Front Oil Cooler Questions

mtndew342 · 04-02-2003, 01:37 PM

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone has set up a front oil cooler without having to dig into the front trunk? I was thinking about cutting a hole in the stock bumper and mounting it behind there, but I don't know if there would be enough room or how the route the air. If you guys have pictures of how you did it I'd love to see them! Thanks

~Steven

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

If you switch over to a 75-76 bumper and put an air dam below it, you have enough room for air flow out of a cooler. But there isn't enough space between the stock 70-74 bumper and the body to get good air flow through the cooler.

--DD

Jim Smolka · 04-02-2003, 02:18 PM

I had a stock '75 front bumper with 2 oil coolers mounted into metal part. A real pain to do, but it worked well. (I have this system FS). If you look at the picture of my 914, you cannot even tell there are 2 coolers

If you have a early style bumper, it is possible to mount a cooler behind each fog light opening, cooling will not be adequate for a big 6 cly motor during track use.

StratPlayer · 04-02-2003, 07:17 PM

Heres a shot of my cooler, its in a 76 2.0 D jet, lines run under the rocker panel then back into the engine.

Bleyseng · Bleyseng's Garage

Nice Color!
Geoff

ruddyboys · 04-03-2003, 04:39 AM

With this setup how many more quarts of oil do have to add?

StratPlayer · 04-04-2003, 08:51 AM

It only takes about 1qt. of extra oil and thats it.

odie · 04-04-2003, 09:30 AM

what about using the fog light areas for an oil cooler? Don't the pre-'75s have some kind grills or buckets up front for the lights? Just replace the lights with coolers.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Not enough space behind them for air to get out. That results in poor flow through the cooler, which doesn't help cooling very much.

--DD

maf 914 · 04-04-2003, 10:04 AM

Does anyone know what kind of pressure loss a typical front oil cooler installation results in? I realize there are variables such as line size, routing and cooler construction. As I see it, for a Type 4 the oil is going from the pump, through the filter, and through the oil cooler and lines before re-entering the engine at the filter for lubrication. The oil pressure is measured after the oil returns to the engine.

Mike

Scott S · Scott S's Garage

I need to fix the sender on my guage so I don't have any numbers to throw out, however, other than the very first time I started the car after the install, the oil light turns off exactly as it did prior to the cooler install - within a couple of seconds.

Jim Smolka · 04-04-2003, 02:58 PM

The big problem with installing coolers into the bumpers of a '75 is cutting the thick metal framing behind the outer rubber shell. Be there done, that, wont do that again...

Having said that, I do have a dual oil cooler setu for a '75-76 car that has all the cut outs in the metal.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Actually, the common way of doing that in my area is to put a fiberglass replica of the late bumper on, and modify that...

--DD

Jim Smolka · 04-05-2003, 12:40 AM

Dave,

You are correct, the FG bumper solution would have been much easier.

For some silly reason, I wanted to make the 3.0 914 a 'sleeper'.

Zeke · 04-05-2003, 07:32 AM

Jim, you can have your cake and eat it too. The FG late bumper can be painted to match the original. they even have rubberized paint if you want to go that far. As far as the holes are concerned, put'em down low and be descrete. See if Chuck M's Elephant lines can be adapted.

Mountain914 · 04-05-2003, 08:13 AM

To keep it a "sleeper" and not too much cutting, you can always put it under the front cowel... that is... if you don't mind loosing your windshield wipers (of course probably some jeep type wiper motors could be installed?

Zeke · 04-05-2003, 08:24 AM

Wow! An excellent idea. Good high pressure area there. And shorter oil lines. I'm gonna consider definately that location.

mtndew342 · 04-05-2003, 01:45 PM

thats a really cool set up under the cowel! I wonder how good the air flow is under there? And don't you get a lot of air blowing into the passenger area????

Jim Smolka · 04-05-2003, 01:50 PM

I like the cowel setup, could be used as an aux heater for the cabin???

Mountain914 · 04-06-2003, 08:51 AM

Nothing gets into the cabin (I have sheet-metal over any previous access) so couldn't answer the aux. heating questions

This is a fair weather only car (hence no wipers and lots of rain-x).
I have a electronic thermostat that kicks the fan on at 220. Never an overheating problem, even on the hottest days (so far - knock wood).