installing carrera cooler on car without a cooler

[rrichar]

I am installing a carrera cooler on a 1974 S that did not originally come with an external cooler. I need your help in mounting the cooler itself; in particular the bottom mount. I got as part of my parts from Elephant Racing the factory brackets. I believe I have properly mounted the top bracket on the headlight bucket. My challenge seems to be how/where to properly place lower bracket. I have looked at the previous threads but no one seems to provide exact details on where/ how to install it. It seems one should be able to use the threaded hole that is there for the trombone cooler but it doesn't line up in any way I have imagined it would. The factory bracket seems too short to be able to use the threaded hole that is there. I can see maybe adding an extension to the factory bracket to make it reach the bottom of the cooler and the existing hole. Why does the factory bracket have a twist to it? Looking for ideas and any pictures would be of great help. The factory goes to great expense to create brackets to add on car s that didn't originally come with coolers BUT no details on where to install them? The factory seems so precise in everything else they do: I would think there are detailed instructions somewhere.

What have you done? Any one have a picture of the lower bracket mounted both with and without the cooler installed?

[JP911]

You must drill a hole for the mount, and/or weld it to the tub. As for location, wheel clearance is the determining factor. You need to get the cooler as far forward as possible or the tire will contact it when you turn the wheel. It's a matter of trial and error, but you should be able to do your test fitting before drilling or welding anything. Remember, measure 10 times, cut once!

[KNS]

The cooler may mount right up next to your horns and still leave very little room for wheel clearance. Try to look at a Carrera to see the general location (they moved the horns on the Carrera).

[boyt911sc]

I have installed a few Carrera coolers in SC's and as mentioned before, it would need a test fit (trial & error) to get the clearance needed for the tire. Try to get about 1" clearance between the tire and the stoneguard. The original location of the horn for SC's has to be moved/relocated in order to make room for the auxiliary cooler (Carrera) specially with fan. Otherwise, the tire would come in contact with the stoneguard when you a sharp turn.


The cooler on the right has the stoneguard trimmed/cut by PO to prevent the tire from rubbing. You don't want this to happen in your installation.

Tony

[Joe Bob]

If you do bumper 2 bumper traffic consider a SPAL fan.

[sailchef]

This may help



I welded the lower bracket to the tub after test fitting.

There is a kit you can buy from PP to attach the top of the cooler to the headlight bucket if you don't have original mounting post. Its pricey. If your not a purist you can probably fabricate your own with a bolt welded to the back of the bucket. I hung the cooler on the post and swung it forward to find the proper location.

[vash]

i did this. believe it or not, the bottom bracket was the easier of the two. i've done it a few times. first time on my 75 car. i bought the factory bottom bracket, and fabbed the top. believe me, factory brackets at both locations makes the job easier. i cranked the wheels back and forth, and used a ruler to make a mark on the inner fender as my "do not pass" line. then i took the wheel off.

pushing the cooler as far forward as i could, i marked the bottom bracket..then drilled the hole and mounted it. then when you hook the bottom and lean the cooler forward, you can fuss with the top bracket.

the job was challenging, but not that difficult. if you are buying a used system, i recommend changing the short lines that go from the rigid lines to the cooler. my used ones leaked and i needed to take it all apart.

[rrichar]

Sailchef your picture helps a lot. I didn't imagine it sloping forward like your picture shows. Would the rest of you say yours slopes forward like that one?

I currently have the horns removed and will locate them wherever they will go when I am finished with the cooler.

I will be installing a factory fan as well.

Thanks everyone, more pictures would be helpful.

[Joe Bob]

Yup....consider the center point of the hub.....

[OSI930]

Check out this article:
Pelican Technical Article: 911 Carrera Oil Cooler Upgrade

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by rrichar

Sailchef your picture helps a lot. I didn't imagine it sloping forward like your picture shows. Would the rest of you say yours slopes forward like that one?

I currently have the horns removed and will locate them wherever they will go when I am finished with the cooler.

I will be installing a factory fan as well.

Thanks everyone, more pictures would be helpful.

Richard,

Imagine three (3) identical coolers in a wind tunnel in three different orientation (positions). One is at vertical, second at 45° position, and third at 90° position (horizontal). Guess which one would have the better cooling rate among these coolers? The mass of air passing through the cooling fins (radiator) have a direct effect on the cooling rate.

Since I don't drive my car in the city that has traffic congestion, I removed the OEM cooling fan that came along with cooler. Lastly, in the track, you get better air flow without the fan installed. HTH.

Tony

[na2ub]

Good thread. My carrera reproduction cooler should be arriving this weekend. Installing in an SC. I only purchased the two soft line connecter hoses and 3 rubber mounting bolts. Will be fabbing the brackets, stone guard, and foam surround.

[rolls 912]

Mine is vertical but it just clears the wheel. Screwed to the headlight bucket and drilled the bottom bracket. I have a 68. Pushed forward as far a possible. In hindsight the slope concept would have been a better option.

[rattlsnak]

Dont mount it without attaching the hoses first. The length of the upper hoses kinda determines where the top of the cooler will fall, and the lower mount only fits in one place.