Budget oil line advice

[ttw18]

I have installed a '72E engine on my SWB. I have not started it up yet and was contemplating installing an external oil cooler for good measure. I completely agree with the folks out there that believe in the factory stuff and products from elephant racing. However, I am a starving grad student and would like some added protection without those costs.

Some things I have been thinking about:
-using straight tubing underneath from R wheel well to F wheel well. I like hard lines as they don't retain heat like rubber or SS lines.
-using rubber lines (maybe with barbed end fittings to reduce cost) at the ends of the hard line to tie it all together
-I can locate a quality thermostat and oil cooler for cheap

I have no problem putting this all together and then down the road upgrading to all the nice stuff. So . . . any ideas?

[Grady Clay]

ttw18,

Simple, change the engine cooling fan ratio. There is much in the Pelican archives about this using the best combination of Porsche parts. I have done it on my SWB and 914-6, both without front coolers. No one says the ratio can’t be changed using ‘creative’ parts. This cools the engine at the source of the heat – heads and cylinders.

Best,
Grady

[ttw18]

Thanks Grady,

I went that route first. When assembling my long block I sought out the parts that would give me the optimal fan ratio. I was inspired by the 95+ degree weather this week to seek out an affordable external cooler solution. Any other input?

[Stevepro]

Do a search on - crushed oil lines - in the title

[cgarr]

If I ever had to make new lines I would just get some Stainless steel tubing and silver the fittings on the ends and be done with it. We use a lot of this stuff at work, easy to bend and work with, not a lot of money either.