Oil cooler ideas

[E_S]

Soon installing a rebuilt 7M-GTE engine with upgraded oil pump and pipe.

- I want to ditch the pressure-regulated oil cooler system
- Engine/turbo is stock
- I want to have a thermostat-controlled oil cooler large enough to keep oil temperatures reasonable for sustained high-speed (German Autobahn) driving
- Longevity is important
- I would like to keep the cooler in the stock location or close.
- I would like something that looks "close to stock"

My plan is to remove the original setup and use a sandwich plate with a built-in thermostat. Would like to keep the filter on the engine and not remote. A local hydraulics shop will make the hoses as long as the plate and the cooler uses industry standard couplings.

Which size cooler would make sense? Any recommendations for specific coolers or sandwich plates? Any other recommendations/do's/don'ts?

 

[supraguy@aol]

The problem with keeping the oil filter on the side of the block is access. The factory unit turns the filter 90 degrees, to make access possible with the turbo/ hose, etc all in the way. Putting a sandwich on the block, then the filter, may cause access issues. I used the canton remote adapter, and routed the lines to a Greddy filter relocator, and the oil cooler lines ran from there. You want an AN10 or AN12 oil cooler and lines. I used AN10. A cooler like the one picture, will allow you to bolt it to the front crash bar, in front of the intercooler, and will not be very conspicuous.

 

[Nick M]

- I want to have a thermostat-controlled oil cooler large enough to keep oil temperatures reasonable for sustained high-speed (German Autobahn) driving
- Longevity is important
- I would like to keep the cooler in the stock location or close.
- I would like something that looks "close to stock"

See my build thread.

The oil filter relocation kit 10695 from Perma cool is on back order, and so is the Summit racing kit built by Perma Cool. So I cant finish that part yet. But I pulled the stock oil cooler and installed the B&M Super Cooler. I bought one of very similar dimensions to the stock unit. It has to fit in the same spot for me. It will cool much better than stock as the core is twice as thick, and a better design. Take note in the cooler you buy. Some are only meant for Dexron type ATF, which flows much easier than engine oil.

View attachment 20732

Here is the cooler itself. I picked up the NPT to 1/2 hose adapters, as the Perma Cool kit has 1/2 96" long hose in it.

View attachment 20733

This is the Perma Cool 185 degree thermostat. I thought an inside picture would be nice for those that don't have one, haven't seen it. When the engine is cold, the oil goes right to the fitler, skipping the cooler.

View attachment 20735

I pieced it together. I originally used one that mounted easily and had feed and return perpendicular to the block. I didn't like it and switched over the to the Canton piece after seeing IJ use it. I drops down 90 degrees. Move it to behind the light in the cavity.



That cooler went in the stock location. It is twice the thickness in the core. More surface area is better, I wasn't ready to move that much stuff around in the car.


This is the Canton adapter. My webhost went out of business after 25 years. Some pictures in the thread are gone.





I bought a remote mount filter adapter plate and bolted it here. The oil lines run to it. Remember it is in series with the cooler.