Braided Lines as Cooler Line?

[joetiii]

Is there any reason why Braided flexible lines can not be used as the rear to front oil cooler lines?

[Quicksilver]

A tube is a tube...
They make stainless braided oil hose. The limitations are that is is rather expensive and the braiding will rub through anything. I have seen them rub through other hoses, paint, and even metal sheet.

[klaucke]

Joe- I investigated using this for a front mount cooler but I decided that the stock lines are often a better alternative. They likely provide better heat dissipation (Chuck's Elephant lines are even better), fit properly, don't sag, and look good. Once you factor into the adapters and little odds and ends, I think the braided lines are actually more expensive. They do lend themselves to some installations, though, such as when you have a front mount oil tank, or are routing the lines through the rocker. Doug, user DWSD has some threads on it and was very helpful when I was doing this upgrade to my car.

Sidenote: my car is back on the road, would you have time to meet up if I swung by on this fine afternoon?

[ventana]

I've been shopping around trying to find an less expensive alternative for an aux. oil cooler for my '74 Coupe, found this thread and have a few more questions.
Did the factory use either brass or aluminum for the aux. cooler lines on the SC's? I have been shopping on Fleabay and here and have seen lines made from what looks like both materials. The aluminum is of course a dull silver color and the brass looks like it has a blackening coat applied to it.
Is there any advantage to using one or the other? I agree with Quicksilver that the lines are a integral portion of the cooling effect and either aluminum or brass would be a better choice over the stainless braided rubber but the factory tubes and thermostats are difficult to find, fairly expensive for used and can not be shipped. Could copper lines be used? I am quite confident I could fabricate my own copper lines and integrate a factory thermostat. Any and all comments welcome.

Thanks;
Ventana

[joetiii]

Originally posted by klaucke
Joe-
Doug, user DWSD has some threads on it and was very helpful when I was doing this upgrade to my car.

Sidenote: my car is back on the road, would you have time to meet up if I swung by on this fine afternoon?

Not sure why I'm getting notice of your post so late. Its wednsday now. hmmmm. Nice to see your cars on the road and I would have had some time last friday. I'm outta town from sunday till wednsday and getting the car back together w/ speedo, stereo & wheels late next week for LRP on Sunday Mem. weekend.

Interesting notes on the cooler.... I'm in a quandry now because if I get the 74-89 front lines and 28 tube brass coooler as I'd like, I will need to change out the oil tank & oil line & thermostat for my '69. (according to Bill Verburg).

Instant G will sell me a braided line pkg w/ thermostat and cooler for $600. Elephants setup seems best , but a bit on the high side of what I can spend right now, so perhaps I'll wait.

[Cory M]

The original lines help cool the oil, braided stainless lines would insulate the oil and keep it hotter. I think the originals do a better job in the case of tire rubs too.

[Chuck Moreland]

Yes you can use braided stainless. But as noted it won't do a good job of dissipating heat, can chafe anything it contacts,
and most installations make my eyes hurt:





They droop between hose clamps like a wet noodle.

IMHO the only place for hoses is highly customized installations with remote oil tanks, etc.

Otherwise stick with factory or Elephant Racing finned oil lines, available from our host.

[911pcars]

With all due regards to Chuck who makes great products, I would rely more on an efficient oil cooler to dissipate heat from the lube system.

"I'm in a quandry now because if I get the 74-89 front lines and 28 tube brass coooler as I'd like, I will need to change out the oil tank & oil line & thermostat for my '69."

There are few or no issues retrofitting a late external cooler circuit onto a '69. You just need the correct factory hoses (to the engine and existing tank), thermostat and hard lines (or Chuck's hard lines). To connect to the '69 oil tank, you'll need a thread adapter to connect one of the thermostat lines to the slightly smaller oil tank fitting.

Sherwood

[joetiii]

Originally posted by 911pcars
[
There are few or no issues retrofitting a late external cooler circuit onto a '69. You just need the correct factory hoses (to the engine and existing tank), thermostat and hard lines (or Chuck's hard lines). To connect to the '69 oil tank, you'll need a thread adapter to connect one of the thermostat lines to the slightly smaller oil tank fitting.

Sherwood [/B]

Sherwood,

I' plan to check my Haynes & Anderson manual when I get home for configuration, but If I understand you, the 74-89 lines will work. Is it customary to reuse the thermostat that is attached to these used lines?

[911pcars]

Originally posted by joetiii
Sherwood,

I' plan to check my Haynes & Anderson manual when I get home for configuration, but If I understand you, the 74-89 lines will work. Is it customary to reuse the thermostat that is attached to these used lines?

Yes. the lines will work. You could test the thermostat with boiling water to confirm it opens. I'm not sure about customary. As with life, things work and then they don't. It all depends on its life cycle; some think karma. Nothing wrong with reusing parts if they work and/or rebuildable, otherwise, few of us could afford to repair our cars.

Sherwood