Need help on valance\license plate\oil cooler

[84toy]

I decided I want to put an additonal oil cooler on my 84 but a couple of things have come to mind. Hours of searching brought many questions. My preference would be a front mounted cooler with a different valance but what do you do about the license plate? Here in California you might as well stand on the side of the road and say "fine me" without one.

I would like to see a 30 deg oil temperature drop on 95 deg days. My main problem is spirited driving in the foothills back roads. On these hot days, it runs about 230 just cruising around and will jump up quickly if I am on it hard on the twisties or drive at high speed for awhile. I don't do very much stop and go so I probaly would blow off the fan. Also, I have already sealed around and under my existing cooler and removed my fog light which did help a little. I don't really want to gut my left fender for a cooler on that side but will consider it. Also considering pulling my cooler and lines and just get them good and clean to bare metal as they have undercoating etc. on them

1. Who sells the best "bang for the buck" valance while retaining the stock bumber?

2. What do you do with the license plate?

3. Any other suggestions?

Many Thanks....

[GeorgeM]

A Ruf style f/g valence can be had for about $350 from places like BW Motorsports. This will allow you to fit just about any type of front mounted cooler. There are more aggressive valences... it's up to you. You can even modify a stock one to fit a cooler behind it if you want a really stock look.

I have a Mocal mounted in series with the fender cooler and it works great.

You can make grills for the fog light openings for brake cooling and mount your front license there.

I use Mobil 1 20/50 and don't see anything above about 180 in normal driving and 210 on the track, even in the summer.

[stlrj]

I was up that way yesterday on my way to Reno and I know what you mean about the heat. I had my temp up to 230 max on I-80 at 80+ with the A/C on all the way to the summit. and that's with a trombone cooler on my 3.2. I have it tuned lean which seems to keep the temps down and mileage up with 30mpg round trip from Novato.

I no longer feel a need for additional engine cooling as I did in the past.

Cheers,

Joe G.
Redwood PCA since 1976
74 w/ 86 3.2

[jyl]

84toy, you might check into the finned oil lines sold by Elephant, I recall reading that they will lower temps quite a bit without having to add another cooler. Certainly getting all the undercoating off the existing lines and cooler would help. Also, search for a prior thread on someone who got a ticket for no front license plate - I looked up the sections of the Vehicle Code relating to same and, as far as I recall, there is a wide range of possible locations for the front plate. It doesn't have to be on the centerline of the car or on the bumper/valance (can be higher or lower, up to a limit), and nothing says it has to be mounted in a plane perpendicular to the car's direction (although I guess it has to be visible). Also, I run no front plate and have had no trouble, here in the SF Bay Area. It's just a fix-it ticket, anyway, or am I mistaken?

GeorgeM, my car wants to look like your car! What a nice look with the RUF valance. I'm thinking the stock Carrera valance looks like a weak chin and an underbite, the RUF looks like a strong Superman kind of chin.

[GeorgeM]

If you really want bang for the buck, you can buy a couple of used stock valences and cut them up to make an extended deal that will accomodate a center cooler.

That's what I had before my run-in with a deer on the track a couple years ago. I didn't feel like fixing it, so I went with the Ruf style and am happy with the choice.

Here's a link to a previous thread that also has links to others.

Valence Thread

[84toy]

Thanks for the response. I did talk to Chuck about the lines and I think that would be a good option but I hesitate to spend that much when ultimately I think Sacramento 100 deg days will require more to keep these engines alive. If my lines were trashed I would buy Chuck's for sure

George, your valance is just what I like. Clean, neat and not too agressive looking and for the price I would not piece the two stock ones together. If others have this type or similar valance, please post a picture if you have time and where I can purchase one. Are there any companies in California or USA where I can buy that valance?

Thanks again!

[widebody911]

Man, and I was feeling put-upon when my car hit 215 briefly while stuck in traffic last Friday!

I suggest installing the fan - you never know...

[84toy]

Just a thought.....Has anyone tried to put say a 4" cooler inside the front bumper and mill out the opening where the black rubber is and replace with a nice grill? I'm sure the cooler would not be too big but it might work. Also still hoping for more info on the valances....