Anyone running an oil cooler on their C3? If so can someone post pics or details on mounting and where they ran the lines

 

:lurk:

I will be watching this one. I plan to install a combo oil cooler / trans cooler this fall.

 

At one time I had two mounted directly behind the grills on each side, one for oil and one for trans. fluid. After installing a Be-Cool radiator, I removed them. I ran my braided lines for oil cooler along upper fender in factory wire retainers and through a channel by radiator support then by the running light and into the cooler for oil. The other cooler I just ran the braided line from the radiator connections, by the running light and into the trans. cooler. The coolers were held in place with some brackets I fabricated and were bolted to the bumper snout brace and also the lower air valance supports. Coolers were Hayden and measured about 6 or 7 inches x 14 or 16 inches. Headlight operation was unaffected but it was a tight fit. Hope this helps ya.
Jim :cheers:


[Modified by jimvette999, 5:24 PM 5/22/2003]

 

How come you wanna run a oil cooler? From my understanding unless you have a turbo or are planning on running high rpms for extended periods of time, its really not needed. Good oil, frequent changes and a good radiator cooling sys if plenty enough for even a radical street machine. Adding an oil cooler would make things more complicated. More to break down. In words of wisdom, the old addage goes K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid.

 

My reason for an oil cooler.....

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Phoenix --- July's average temperature of 93.5 degrees in the highest average of the year, and the month features an average high temperature of 105.9 and an average low of 81.0. The temperature has reached as high as 121 on the 28th in 1995. There are usually 26 days with 100 or higher and five days with 110 or higher during the month. In 1989, there were 16 days with 110 or higher. Nighttime temperatures generally fall to around 80, however, it did not fall below 93 on the 20th in 1989.

By August, the summer heat begins to moderate slightly, but humidities are higher than in July. This makes many residents feel that it is much hotter than it really is. Actually, the average high temperature is 103.7 or 2.2 degrees lower than in July. August still averages 23 days with temperatures or 100 or higher and 2 days of 110 or higher. It has had as many as 31 days of 100 or higher in 1973 and 1975, and in several earlier years. There were as few as 9 such days in 1955. In 1995, there were 10 consecutive days of 110 or higher.

 

I run a quite large oil cooler on my '68. I agree with the above post though. Unless you really need the oil cooler, don't do it. I'm running it because it's going to race in some of the desert races flat out a lot of the time. Races such as the Silver State Classic and Pony Express 100. The engine is a high rpm 433 big block (454 4-bolt block, 427 forged crank, overbored 0.030").
It's supposed to make around 669 hp @ 6500 rpm and 600 lb-ft at 5000 rpm.

I mounted the oil cooler onto the rear of a HUGE 5-core copper radiator that does not use a radiator support. It is mounted directly to the sides of the engine bay where the support used to mount. There is ample room for the fan, since the radiator sits at such an angle. I had to make a custom fan shroud for this system though. The lines are both on the driver's side of the engine bay. A remote oil filter is mounted right below the lines, and it takes a large PH8A filter. The lines route above the front crossmember and to the block along the driver's side.

There's also a fuel cooler, mounted between the headlights, behind the grill, and behind where the front license plate used to be.

This thing runs COOL folks. Driving it hard in 80 degree weather, at high altitude, it doesn't warm up past 140 degrees. But the thing is, when it's 115 degrees out and I'm pushing 170 mph, I want the temps to stay down.

Like the guy above said, don't bother unless you've got a cooling problem or you have an engine that needs it.
:rofl:

 

BSeery, I would say that you as a human can definatly feel the effects of that hot climate. But yur engine is a different story. The temps generated by friction in an engine are far less effected by outside ambient them than you are. Considering the cooling system is in proper order, the heat generated by the engine is just that, heat generated by the engine as how its used. Not so much effected by the ambient temps.

 

But the very fact that the air it self is over 100 - 110 degrees constantly during the summer, how do I expect an engine to keep oil temps under 220 and water temps under 200 unless I use extra measures to cool them down? If I autocross or even drive hard these temperatures can spike high enough to damage the oil and transmission fluids and to overheat the engine and transmission.
For me the extra insurance of keeping the oil cool helps keep the motor cool. Keeping the transmission fluid temp in check will never harm the transmission and can only help in the long run. I don't push the car hard now, but I want to be able to in the future. I want to know that the engine and transmission will be able to handle it when I do go out and play.