Inliners International Forums General Discussion Hi Performance Oil filter adaptor to oil cooler set-up. 250 L6

Hey guys,

I have been wanting to install a remote oil filter/oil cooler set-up for my 250 L6.

Do you guys have any recommendation?

Where to buy,is there a complete kit,or piece a system,, piece by piece?
Thank you.

MBHD

Anyone use an oil cooler?

MBHD

I have a spin on adapter that came with my 292 that has an in/out with provision for fittings. It's aluminum, but no brand markings. May have been some kind of 70's part? I recall in a recent Hot Rod magazine in some 70's nostalgia article that there was a hot setup using a remote filter by some company I can't remember. Real helpful, I know. I'm guessing you'll probably find something closer to home than Canada, though.

I have never seen a cheap, die-cast adapter fail in service (although I wouldn't use one for a race engine).
They are available in a very large assortment of hose directions (left-right, both up, both left, etc.) to straighten out the hose path.
Check for the NPT thread size: for a cooler, I wouldn't use anything smaller than 1/2-14 thread and 3/4" hose (many are 1/4-18 or 3/8-18).
The hose must have enough slack to never be in tension, even for service. Use Adel clips to attach long loops to brackets or chassis.
The cooler should have the outlet on top, so air will self-purge if the line is released.
A nice accessory is a big 1/4-turn steam valve inserted as a bypass, so the entire cooler can be shut down for cool weather without disturbing the plumbing.
A thermostatic bypass sounds like a good idea, but most are too small to take the full volume (unless you use 2), and the better ones are $$$. You can modify the temperature somewhat by bypassing some of the oil (see above). Masking the face of the cooler has been suggested, but that makes me very nervous if the cooler is grill-mounted since this will obstruct air to the radiator also.
Surplus hydraulic hose lasts forever, very cheap.

Since the later 6 uses the same filters as a V-8 it should be no problem using an adapter from a small block.
see:
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Make/CHEVROLET/?keyword=oil+cooler

Pete

Definitely use the hydraulic hose from a hydraulic supply shop, not the cheap hose in the adaptor kit or anything you can get at autozone etc. Also, minimize your bends when routing your hoses, that's where your blowout will happen. I have a bypass thermostat, don't remember where I got it or what I paid, it didn't change oil pressure though. I also looked around to find an adaptor that used 1/2" npt fittings and ran 3/4" hose. I run B&M Supercoolers only, but I'm sure there are other choices out there. Big fan of oil coolers.

Remember that the volume in the parts, plus the length of the hoses, affects your start-up time from cold to pressure reaching the rod bearings. Much of the oil will drain back into the pan overnight (the cooler is higher than the pan or block fitting), requiring the initial oil voume from the pump to fill it before any pressure is reached (your gauge tells you nothing useful here).
Some run anti-drain back check valves to at least keep the cooler system full, but of course if it fails in closed position the engine fails.

Just a thought, the Volvo P1800 used an oil cooler that went between the block and oil filter, and was plumbed into the cooling system. The Volvo was only a 4 cyl.. IIRC you could spin the oil cooler off and install the oil filter direct to the block, and the filter was a PER-1.

Larry

Thanks guys.
Larry,any pics of this set-up?
MBHD

I did a search and came up with a manual for the B18. I believe it was also used on the B20. The manual has several good pictures of the cooler, including a flow diagram. It's a 17MB PDF download here's the link;

http://volvo1800pictures.com/document/Se...ine_B18_B_D.pdf

Larry

Duramax uses the same style cooler I think. May be another resource for this.

(edit) never mind after looking a pictures, the duramax would be extremely difficult to adapt to.

Here is one that can easily be used. It screws on the same fitting a filter goes to.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-Chevy-...=item56347fadb5

Just fab up the rest yourself.