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07-24-2011 #1
Oil cooler and line recommendations
OK guys, as mentioned in a couple other threads I've concluded I need to immediately put an oil cooler in the poncho. At Motor state I was easily getting my oil temp into hte 260 range at Gingerman. At Heidts any doubt was immediately eliminated when I hit 300, and had to back way off and baby the car for the road course element. The cause of this is that my block is bottom filled to the freeze plugs in order to get the power from that pontiac standard block safely.
Currently I have an adapter plate mounted to the block with 2 1/2" NPT ports, which I installed 1/2" NPT to -10AN fittings. These currently go to a frame rail mounted Canton oil filter setup. My plan is to re-engineer that and have the lines instead go forward, to an oil filter somewhere in the vicinity of the engine bay, and then to a front mounted oil cooler in front of my radiator.
I have several questions.
1) Any recommendations on the most effective cooler? Frank has a pretty nifty looking unit that I'm interested in - it's in the Bull run racer, and can be had either with or without fans. I don't know that the fans would be helpful (pusher fans) considering the rad fans will be pulling through anyway, and I don't have much power available, so I'd probably have to run a new power line directly from the battery.
2) Even though the ports on the block will be 1/2" NPT, is -10AN enough for the lines? Pretty much anything they attach to will be 1/2" line connections. Would -12 in the lines themselves really help?
3) Engine temps have been relatively manageable. Normally I'm at 180-190. When the oil heats way up, the water temps also get up to 210-215, sometimes 220. However, it's briefly and I think it's possible that between the oil temp and heating up the hard block that reducing the oil temp may also result in a little drop in peak water temp when I'm really hammering. But that's just a theory. Thoughts?
4) At present, before the oil REALLY heats up, my oil pressure is about 75psi at start, and around 50-60 after warm-up. I'm concerned about pressure drops after adding all the volume/lines/cooler, but plan to run it as is and watch it. If pressure drops much at all, during the off season I'm pulling the engine and putting a higher pressure Melling pump in the motor. Thoughts?
I need to start this change quick, so any and all advice is very very welcome!
'66 GTO Vert Project "Red Ink", 462ci of stroked pontiac power, TKO600, SC&C Stg II+, Tubular lowers, Currectrac Rear suspension, Moser 12bolt w/Truetrack, Wilwood Master and discs all around, too much fun for words...