Front Carrera Oil Cooler

[RNajarian]

I just purchased the needed items to install the upgraded front Carrera style fender cooler in my 1975 S from our host. The cooler has two blanking plugs on the back which will obviously needed to be closed prior to installation.

I was thinking I could use one of these plugs to install another oil temperature sensor/gauge. Has anyone done this? Do you know the needed/necessary parts?

Below are photos (courtesy of our host) of the cooler and blanking plugs.

Thanks

[Techno Duck]

The port on the right is for the fan temp switch.

The port on the left is just a boss for the ground wire for said temp switch. It shouldn't go all the way through.

Oil temperature or pressure would not be accurate here if your running a thermostat. Your readings would be dependent if the thermostat were open or not.

[RNajarian]

Thanks TD!

I’ve already wired up a switch controlled fan to this area. I have it mounted blowing air over the trombone cooler. I don’t mind manually turning the switch on and off as needed not a big deal for me.

Would anyone know the correct size plugs that would close these Openings?

[ganun]

M 14 x 1.5 from my 87 when I put a lower temp switch. Search NASON oil switch.

[RNajarian]

Thanks Ganum ! Appreciate the help.

I wonder in a pinch if you can put a 14 x 1.5 magnetic oil drain plug. If it fits it couldn’t hurt.

[Techno Duck]

Just get a fan switch and don’t hook it up.

[RNajarian]

All the parts have arrived to upgrade my trombone cooler to a fender mounted Carrera Style cooler. I can’t think of a better way to spend the 4th!

I will be putting a 14mm x 1.5 sensor in the back port. Should I use a washer? If so what type? Crush? Fiber?

Thanks for your help

[WayneY]

Doing the same on my 82 SC, but having trouble getting the 35+ yr old trombone off. I'm in the OC, where in SoCal are you?

[Techno Duck]

Originally Posted by RNajarian

All the parts have arrived to upgrade my trombone cooler to a fender mounted Carrera Style cooler. I can’t think of a better way to spend the 4th!

I will be putting a 14mm x 1.5 sensor in the back port. Should I use a washer? If so what type? Crush? Fiber?

Thanks for your help

Copper or aluminum crush washer.

[RNajarian]

Originally Posted by WayneY

Doing the same on my 82 SC, but having trouble getting the 35+ yr old trombone off. I'm in the OC, where in SoCal are you?

My trombone is off an 1983 SC. I put a couple of wrenches on the fittings a little while ago to see how fused they were . . . They were pretty tight. I may use Wayne D’s suggestion of either heat or WD 40. Hopefully all will go well.

I’m in Glendale. Fortunately close to TRE if I screw up too badly

[RNajarian]

Originally Posted by Techno Duck

Copper or aluminum crush washer.

Thanks for all your help

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by RNajarian

Thanks TD!

I’ve already wired up a switch controlled fan to this area. I have it mounted blowing air over the trombone cooler. I don’t mind manually turning the switch on and off as needed not a big deal for me.

Would anyone know the correct size plugs that would close these Openings?

Go with the Nason.

210f close.

195f open.

Gerry

[RNajarian]

Started my fender Carrera cooler project . . . Wanted to share the product of the morning. I soaked the threads with Gunk Brand Liquid Wrench. 10 minutes, a little muscle and the connections became loose. (No affiliation with the product)

[RNajarian]

Thanks to all of you who helped me out with this project. Yesterday I spent the day installing the fender mounted Carrera style oil cooler. (In between, our normal 4th of July activities.)

This morning I ran the engine in my garage for 45 minutes to see if there were any leaks and of course to see if the set up even works. The metal pipes leading to the oil cooler were cool to the touch until about 190 degrees as indicated at the dash gauge (obviously the external thermostat opened). I let the engine run until the metal pipes were scalding hot to the touch, the dash gauge indicated 200 degrees. I turned on the Spal fan mounted on the radiator and waited to see the temperatures. After a little while the system stabilized at about 195 degrees. The temperature in the garage was over 90 degrees as indicated by my vehicles outside temperature gauge.

I shut the Spal off to see what would happen and within 2 minutes the temperature rose to 210 degrees. I turned the fan back on and after 10 minutes the oil cooled to 200 degrees.

All in all I’m pleased with this bench test. 1 hour after shutting the system down I inspected all the potential avenues for leaks, and there were none.

I have wired the oil cooler with a temperature gauge. I like the idea of having a redundant system to monitor the temperature of the oil (as long as the thermostat is open). If the dash gauge shows reliable as compared to the sensor put in the oil cooler I may still swap out the sensor and put in a Nason sensor for the fan.

Thanks again for everyone’s help.

[RNajarian]

FINAL Analysis

I cannot believe how well this fender mounted Carrera oil cooler is working. As you can see from the set of photographs below it is over 100° here in Southern California (as indicated on the exterior temperature gauge in my car). Note the oil temperature at about 40 mph is about 185°F !

An incredible improvement over my trombone cooler, which would have been running easily 60° hotter.

Oh on a side note, I’ve got a trombone cooler for sale if anyone needs one.

[RNajarian]

Sorry Guys one last question . . .

Would anyone know the correct thread size for the grounding plug on the front facing part of this oil cooler? The sensor is M14 x 1.5 but I cannot seem to find a PDF with the oil cooler specs.

Thanks

[KTL]

Based on the size of the hex head of the screw, it looks to be a M6 x 1.0 hole. Or the next size up would be M8 x 1.25. There are a number of M6 and M8 screws on the car you can use as test screws. Pick an easy target(s) screws that have 10mm and 13mm heads and see which fits the hole.

[RNajarian]

Sometimes being a car hoarder pays off. I have a coffee can full of assorted metric bolts/screws. I was able to find one in no time that fit, but sorry I can’t tell you what size it was.

[fintstone]

Just curious, you have an engine 3.0 that typically has a later sender (for the SC gauge) and you have an earlier, numbered gauge that takes a different (early) sender. Did you verify that they match/are correct...as this is a common problem with these cars and particularly those with engine swaps...and causes incorrect temp readings.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Just curious, you have an engine 3.0 that typically has a later sender (for the SC gauge) and you have an earlier, numbered gauge that takes a different (early) sender. Did you verify that they match/are correct...as this is a common problem with these cars and particularly those with engine swaps...and causes incorrect temp readings.

Those look to be New Vintage USA gauge overlays...