & the hard lines.

I have taken the cooler and lines off, is there an easy way to test the cooler (radiator shop?). The cooler was brand new when purchased. Also, should I just buy new lines?

Any thoughts would be appreciated- also, let me know if anyone has any of these coolers for sale as I will be adding another one to the other front fender- as well as the short flex lines for sale in case I need to replace mine?

thx,

paul.joyaux@ubs.com

joyaux · 07-22-2004, 09:47 AM

bummpy.

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

One person to ask, he'll have the answers:

chuckmoreland@elephantracing.com

joyaux · 07-22-2004, 10:07 AM

Thx, I did contact elephant racing-they were very helpful- but didnt have any thoughts on testing the oil cooler. Any other thoughts?

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

A competent radiator shop should be able to test and/or fix your cooler.

joyaux · 07-22-2004, 12:21 PM

thanks a bunch. i will try this saturday.

paul

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

If you are able to do some fabricating, there is a way to test the cooler. Make up a single hose that will fasten to both connections on the oil cooler. The trick here is to put an air valve in the hose (a metal 911 tire valve should work). fill the oil cooler with oil, attach the hose and then pressurize the assembly. If you have a leak, the pressurized oil will find a way out! All you need in the way of parts will be two ends to screw onto the oil cooler, a foot or two of hose and the above mentioned air valve. Even if you have to buy all the parts, you should not have to spend more than $20-$30 and you will wind up with a couple of extra fittings for future use!

Good Luck

Fred Cook
'80 911SC coupe

joyaux · 07-22-2004, 06:41 PM

thanks, good idea.

paul

aigel · aigel's Garage

Is it off the car already? You can buy fluorescent dye you put in your oil. You could do that and see where it leaks from. Works even with old grime on it...

Other than that, I'd fabricate connections and pressurize it as suggested above. I would do it dry and just submerge the whole assembly in water.

The radiator shop is the place to go if you don't want to mess with it...

George

PS: You are sure it isn't the hole where the fan thermostat goes? There should be a plug or the fan thermostat sealing that hole...

joyaux · 07-23-2004, 04:50 AM

there is a 1/4" plug screwed in on top of the oil cooler- so I assume it is plugged. the leak is very very small- much smaller than the size of this hole/plug- but maybe that is the source of the leak(?-leaking around the fitting)- anyway, the cooler is at the radiator shop in town- they cant get much pressure in it- but hopefully they will find something. I think just to be safe I will buy a new set of the small flex lines- or does anyone have a set for sale of these?

thx, paul