oil cooler, your thoughts Options

[Trekkor]

I'd like to start an open discussion on oil front mounted oil coolers and ducting.

I had a nice chit-chat with Brad today on the subject and I am convinced that I need to get one installed.

Planning to go BIG to be prepared for the SIX later in the year.

Any opinion on ducting from the fog/horn grilles and the round rubber front trunk body grommets?

Exit air into fender wells is what I think. You?
Andy and I tossed around the idea of getting the air out through the grill below the windshield. Might be tricky.

I'd like to use a piece of sheet metal to create an air space for the install and still have *some* trunk space available.

Pics would be nice. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

KT

I did a search on this...I just want a fresh thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif)

[SirAndy]

whatever gives you the least restriction. going through the fender wells means two 90 deg. angles on each side. air doesn't like that kind of thing.
it'll just pile up behind the oil-cooler, rendering it useless ....

only 2 (well, actually 3) options that will give you good results, IMHO ...

1. the factory GT shroud method. small angle, low resistance. good cooling. only drawback is adding more air under the car, which will give you more lift at very high speeds.

2. hang it under the bumper. the very early GT's had that, no cutting of the tub, just run a wide but slim cooler under the bumper, hot air will be directed under the car. very good air-flow. downside, you run the risk of ripping it off getting in/out the starbucks parking lot.

3. out the top. slightly more angle than 1. still very good airflow (add a lip in front of the hood cutout!). downside, highly visible and brad doesn't like the warm air coming over your windshield. (pussy!)


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Andy

[brant]

ohhh... I love this thread.
I've been there and tried a few things...

On my first race car, I ran 3 different set ups with the same cooler. I agree with Andy completely that its all about the exit. I finally went through the hood on my 3rd attempt and found another 20degrees each of the times I changed my exit.

since I don't have a camera or enough intelligence to post a picture, Andy can you post my front hood picture for me?

regarding fog light grills.... It is possible, but I don't know if you want to go there..... I have this set up right now on my race car, but since the car has still not had its maiden voyage I can't guarantee you that it works.

I first saw this set up from a friend of mine named tom hayes. He ran a pair of mocal coolers behind the fog lights with round PVC tubing behind the bumpers to force the air into the coolers.... Didn't work too well and he ended up ditching it for a race cooler in the spoiler (PCA-GT 5 car).

I realized that his exit was (IMHO) what was not working for him. In my new car I've run a pair of fluidyne double pass coolers in series. I talked with the engineers at fluidyne at length while planning my new set up. This car has no headlights so the air enters through the fog light grills and into an aluminum custom fit Square tunnel (approximately 6inches wide and 12inches tall.. Air goes through the coolers and still remains airtight inside of the tunnel on exit and then finally into the fender wells... The coolers are sealed inside of this tunnel, which I think is absolutely key. Its a straight shot with no bends... TONS of fabrication time into the tunnel... Double the fittings since I'm running 2 coolers in series, and pricey...

I wanted my fuel cell down lower than the stock location and was not allowed to go the hood route with the new car due to "Vintage Rules" in the new class I'm going into...

I strongly recommend you stick with what is tried and true. A good cooler set up will run a grand with lines and all.

brant

[spare time toys]

3. out the top. slightly more angle than 1. still very good airflow (add a lip in front of the hood cutout!). downside, highly visible and brad doesn't like the warm air coming over your windshield. (pussy!)


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Andy

Geeze I dont have a windshield wonder how that would make him feel (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol2.gif)

[Trekkor]

Here's what we're working with.
Use you favorite photo software to edit up your proposals.

Keep the comments about the dirty trunk to a minimum, thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif)

KT

[Trekkor]

I used a crayon to draw this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol2.gif)

the ducting would be the same hieght as the spare tire arch with a rubber gasket on top so when the sheet metal is set over the top and into the space it is air tight.

Think rat running through maze. <_<

The flow of the air is large and unrestricted.
It " Y's " left or right straight out the wells.

storage on top.

KT

[ArtechnikA]

two coolers in series ? conventional wisdom says run them in parallel for a lot of good reasons. but if it works for you go for it...

back to Trekkor...

GT shroud, duct it out the bottom, be done with it. clean, safe, simple, works. the factory cars didn't lift at Le Mans, they didn't lift at the Nurburgring, and if you've got straights as long as Mulsanne i don't know where, now that the Riverside CanAm course is a shopping center ...

in front of the windscreen is a HIGH pressure area - might be good for a cooler INLET (have a look at have every NASCAR car uses cowl induction) but you'll never get air to exhaust there.

you might be able to duct it to the fender wells IF you add some exhaust vents to the bodywork. this isn't legal (unless stock) in even SCCA SOLO-II Prepared Class and will move you to Modified if your competitors have read the rulebook carefully.

GT shroud, duct it out the bottom, be done with it.

[SirAndy]

how about the maestro himself? that'll keep things cool ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Andy

[Trekkor]

That's one of the funniest things I've ever seen...and it might work! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol2.gif)

KT

[Randal]

White wine and pumpkin pie; is that a Texas dinner?

[McMark]

Trekkor, you need to stop by tomorrow or saturday. I know you like crazy ideas and I have a few. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

[SpecialK]

two coolers in series ? conventional wisdom says run them in parallel for a lot of good reasons.

Granted, all of my experience with heat exchangers (or an oil cooler in this case) is military aircraft related, but they're all run in series (primary and secondary HE's). Just curious what the "conventional wisdom" and "good reasons" are for running them in parallel? Resistance/back pressure?

[ChrisReale]

GT shroud, duct it out the bottom, be done with it. clean, safe, simple, works.

Word. Do it once this way and move on to other projects (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[machina]

I considered ducting air thru the fog light grille exiting the headlight cover. There is alot of plumbing involved with this arrangement. With a wet sump TIV, not sure it would be a good situation.

A six with dry sump and good scavenge arrangement could make this work, but the coolers are in a very vulnerable location.

Also, while you could make this work within production car rules, it would not fly in most vintage classes, at least down here.

dr

[machina]

So I'm going with dual coolers at the rear. I know of another 914 racecar that runs a similar arrangement with excellent results.

This is probably not good for a street car, won't cool unless the car is moving.

The coolers are actually mounted now, will post pictures later.

dr

[SirAndy]

White wine and pumpkin pie; is that a Texas dinner?

actually, i think that was beer in a wine-glass. x-mas dinner party at my place lascht year ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)

[Steve]

I'm sorry but I always go factory whenever I can.
You can get the GT shroud and internal air baffle from Getty Design.
The GT option has kept my previous 2.7 motor very cool and my current 3.2 motor barely gets to 190degrees on the freeway.

Check out Jon Lowes GT page
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jonlowe/MyGT.html
This page shows the cutouts.
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jonlowe/MyGT0005.html

The GT won Lemans and many other races with this arrangement.

[J P Stein]

I hab no thoughts....I gots a pic, tho.

You can see that I punched some holes in the bulkhead to vent the thing and was prepared to punch more if needed. They aren't. Maybe I found a low pressure area. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

At any rate, the oil temps never go over 100 C....hot day, 2 driver AX. A mild temp track day....90C all day.

The feed line to the cooler is hot (no touchy hot) and the drain line is warm (grab aholt).....what more does one need?

Built a cover to go over the whole wurks...see next pic ....so's I can haul shittage in the front trunk....duh...piece of cake.

[J P Stein]

the quick brown fox........

[thesey914]

VERY neat JP