Oil Cooler Lines
 

I will be installing an Oil Cooler on my '92 shortly and need a little info on the length of the oil lines.

From the Spin on adaptor on the block to the firewall (relocation kit style 2 lines)

Then from the firewall to between the rad and intercooler (or that general area)

It will be a 4 line system (with T-stat)

I took some copper electrical wire and did mock-up runs to and from each component to estimate a hose length. Keep in mind that braided stainless lines don't care for tight bends.

I will be doing that, but right now I do not have my car.

I have three length of -10 AN lines (2 x 48" & 1 x 58") and do not want to buy anything I do not need. (less money spent = more beer)

Beat me to it. :cool:

Another option that will help you not only estimate length but the feasibility of routing and bends is garden hose. If you don't have an old one lying around you can purchase it by the foot at Home Depot / Lowes / Ace / etc.

The final cut-to-length should ideally be done after trial fitting the actual piece on the car. In other words, make the initial cut several inches longer than you think you will need. Install one end (preferably the one that's hardest to reach when installed) and then install it in place on the car. Route the hose appropriately, screw the fitting for the other end onto whatever device it will attach, and then mark on the hose where you will make the cut for the final length.

Yes, that was the plan, but my car is forty miles away from me.

Do you have a Miata I can borrow to do the measurement?

I think what Joe is getting at, is you need to have the car in your possession to make these decisions.

Joe- did you cut your hose and put the ends on?

John you can come over and use my car to take measurements.

Thanks Spike.

But I will be at my car this weekend and can do the measuring then.

I just wanted to know before hand if I have enough lines as i work out in Port Kell's near Mopac & NAPA and can pick up the extra lines & fittings.

Yes. I bought a 10 foot length of Summit's house-brand -10AN S/S hose, and a combination of Earls Swivel-Seal and Russel Full-Flo hose ends.

The hose is actually pretty easy to cut if you have either a bandsaw with a metal cutting blade or a chopsaw with an abrasive blade. I just wrapped a few turns of masking tape around the hose where I intended to cut it to prevent fraying. Oh, and you gotta clean the hell out of it once it's been cut to get all the little rubber debris out.

gwilo- it sounds like you should have enough hose to work with as long as you pre-measure and determine which sections come from which piece. In other words if you need a 18" section and a 24" section, cutting from the 48" piece will only waste 2".

Thanks, I will do that this weekend.

Who is putting the SS braided lines & fittings together?

I have the aluminum AN wrenches if you need to use them.

The lines will go on in a few weeks, at the first oil change (1000 km).

Still have to order the oil cooler & t-stat sandwich from RacerWholesale.

Is there a place local that has 'cheap' oil coolers (Tru Cool) and t-stats?