Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

> Birth of an Oil Cooler...
Darren65
post Jul 10 2025, 03:01 PM
Post #1


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: 25-March 25
From: Wiltshire
Member No.: 28,677
Region Association: None
Hi All,

I was recommended to 914World by a guy in the UK who purchased a GT oil cooler from me who suggested I mention the coolers on here.

He rates 914World as the best forum around and knowing me from my DDK restoration threads he also said I'd enjoy some of the really cool builds on here as I love a bit of detail! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)

Not hard to guess that I'm really a 911 guy however I appreciate all things early Porsche, especially period sports purpose cars and have found myself attracted to all the cool details of the GT lately so that may well become a future project!

Getting the sales pitch out of the way, a friend and I do have a few GT oil coolers for sale. Obviously it would be great if my presence here attracted a couple of enquiries but I only have a limited number which will sell in time, it's not a commercial venture and, like you guys, we're just early Porsche enthusiast that got carried away so highly unlikely we'll commission anymore.

The coolers did turn out pretty good and respected 914-6 guys who know have rated them as the best reproductions produced and have even purchased them for their own cars.

I won't place a sales ad on here but if anyone is interested you can see details here - https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-914...oil-cooler.html

Sales blurb sorted I thought you guys might be more interested in how these coolers came to be as no doubt it's a slippery restoration slope many on here have been caught by!

When this started I knew nothing of racing Porsche oil coolers, or indeed of how you'd get one fabricated, I owned a 914 Dinky toy as child but that's where my interest in these cars stopped and I wasn't prepared for the thousands of hours of commitment that followed.

But then I was offered this ugly duckling....

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752181261.1.jpg)

Indeed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ....

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752181262.2.jpg)
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
Replies(1 - 15)
Darren65
post Jul 10 2025, 03:09 PM
Post #2


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: 25-March 25
From: Wiltshire
Member No.: 28,677
Region Association: None
...fortunately after several years of hard work the ugly duckling is starting to look like a bit of a swan!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752181752.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752181753.2.jpg)

....
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Darren65
post Jul 10 2025, 03:26 PM
Post #3


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: 25-March 25
From: Wiltshire
Member No.: 28,677
Region Association: None
So what does this have to do with oil coolers?

Well the car was originally a 1977 Carrera 3.0. Although a desirable model it hadn't been on the road since 1989, there had been a small internal fire that had ruined part of the interior, at some point it has been vandalised and the engine was in bits.....this car was never going back to standard spec!

On the plus side the car was pretty solid, it had it's original engine and gearbox, it's predecessor was the 3.0RS and the short stroke 6-bolt crank engine lent itself to going back to that model.....a 3.0RS project it was to be!

But then anybody who's ever got into an RS, or indeed GT project will know.....some parts are almost impossible find! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

.....
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mb911
post Jul 10 2025, 03:34 PM
Post #4


914 Guru
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 7,609
Joined: 2-January 09
From: Burlington wi
Member No.: 9,892
Region Association: Upper MidWest
I saw these on pelican and they look to be very nice.
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mepstein
post Jul 10 2025, 04:44 PM
Post #5


914-6 GT in waiting
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 19,964
Joined: 19-September 09
From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE
Member No.: 10,825
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
A buddy of mine bought one for his (real) RSR. He was very pleased.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
brant
post Jul 10 2025, 06:10 PM
Post #6


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 12,011
Joined: 30-December 02
From: Colorado
Member No.: 47
Region Association: Rocky Mountains
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

Your car looks great!

There are some nice builds around here

And I’ll bet you run into some 911 guys over here you already know

It’s a friendly board without all of the bs

Brant
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sixnotfour
post Jul 10 2025, 07:29 PM
Post #7


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 10,909
Joined: 12-September 04
From: Life Elevated..planet UT.
Member No.: 2,744
Region Association: Rocky Mountains
Hey Darren , I took some bypass pics and measurements. for you ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Montreal914
post Jul 10 2025, 08:17 PM
Post #8


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,857
Joined: 8-August 10
From: Claremont, CA
Member No.: 12,023
Region Association: Southern California
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

Beautiful car! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

What is the blue?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Darren65
post Jul 11 2025, 05:52 AM
Post #9


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: 25-March 25
From: Wiltshire
Member No.: 28,677
Region Association: None
Thank you for the warm welcome guys, it's really appreciated (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The colour is Mexico Blue. Thanks also for the kind comments, I'll certainly enjoy finding my way around here although it may take some time!

@sixnotfour your pics were invaluable and massive help, huge thanks.
@mepstein glad to hear your buddy was pleased with his purchase. It was actually my partner in this venture and another RSR owner Paul Howells who encourage me to have 2.8/GT coolers fabricated, I would left it at getting my own 3.0 cooler sorted but more on this follow.

As I mentioned some parts are impossible to find...
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Darren65
post Jul 11 2025, 06:13 AM
Post #10


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: 25-March 25
From: Wiltshire
Member No.: 28,677
Region Association: None
As I got into the build of my 911, it started to become more and more detailed, the aim then being to create a perfect facsimile of a RHD 1974 3.0RS....albeit with a different spec engine.

One of the items missing from my inventory was the front central oil cooler. I searched for many months without success, there was nothing on the market that remotely resembled an original cooler and the odd original used example that came up was commanding six figures with no guarantee of what was inside!

I figured this was a part that would elude me so decided to try and make my own. I never expected this to be perfect but as it lived behind the front bumper and hardly seen it would be something I had to live with.

With this in mind I turned to Clare and Bob at Concept Racing ... https://www.instagram.com/concept_racing_/ .... https://www.conceptracing.co.uk .... Bob is a highly regarded genius in this field and it's easy work for him although he highlighted that to fabricate a cooler that closely matches an original it would be good to have end caps machined or cast and ideally a 3D of an original would help no end......I set to work....

Sadly, after many more months of searching I'd been unable to source an original cooler to scan and it looked liked I'd hit a dead end.....I was then pointed in the direction of fellow enthusiast Olivier Sauzet ... https://www.instagram.com/0livier906/ ...although I've spoken to Olivier numerous times of the years I hadn't picked up on his endeavours and his ultra cool fabrication of a reproduction 906 oil cooler ......

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236025.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236025.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236025.3.jpg)

.....Olivier is a highly skilled draughtsman who fabricates rare Porsche parts for his 906 project and also for fun although unfortunately the 906 cooler is much smaller than the one I needed and we couldn't use his previous work. However after a few discussions Olivier agreed to help with the fabrication of end caps and believed he could be pretty accurate with the numerous photograph and reference dimensions we had to hand.....

....some sterling work from Olivier and we were close to having drawings and files ready for caps to be fabricated....

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236026.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236026.5.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236026.6.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236026.7.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236027.8.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-28677-1752236027.9.jpg)

.......but then everything changed!
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Cairo94507
post Jul 11 2025, 08:16 AM
Post #11


Michael
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 10,382
Joined: 1-November 08
From: Auburn, CA
Member No.: 9,712
Region Association: Northern California
Please don't leave us hanging.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
live free & drive
post Jul 11 2025, 08:25 AM
Post #12


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 200
Joined: 29-June 16
From: New Hampshire
Member No.: 20,159
Region Association: None
So are these in serial production? Or was a batch made and that's it?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Darren65
post Jul 11 2025, 08:36 AM
Post #13


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: 25-March 25
From: Wiltshire
Member No.: 28,677
Region Association: None
QUOTE(live free & drive @ Jul 11 2025, 08:25 AM) *

So are these in serial production? Or was a batch made and that's it?

Only one batch ever produced although being fabricated at different times.

There's a very small market for these so unlikely we'll do more due to committment required for castings etc. but who knows.

Cheers,
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Darren65
post Jul 11 2025, 08:39 AM
Post #14


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: 25-March 25
From: Wiltshire
Member No.: 28,677
Region Association: None
QUOTE(Cairo94507 @ Jul 11 2025, 08:16 AM) *

Please don't leave us hanging.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

....sorry at work and really should be doing other things but will document the many, many hours it took to complete this project in the coming days.

Cheers,
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mepstein
post Jul 11 2025, 09:45 AM
Post #15


914-6 GT in waiting
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 19,964
Joined: 19-September 09
From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE
Member No.: 10,825
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
QUOTE(Darren65 @ Jul 11 2025, 10:39 AM) *

QUOTE(Cairo94507 @ Jul 11 2025, 08:16 AM) *

Please don't leave us hanging.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

....sorry at work and really should be doing other things but will document the many, many hours it took to complete this project in the coming days.

Cheers,

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Darren65
post Jul 11 2025, 11:44 AM
Post #16


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 9
Joined: 25-March 25
From: Wiltshire
Member No.: 28,677
Region Association: None
QUOTE(Darren65 @ Jul 11 2025, 06:13 AM) *

.......but then everything changed!

I'm fortunate enough to have completed a few restorations now and I've always had huge doses of luck with them (how we block out the bad!! LOL).......I've found I've always met the right people at the right time, rare parts have come my way and things have come out of the blue to help me on way. I like to share my journey and we're all fortunate to enjoy a community where fellow enthusiasts genuinely like to help. I have been blessed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

For the oil coolers a chunk of good fortune came when, in passing, I was told of an engineering company that were in the process of re-coring a genuine 1974 RSR oil cooler. An even bigger chunk of luck came when their chief engineer/draughtsman got all excited when I asked if he could help build me a 3.0RSR oil from scratch and later discovering he had an unmatched anal attention to detail!

Truly happy days! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic
5 User(s) are reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
3 Members: Darren65, rgalla9146, T.Rick6

 

Display Mode: Switch to: Standard · Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 11th July 2025 - 11:44 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2025  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...