2.7 oil cooler question

Ray B · 03-28-2002, 04:27 PM

Did any the 74 thru 77 2.7 liter cars come with oil coolers? Was it an option? No luck with the archives. Thanks in advance..

grant lyon · grant lyon's Garage

I assume you know there *is* an oil cooler on the engine itself. My 76 came with no external cooler or lines. Adding a Turbotrol (sp?) was a major help with keeping cool.

Jim Sims · 03-28-2002, 08:47 PM

It was available either as an option or standard equipment on all 74-77 2.7 l 911 's. I have collected all the OEM pieces (a combination of new and used) and am currently in the process of installing an external oil cooler on my '76 911S .Jim

Jamul74 · 03-28-2002, 09:04 PM

Ray,
I can only speak for the 74 model but straight 911's did not come with an external oil cooler as standard equipment. 911S models did come with an external trombone (I think) cooler as standard equipment.

JeffW · 03-28-2002, 10:17 PM

My 76 911 S came with a trombone style oil cooler as a factory option.

czwbkx · 03-29-2002, 05:13 AM

My 1977 911S has the factory trombone in the right front wheel well.

gregk1 · 03-29-2002, 05:20 AM

My 76S dosn't have have one BOO HOO

Ray B · 03-29-2002, 05:46 AM

Grant, I was in fact refering to the additional, remote oil cooler-my bad, I should have been more specific. I'm considering one of these cars for auto-x and perhaps a DE and understand oil coolers are a must.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

The 2.7 engine would have had a cooler if they were originally equipped with A/C.

If you have the loop cooler, it's almost plug-and-play to upgrade to a carrera cooler.

gregk1 · 03-29-2002, 11:43 AM

My 2.7 76S has A/C and no cooler. Did the dealer install some A/C units on some cars without coolers?? I see the A/C lines going along the same path as the oil cooler lines would. The condenser that is on my car fits under the rear deck lid grile is that A normal location?

czwbkx · 03-29-2002, 12:13 PM

That's where mine is (under the deck lid grille), and I'm certain it was a factory job.

Jim Sims · 03-29-2002, 12:25 PM

gregk1, I don't believe the factory was putting on any A/C units in 1976. It appears the dealers were installing (or subcontracting out the work) "factory kits" as required. The installations can be rather crude; just look at the "cut out" (to the evaporator in the smuggler's box) in the firewall at the front passengers footwell. Yes, A/C systems were put on 76 911's without an external oil cooler; my car was on of these and with the thermal reactors to boot. That's why the PO's had to overhaul the engine (head job, machine case, timeserts, etc.) before 50K miles. My A/C lines run along the same side (passenger side) and at near the same location as where the OEM external oil cooler brass lines should run. My A/C is currently disconnected. I am in the process of removing the old A/C lines and installing an external oil cooler. Then I'm going to convert the A/C to 134a with new lines and a more compact "rotary" compresser. My thermal reactors are off and stored away in a box in case the car has to ever return to California. Yes, the correct location for the main condenser is under the grill of the engine lid. There were also supplemental condensers (complete with rock guard grills) mounted in the left rear wheelwell or behind the spoiler/valence in the front for some years but I've yet to see or hear of a 1976 with these supplemental condensers. The issue of the condensers is the effective heat transfer (mostly a product of area and air flow versus pressure drop) and where to put them on a 911 which wasn't designed with A/C in mind. The 911 condenser locations suffer from lousy air flow especially when crawling along in congested traffic. In addition, the under the engine grill location preheats the cooling air going to the engine. Therefore the necessity in hot climates of the 911 external oil cooler with A/C. I know some will say just rip it out but A/C is nice to have here in the desert plus I like the challenge of making it all work but then I'm a mechanical engineer. I'm thinking of reworking the engine A/C brackets too - they must weigh twice what they need to. I feel a long hot smoky summer coming like a freight train. Cheers. Jim

FranksPlace2 · 03-29-2002, 12:36 PM

My recently acquired air conditioned '77 S Targa has an oil cooler under the right front fender and a condenser for the factory installed AC on the engine lid. The owner's manual (Thanks, Denis) shows AC as an option.

gregk1 · 03-29-2002, 01:00 PM

Jim yes my A/C install is verry crude ther is a BIG NASTY hole In the fire wall leading to the smuglers box. That was done by the dealer?? it looks like some demo derby guy's did it. Wow I shure would throw a fit if my new car came back all hacked up like that I am removing all of the A/C stuff because I live in the pacfic NW where we pray for even a short hot summer!! Snowmobiling season is about 6 months long and boating season is 3 months if were luckey my car is a sun roof car so I am happy with that Thanks Jim for your info

Jim Sims · 03-29-2002, 01:15 PM

The first owner of my car was a Beverly Hills Hematologist (the maintenance receipts bill his practice) and I doubt he ever knew what they did to his new Porsche when the A/C was installed.

Jim

gregk1 · 03-29-2002, 01:28 PM

My car has 3 puld studs as we speak but still runs good 182k thermols are off but I wonder if the bottem end has been done It runs like a dream good oil pressure used a quart about every 1500 to 2000 miles

Ray B · 03-30-2002, 05:50 AM

I'm going to look at a car for sale next week and I'm trying to do my homework. The car has 100K mi. on it and the owner says the engine has never been opened - says the car uses 1 qt/1k mi. I doubt it's THE one, But I need to start a database.
I originally was considering a 944 as an economical was to get into a dedicated auto-x/DE car but realized the 2.7 cars can be good cars for nearly the same initial cost-not to mention resale. The prices seem to reflect the bad press given to this era car.
It would appear that each year (74-77) has some advantages but it seems that the 76 model is the pick of the litter. I'm I correct??

JeffW · 03-30-2002, 07:44 AM

Hard to say, I really like my 76 but the engine has had so much work done to it that it should last near forever. If you look in the owners manual for the '76 it shows the under dash A/C. My install doesn't look all hacked up like an after thought like some of the others mentioned.

Ray B · 03-31-2002, 04:32 AM

The smog stuff seems to be the major difference between a 76 and a 77. I understand that some of the "late"( unsure of starting VIN) 77s had the divalar head studs installed. Would a de-smogged 77 be superior to a 76 model?

gregk1 · 03-31-2002, 01:18 PM

My first P car was a 74 ran Great used about a quart every15k I just picked up this 76 at a freinds car lot. wholesaled it to me for $3500 runs great but like I said three puld studs on one side I was afraid to even look on the other side so who knows whats on the other side the P.O said that he took the other side apart and fix some pulled ones on that side so the inserts seem to be the most importnt part of the 2.7 fix I sold my 74 and bought a 86 930 it was real hard to drive around the seattle tacoma area you had it in 2nd gear all the time 10 miles to the gallon and was allways working on it while my brother who I sold the 74 to drove it every day and never put a wrench on it for 15k. So when the 2.7's are done they run real well I love'm