How vulnerable is an RSR style oil cooler on the street?

[Shuie]

I'm getting ready to buy a front oil cooler setup for my 3.2 swap and I'm looking for advice on the two options.

1.) Fender Mount
2.) Front RSR style

Either option involves removing sheet metal for proper airflow (shaving battery box for the fender mount vs notching the tub for the RSR cooler) so I'm over that.

I like the RSR style because its overkill for my car and would meet any cooling needs if the car ever got a bigger motor or saw a track in the future. I don't like the idea of breaking the cooler on a curb, driveway, speed bump, or a pothole.

How practical is the RSR front cooler for street driving? How many of you guys have installed them more than once because they were damaged as a result of road conditions, etc?

TIA

[Bill Verburg]

I've never had a problem, but you certainly don't want to hit a curb w/ one

[Joe Bob]

Unless you do a radical lowering, most RS/RSR front ends clear curbs.....mine is LOW, so I consciously stay back from going to the end of a parking space. One good thing, the glass works hang lower than the cooler....so that will take the hit first.

It's been three years and I have yet to have an incident. I DID have a big bang once....those ******* speed bumps twanged a header pipe once......

[Wil Ferch]

Look at Thom Fitzpatrick's experiences ( aka... "vintagebus"..."Widebody").... banged his pretty badly.

A good compromise seems to be Craig O'Brien's effort on his earlier car, a 3.6 conversion. Cooler mounted up higher using the OEM accordion style bumper...with the center black "strip" section painted black with plenty of holes.... pretty slick and inconspicuous.

- Wil

[Joe Bob]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
Look at Thom Fitzpatrick's experiences ( aka... "vintagebus"..."Widebody").... banged his pretty badly.

A good compromise seems to be Craig O'Brien's effort on his earlier car, a 3.6 conversion. Cooler mounted up higher using the OEM accordion style bumper...with the center black "strip" section painted black with plenty of holes.... pretty slick and inconspicuous.

- Wil

Ingo did that as well....great idea for a sleeper car.

[Wil Ferch]

more.... here is Craig's work...

* Front oil cooler install - UNIQUE? *


here's Thom's "prroblem"...

Got a front oil cooler? Here's your worst nightmare...


- Wil

[Chuck Moreland]

Vulnerability depends on position.

If you mount it at the opening of the valence, it is more vulnerable. If you mount it against the tub, it is much less so. I've even seen some mounting inside the tub.

Mounting against the tub, or inside the tub, will require surgery to create an airflow path.

[A Quiet Boom]

I've never hurt the cooler but I have damaged my front fiberglass on my lowered '66 with only about 4.5" of ground clearance for the cooler opening.

[Shuie]

Thanks guys!

Chuck, I would use your RSR panel if I put it in the front. Thats about the most ideal location, right?

My car is right at euro height. Im not worried so much about parking space curbs as I am about driveway entrances to gas stations or speed bumps, etc.

[Joeaksa]

Debating the same issue right now. I am not going to cut my front floorpan just yet then saw a couple of guys who put a second cooler in the other fender.

Hmmm... but its good to have options!

Joe A

[Shuie]

Chuck, is there any chance of fitting one of your coolers behind a stock T bumper without cutting the tub? Or is the RS bumper a must?

I know that the airflow, and therefore the cooling, will be subpar without notching the tub, but from the old posts Im finding, the issue comes in for most people at the track. I can always cut the tub later if it doesnt work well enough, but one thing I have absolutely no desire to do is to go to an RS style front bumper.

Thanks

[Chuck Moreland]

Sherman, I doubt it is possible to fit a decent size cooler behind the stock T bumper without tub surgery.

You might get a small cooler mounted up high, but I've never tried this. I suspect the airflow would be poor, you'd be better off with a second fender mounted cooler.

[Rick V]

Not to hijack the thread but ok dumb question. (not from me I know) I just removed the ac from my SC and have been thinking about putting a cooler in place of the front condensor. Any ideas?

[ipapilot]

Hey Shuie, my car ran hot every time I put it on track with a factory cooler and it runs perfectly now with only a large front rsr type cooler. The tub has not been notched, so I would say give it a whirl without modding the tub first if you decide to go with a front cooler.

[88 Club Sport]

Shuie,

My 3.2 in my SC was running WAY hot with a trombone and I was not convinced a stock Carrera cooler was going to be enough for track events. So, I decided to either go with 2 Carrera fender coolers or go the center route since I did not want to cut the tub.

I ended up going with my stock bumper, an after market RSR style valance and a good sized Setrab up front. It was cheaper and an easier install than the 2 Carrera coolers

With the center mount, you do definately risk cooler damage if you hit a curb like Thom but I have had a few off track excursions and had no damage.

[88 Club Sport]

Ooops... just noticed you have a long hood....I'm not sure if my install would work with the front bumber you are considering. Sorry about that.

[Rick V]

Craig
That is sweet,
thanks for making me spend MORE FRIGGING MONEY!

[rlane]

Sherman, I just did this with my 73. I installed chucks elephant lines and bought his Setrab cooler. The problem was the GT Racing new RS IROC fiberglass. There is VERY little extra room there, both front to back and sideways (due to the brake inlets) but the good news is that the cooler sits low enough so that over 1/2 is below the bulkhead. I ended up trading for a B&B cooler becaus eof the angled outlets then had my shop cut the corner out of the front bulhead and routed the lines through there. Put metal back in and it is good. I will try and snap some shots later today if you are interested.

[Shuie]

Thanks guys. Im going to try the fender mount first. I'll post updates...

[9dreizig]

Ok another dumb question.. I've got a front cooler ( not installed yet) in my 930.. should I keep the front fender cooler as well?? or dump it to save weight?? Will just the front cooler be enough?