My front oil cooler setup -- why's it failing?, Installed May 2007 Options

[GTeener]

May this be a lesson to us all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Driving from Fair Oaks/Sacramento to Vacaville last Sunday. Filled the tank up before leaving town (1/2 tank of Premium gas). During freeway drive, started noticing and getting concerned by the rising oil temp and falling oil pressure. Peaked at 260+ oil temp and the 30 psi oil pressure reading on the gauges.

The engine made a sputter crackle sound like it was running rich at one point in slow traffic at the Hwy 50 & Hwy 80 merge. There was a puff of dark smoke upon acceleration. The engine didn't stop sputtering and there's been a knocking sound ever since, but there's no dark smoke. Lost my go power too. Feels like it isn't in the proper gear or something. Possibly missing a cylinder??

I stopped for lunch in Davis to let the engine cool off and stretch the dog. Drove some more without any noticeable improvement in the temp or power situation. Stopped at a 76 station in Vacaville to look more closely.

There is oil in the tank and it looks clean, but the level is above the fill dot.
No distributor wires are loose. Engine bay looks clean...No obvious oil leaks/spray. Got flatbed towed the rest of the way home by AAA.

Best I can tell, the oil may not be circulating properly. Best guess is that the thermostat isn't opening or there is a block in the oil cooler line somewhere but don't know why.

Leamon Stansell (HealToe914) did the oil cooler setup work in May 2007 (pictures below).

The car hadn't been driven much since. Half the tank of gas was 7 mos old (Premium) when I hit the freeway on Sunday.

Waiting for Rich Walton at Jerry Woods Enterprises to give me the go ahead to have the car towed to them for further diagnosis and repair but thought it *might* be worth getting *the group's* opinions/experiences on the subject.