Which type of Oil cooler on a 75?

privatepang · privatepang's Garage

So I don't have an external oil cooler on my 911s and thought it may be a good idea to get one prior to our west coast road trip in August.

Theres used ones which i've seen and as per my search, that you have to clean out or just buy a brand new ones from our host.

Just curious if people recommend the radiator type ones compared to the compact style that the host sells as well?

I have the 2.7 motor still in the car so not sure if that affects which cooler i should buy.

In terms of install, is it just a long oil lines that has to be routed to and from the rear oil tank to the front cooler if I got the radiator style one?

quattrorunner · quattrorunner's Garage

My 77 had no cooler either. The sc cars came with the trombone cooler which didn't do enough. The other popular option is the radiater type offered in the carrera known as the carrera cooler and it's ok only if you also get the fan for it. These cars don't have enough airflow to that part of the car so help with a fan is needed.
I'm in vegas and my 2.7 needed a cooler here in the summer with a fan so your smart to think of that before you venture down here. It's not a cheep project with the thermostat, cooler lines coming up front, adapter lines and cooler/fan. Easily a $1000 job used parts and $1700 new at least. Good luck and have a fun trip, sounds like a fun trip.

javadog · 05-10-2012, 11:38 AM

I prefer the 28 tube brass coolers, for most driving in the US. Some aftermarket coolers get good reviews, although I've not used one.

Regardless of which cooler you use, you can also cut a notch under the right side of the bumper to allow more air to get to the cooler, or swap the front bumper for the later design that had both a notch and a raised area on the right side.

JR

Neel · 05-10-2012, 11:45 AM

Check with Chuck at Elephant Racing.. Several options... Nice products.. None are 'cheap', but will add longevity to your engine!!!

dipso · 05-10-2012, 02:19 PM

Mine had no cooler either, except for the one mounted to the motor.
I put in the elephant big mouth cooler and my temps dropped to a point where I thought it was abnormal.

I used to hit 250 sometimes, usually around 230, 220. I never knew the correct temp and thought those were normal.
After the install my car runs about 200. Then after some research I found out that is where they are supposed to be.

If you can afford it, do the elephant big mouth with oversized finned lines. You won't regret it.
You can do the install yourself.
I didn't put in the fan but probably will at a later date.

privatepang · privatepang's Garage

Wow thats crazy... the plumbing kit + oil cooler kit almost adds up to more than the original purchase price of my car... o wait thats the ST/R kit... ok that scared me for a bit...

Winter · 03:12 PM

Don't forget to check the classifieds. I picked up a later 911 stock fender mount cooler along with lines and thermostat for $500 complete. It's going into my '75 next month when I do my first engine drop.

If you buy used, you may have to clean and pressure test the lines and cooler, depending upon the source.

Good luck.

RSTarga · 05-10-2012, 03:36 PM

never put an unknown cooler on a car without having it pressure flushed

clutch-monkey · 04:06 PM

hi mate, when i bought my car it had a radiator type oil cooler in the front of each wheel well with a fan on the front, worked really well for everything short of extended track driving. they look like oem equipment from a late rmodel, maybe a 964 or carrera or something. wasn't expensive.
i've also got the little intake thingo's on either side to help get air in there, next to the indicators - see pics below. (the DP front lip was added later when i moved to a central cooler)

dipso · 05-11-2012, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by privatepang

Wow thats crazy... the plumbing kit + oil cooler kit almost adds up to more than the original purchase price of my car... o wait thats the ST/R kit... ok that scared me for a bit...

A good cooler is not cheap, but neither is an engine. Your existing engine will last longer with a good cooler. And when it is time to rebuild or replace, you will already have the good cooler.
It will be required at that time. May as well get it now.

ossiblue · 05-11-2012, 07:49 AM

I notice you're in B.C., so this may or may not apply but does your 75 still have the five blade fan and did it come with thermal reactors? If yes to either or both, I would suggest removal of the reactors and replacement of the fan.

Having had a 75s, you're car will do just fine with stock hard lines, thermostat, and 28 tube brass cooler though the other options mentioned above will certainly give superior cooling. If money is an issue, that could be the way to go, especially since you live in a relatively cool climate. Even on your trip (along the west coast in August?) the ambient temps will be relatively cool. The only time I had the heat creep up was sitting in stop-and-go, So Cal traffic on a hot summer day, inland. Even then, the temp didn't get dangerously hot and cooled quickly when I began to move at highway speed.

Tidybuoy · 05-11-2012, 10:24 AM

My '74 2.7s has an '86 Carrera oil cooler without the fan. My car generally runs about 180-200 but will get up to 220 in the summer if I am in slow traffic. I'm in one of the hottest climates in the country (over 100 most of summer).

On the freeway, the car does fine but I would consider the electric fan if I was going to be doing a lot of stop & go in the hot summer heat. Since my car does not have a/c, I generally do not drive it at lunch time duing the summer but morning and evenings are fine.

RSTarga · 05-11-2012, 01:06 PM

I use the 28 fin cooler on my 2.7 RS conversion and it works great even in TX. A bit more robust than a radiator type.

vash · vash's Garage

my 75 car had nothing.

i got lucky. i bought everything from partsheaven used for $900. i was a complete newbie at the time and simply cleaned it and fit it into my car. knowing what i know now, i would get everything professionally cleaned and tested. i got lucky in price and lucky i bought the system from a clean wrecked car.

privatepang · privatepang's Garage

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Well i'll be doing a road trip down to LA from Van via the coast in August then getting the car shipped to Sydney Aus from LA hence why i asked abuot oil coolers.

Will have to weigh everything up and see if i can afford it. Just bought seats, steering wheel, stereo and speakers so a bit low on the funds.

If i can get away with the trombone cooler, that me be a good way to go for now?

RSTarga · 05-16-2012, 05:06 PM

The trombone is pretty much worthless. You should be able to find a 28 tube for not much more.

hpv · 05-16-2012, 05:17 PM

1974 -1977 bean counters at Porsche deleted oil cooler causing 250 degree engine temps resulting in valve jobs at 30k and total engine rebuild at 60k.Simple fix was
add oil cooler in fender and plumb it from engine.Engine temps were reduced to 180 degrees problem solved.Dr Porsche's dream was realized. Lemans wins galore !

CaptainCalf · 05-16-2012, 05:50 PM

Go with Elephant Racing and you won't regret it...

drtyler · 05-16-2012, 06:54 PM

I'll second the Elephant Racing recommendation. Just installed their lines and oil cooler on my '75. Dropped the oil temps down a good bit. Bought the fan kit too, but didn't really have enough room to install it, so we are going to try it without the fan and see how it does.

Their kit pretty much has everything you need for installation. It doesn't include the foam seal stuff to go around the oil cooler, but that may not be a big deal. I've been very pleased with the setup so far.