Replace the hoses with OEM or quality hose rated for the temps and quality clamps (and clamps that are for the right hose ID). Coolant hoses aren't a liability if you take steps to prevent them from being.

Curious what data or information you have on the oil cooler being "very restrictive". It could be restrictive, but if that slows down the oil to allow the cooler to do its job, that's not a bad thing.

 

Have you ever looked inside it? I have. Very restrictive was not what came to mind. It flows a hell of a lot more than the holes in the typical oil filter.

 

I have several of them and they have a small bypass hole and then an equivalent that leads to the labyrinth. I have used factory lines but they are still rubber and if they fail its a done deal on the track. The higher the fluid speed the better the cooling it is a mass vs time which dictates the overall heat transfer rate. It seems that the turbo heats up the oil faster then a NA application with the oe heat exchanger so there is no real benefit there.

 

If one uses air cooler and wants to eliminate the factory water cooler plate, is there a spacer that is needed to space the take off plate correctly ? I was on the phone with Setrab and they told me to eliminate the factory cooler so that it does not impede the cooling effect - not sure I fully grasp this (perhaps Setrab was thinking the oil after air cooler is being heated again by the hot coolant, presumption).