Oil Cooler Placement

[ResIpsa]

Has anyone considered placing the oil cooler in a different position than two inches in front of the radiator?

I noticed that on the pre-production 370Z’s the oil cooler was positioned in the front driver side wheel wells. The driver side fang cover was removed and large slots were cut into the wheel well to exhaust the hot air.

Another thought was to create a bracket extending the oil cooler farther away from the radiator and removing the fang cover. Then you could cut the portion of the engine bay air divider directly below the bumper allowing a path for air into the wheel well. All that would be left is to cut slots in the driver side wheel well and create a wind baffle between the oil cooler and radiator directing air to the wheel well. The oil cooler would still get air from the main grill and the fang opening should provide some direct air and maybe a venturi effect drawing hot air into the wheel well.

I used my best paint skills to create a crude sketch.

Any thoughts?

[SoCal 370Z]

Since I am assuming you got your information from the Technosquare article, and having put some more thought to it, I believe that the slotted openings were initially intended for a fan-assisted oil cooler assemble like this one:



Most likely there would have been more questions asked when journalists heard the unseen electrical fan kicking-in than just running it out in the open. I see no benefit in slotting the inner fender well cover for the grill opening mounted cooler as the radiator can help assist when they kick-on.

[spearfish25]

I thought of the fan-assisted units as well but from what I found, they are quite a bit more expensive. While there is obvious benefit of the fan at low speeds, people seem to be doing well with the non-assisted coolers thus far. Given that engine coolant temps (ie the temp of the fluid flowing through the radiator) are rock stable, the oil cooler in front of the radiator is apparently no issue.

Stillen's kit calls for the power steering cooler to be sandwiched between the oil cooler and the radiator. Stillen claims that even this configuration is OK, and they do it to allow installation of an automatic transmission cooler on the driver's side.

[alan93rsa]

Here's a Setrab 50-920-7612 with dual fans. The core is 2"x14.5"X6" (D,W,H) overall length = 16" with 20 rows. It is larger than most I have seen on this list. A friend used it in his 944 turbo, 500 plus at the crank.

[Brazilbro]

Thats a huuuuge bi&ch..

[Josh@STILLEN]

Originally Posted by Brazilbro

Thats a huuuuge bi&ch..

Deuce quotes.. this thread has officially improved.. lol

[alan93rsa]

If you like the twin fan cooler I think he might be willing to sell it.