Oil cooler lower bracket install: Have you done this?

[Jdub]

Short question is this: the factory oil cooler bracket features two bolt holes on the vertical-against-the-tub side of the bracket that fits rightside front of the wheel against the tub. I have used the specs on this 'board to locate the bracket and I have the lowermost drill point identified from the outside. However, it appears drilling through the outerside of the tub puts me into a 2" X 2" bulkhead on the inside - a blind boxsection on the inside of the tub.

Is this a Targa-only structure? When you installed your bracket, did you come across this boxsection and did you simply use an extra-long drill bit and then bolt to accommodate the boxsection? Or a sheetmetal screw, oversize? The upper bolt looks straightforward - there is only the tub body thickness to drill through.

BTW - I want to pivot the oil cooler (28-tube) off this lowermost bolt, checking tire clearance and fabricating the upper bracket after I know all will fit.

Many thanks for your replies!

EDIT: The lowermost bolt in this pic reference is exactly opposite the bulkhead section, inside tub, that I am referring to:

[frankc]

I had planned to mount the lower bracket using fasteners as well. The factory welded these brackets in place, so I was wondering if using fasteners would be an issue.

I'll be watching to see what others have to say.

btw, what are you using for the bracket on the headlight bucket? I had started a thread on this topic some time ago:

Oil cooler upper mounting bracket questions

[rattlsnak]

can you post some pics? i dont know whats different about Targas and the area you are talking about but this will help us determine if its the same as a coupe.

[Jdub]

I will get some pics up tomorrow to show the area I am referring to.

Frank: I've read your post - very helpful. The upper bracket will have to be a custom made bolt in since I have a '78 with no bracket whatsoever. That "921" part you are looking for is probably a NLA and was used as the 90degree temporary solution for the 28 tube > Carrera cooler upper mounting bracket. Assume the factory did a use to exhaustion and never made any more. It would be interesting to find a '83 headlight bucket with this on it for measurement for the Pelican database. Anyone with a Euro '80-'83 or US '83 wrecked R front panel who wants to cut the headlight out and send it on?

[sailchef]

I welded the lower bracket. I have an '80SC and replaced the fender with an '83 due to rust issues. You could weld a tab to the back of the headlight bucket. If I remember correctly the L-shaped bracket for the top of the cooler from our host (930-207-921-00-OEM) cost @$70.00. Pricey for what it is.

[jcunning]

The best option is to get the lower portion welded. However, I did not feel like dealing with this so I used a bolt with big fender washers in the top hole. This provides most of the support. For the bottom I just drilled out a hole, made some threads with a tap and screwed in a bolt until just tight. This really just holds the bracket in position.

For both holes I was sure to paint the drilled hole with some primer and then used some silicone sealant on the bolt to make sure water does not get into the chassis. The lower hole has no clear exit if water were to get in.

I've had it this way for over 1 year (3,000 miles) and so far no problems with the bolts coming loose.

[fred cook]

When I replaced the trombone cooler in my SC, I used a Setrab oil cooler. It is slightly larger than the Carrera cooler and thus required a custom bracket. I built the bracket out of some light steel angle and mounted it to the chassis using the headlight bucket bolt, an existing bolt in the inner fenderwell, a bolt in the horn bracket and also drilled one hole (upper left in photo) in the fenderwell. The oil cooler mounts to the bracket using the stock anti-vibration mounts that are used on the Carrera cooler. I bought some braided hose and fittings to finsh the job. Later, I added a fan to the front of the cooler for extra air flow in slow traffic. For a finishing touch, I made a louvered cover to protect the cooler from debris off the front tire.

[Jdub]

Thanks very much for all the replies - again, this 'Board is the best car site on the 'net. I have to agree that, once in place, welding the lower bracket at least makes sense to me.

Below is either a link or a pic (forgive me - Facebook...) of the inner bulkhead I am up against - note seam: about ~1.5" above this is where the upper mount bolt will poke through. Moving down about 2.5" you see that, were I to drill from the outside, the bit would break through to the inside of the bulkhead - an area I can only get to by opening a hold above for a wrench to gain access to the nut.

LINK = http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21862&id=100000624537050&l=cbfe9dbfa8

IMAGE(?):

I am tempted to use a round cutting tool to fab. a hole that I can snap a round plastic piece into - this would allow entry but seal the hole reasonably well. I would hope it would not decrease the integrity of the shell.