DIY: Oil Cooler (scratch built install, lottsa pics).....>.

Cbtech

More cooling and larger cooler. 24 row (from what i have read) is plenty for a weekend or DD. Even tracking the car the 24 should suffice in keeping the oil cool.

I just installed mine this weekend and kit that Jack from RPW sent me was easy and seamless. I didnt get the "per piece" and went with the universal kit as it was cheaper. You just need to make sure when ordering, that you order the 90 degree elbow coming off the oil cooler. I ended up spending $16 a piece retail vs $11 a piece had i gotten them from RPW.

I would rate this install as a 3 out of 10 in difficulty for the average DIY'er.

Mod's instructions were right on the ONLY THING I WOULD MENTION is the plate that you need to fabricate be only 3 inches wide. From the original picture it looks much bigger (like 6 inches wide). I used a $6 deck flashing plate from Lowes and used an angle grinder to get it down to size. The plate is 16 gauge and has plenty of strength to not bend against wind pressure spray paint it black and make your mounting holes.

I have not ran the car yet so i cannot state how well the kit works but i will once i fire it up and check for leaks.

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ChrisSlicks

There's actually more to it than rows, what is actually important is frontal surface area. The larger the area the more cooling. The reason you can't compare rows: I have a 72 row oil cooler (Setrab series 1 is long and narrow) but the total area is the same as the 34 row (Setrab series 6). With there being many different manufacturers simply comparing rows is confusing (but often reasonable).

You don't need a large cooler unless you are hitting the track, but if you do with any regularity - go big.

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Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

Cbtech

so this evening I completed my install of the DIY oil cooler kit. as I said earlier stated I utilize the universal kid that came from RPW and chose the Blue Hose just that I could see if there's any leaks in any of the connections. I warmed the car up to 190 degrees and checked all fittings and hoses. I didn't seem to find any leaks at all and I used the pressure fit connection type connectors. here are the pictures of the final product.







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markthomas69

I found this link and wanted to share.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...structions.pdf

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Beluga catback exhaust and Y-Pipe. Sport brakes upgrade. 24 row oil cooler. Battery relocated to the trunk.

rlhotka

Going to put the kit on but I noticed nobody had this on there existing filter housing unnamed.jpg Do I add the sandwich plate to this? 2012 base manual.

chknhawk

I have the same thing on mine. 2012 base as well. I added the sammich plate on and with an oem size filter you should be ok.


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chknhawk

However.... The oem filter did not fit properly on my sammich plate.... I'm guessing... So I tried a couple different sizes and diameters. The last one I put on was a puralator which worked for a day... Then I check the fluid level and it looked like I needed a quart so I added one. Let it all sit overnight. When I started it up the next night to check it out it blew out oil from the filter again. Don't know what I am doing wrong. I bought the kit from someone on the forum and it looks like a complete custom kit. The only place that leaks is the filter. Kind of at a loss for words. I'm almost tempted to run the cooler lines off of the spacer and say **** the sandwich plate. Anybody ever seen anything like this. I think I'm going to call z1 tomorrow and see if I can get some expert advice.


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37DZ

First of all, a big THANK YOU to the OP for this thread and all of the valuable information (as well as input from all the participating members).

I'll be honest, I skipped a few pages on this thread but has anyone tried out Stillen's oil cooler that uses the Gold core instead of the Setrab? The price for a 19 row is about 350, or 24 row for $15 more(without shipping)... which isn't too much more than the OP's setup considering the kit actually includes a thermostatic plate and steel braided lines.

http://www.stillen.com/product/engin...0632-8219.html

I'm wondering if anyone has tried this kit, how they like it, and if they had any issues. Also, does the kit come with any type of warranty? Stillen website doesn't specify any warranty.

I'm seriously considering this kit for the price and convenience of having a full kit. I don't like that I will have to use a different filter but that's really just something I need to get used to when changing it, so it's not a big deal.

What are your opinions?

Thanks in advance!

Cbtech

Braided lines are overrated and not necessary for our setup. The oil pump is not the powerful to pop the lines due to pressure. My kit was less than 250 to put together, actually, and that was with a 24 row cooler. You're paying for the name...all coolers do the exact same thing. Mine works just as well as the $550 z1 or Stillen for half the cost. nothing is gained by purchasing name brand gear in the instance. Also racer wholesale parts.com has a complete kit for 250 with the braided lines.

Oh and you don't need a different filter btw...I used the same that is recommended for our cars from the manufacture

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wstar

Putting together your own kit is fine, but please do use steel-braided lines. Things will rub on things, sometimes in ways you don't expect. Braided lines is cheap insurance against a cut hose.

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chknhawk

These are the two filters I ended up buying. Both are about the same size. I think my problem was the seal. Its different on same size filters. For my application the stock seal/filter did not completely cover the sandwich plate and that's where the leak on mine was. I have the from filter on now and it works just fine. This size is bigger allowing more oil to be filtered easier since I'm up to about 8 quarts with the oil cooler and the pan spacer. I'm no expert but I think this was the right choice. Hope this helps. :TUP:
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Attached Images

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ROBERT1183

I have the z1motorsports 34row kit with setrab cooler on mine. Love it. Best mod so far. Temps barely get over 180 degrees. Install was cake. I use the nismo oil filter on mine. No issues

Cbtech

Braided lines might protect from cuts but, unless covered by another hose, are very well known to saw through anything it rubs against. Do a search for braided lines and AC condenser line cuts...you will find they are pretty damaging to whatever is around them. So you have to decide between the 2 evils.

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wstar

Yeah, I wrapped mine in split rubber hoses (e.g. old PCV hoses) where they touched anything. But still, as a default position I'd rather have just about anything else on the car cut instead of those oil hoses. Only possible exception is the fuel line, but it shouldn't be anywhere near the oil cooler hoses anyways. Cut / blown-out oil cooler line = destroyed engine very very quickly.

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diyautoftw

Nice writeup! Looks very clean