Front Cover Oil Cooler adapter - steel
#1
Front Cover Oil Cooler adapter - steel
Vibrant, Earls, Fragola, others make the M18x1.5 to -10an adapter in aluminum. Anyone withe the sakebomb dual oil cooler kit is probably familiar with why this isn't a good solution. The way the oil thermostat is designed (Steel) and the -10an aluminum fittings that hang off the front cover support the thermostat. There's a bracket that's supposed to support it, but as you tighten the fittings down you'll note the thermostat tends to twist and put a great deal of stress on the aluminum fittings that support it. My oversized meat hooks don't work in inch lbs and I tend to crack the conical surface inside the 90 -10an fitting when I assemble the parts.
The design of the kit is pretty close to being good, but these fittings need to be steel given the stress they are under, with no flexible line between the thermostat and front cover. I think Mocal at one point did make an M18x1.5 to -10an adapter but I can't seem to find it. M18 to 10an tends to be a popular power steering fitting so I know it's buried in a catalog out there somewhere. ICT billet comes really close with a female m18 to 8an, but no male m18 to male 10an. Anyone else have a source for these?
Front cover fitting:
The design of the kit is pretty close to being good, but these fittings need to be steel given the stress they are under, with no flexible line between the thermostat and front cover. I think Mocal at one point did make an M18x1.5 to -10an adapter but I can't seem to find it. M18 to 10an tends to be a popular power steering fitting so I know it's buried in a catalog out there somewhere. ICT billet comes really close with a female m18 to 8an, but no male m18 to male 10an. Anyone else have a source for these?
Front cover fitting:
#2
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#3
Brother! Thank you for that. I feel dumb because I just put an order in with them a few weeks ago, should have ordered these too.
I installed their Rx8 oil cooler line kit on my wifes R3. Great kit, but holy **** want a pain in the *** to install. Fragola wanted a minimum 1500 unit order, not sure I could resell that many units.
#4
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
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My Crooked Willow Racing (CWR) dual oil cooler kit has a similar setup, years and thousands of miles of use, street and track, and never had any issues. I did not use the thermostat bracket though, it is just free floating and can move with the engine, maybe this made a difference.
Also, you can use the counting flats method for tightening 37 deg AN connections, consistent tightening every time no torque wrench needed.
JIC is a 37 deg flared fitting interchangeable with AN fittings.
Also, you can use the counting flats method for tightening 37 deg AN connections, consistent tightening every time no torque wrench needed.
JIC is a 37 deg flared fitting interchangeable with AN fittings.
Last edited by neit_jnf; 03-29-21 at 04:06 PM.
#7
Thanks all for the help. To bring this conversation full circle here is the final product: Really happy with this solution. The aluminum AN fittings are not sufficient to support the weight of the mocal thermostat. The bracket is pretty flimsy which puts stress on the taper which leads to leaks. None of these SAE/JIC fittings were more expensive than their vibrant AN aluminum equivalent.
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#9
~17 MPG
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I'm no mechanical engineer, but that bracket does not inspire confidence. How many hours/miles have you put on it? Now that you've replaced aluminum fitting(s) with steel, what will be the next weakest link when the thermostat vibrates and tries to torque on the fittings? Is there not room to mount the thermostat near the driver-side oil cooler since the lines need to go there anyway?
#10
I'm no mechanical engineer, but that bracket does not inspire confidence. How many hours/miles have you put on it? Now that you've replaced aluminum fitting(s) with steel, what will be the next weakest link when the thermostat vibrates and tries to torque on the fittings? Is there not room to mount the thermostat near the driver-side oil cooler since the lines need to go there anyway?
#12
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@F1blueRx7 I wanted to checkin and see how this has held up over time? I installed the Sakebomb kit with -10 lines around the same time as you in 2021 and haven’t had any issues.
But now, I am in the process of adding back powersteering and AC. I noticed that the thermostat would have to be moved put of the way to install the idler bracket, and I started thinking of someway I could introduce some flex between the front cover and the thermostat. So far, I’m hoping to run a banjo from the front cover and a short braided line to allow some give between the motor and the thermostat- but curious if your method with the steel fittings is sufficient.
But now, I am in the process of adding back powersteering and AC. I noticed that the thermostat would have to be moved put of the way to install the idler bracket, and I started thinking of someway I could introduce some flex between the front cover and the thermostat. So far, I’m hoping to run a banjo from the front cover and a short braided line to allow some give between the motor and the thermostat- but curious if your method with the steel fittings is sufficient.
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DaleClark (03-04-23)
#19
Partially because I'm not going to pay to re-plumb everything when this problem was resolved with a single fitting. I bought the kit from SBG, and like several of their parts, in hindsight, there are far better and less expensive ways to build it.
in the current configuration it does work really well. With the OEM A/C Compressor it was a much tighter fit.
in the current configuration it does work really well. With the OEM A/C Compressor it was a much tighter fit.
#20
10000 RPM Lane
iTrader: (2)
I get that, but wasn’t making reference to you; only referencing the kit relative to it being supplied the way it is rather than the other.
I bought the Improved Racing t-stat bypass/remote filter setup for my RX8. I’m not comfortable at all just dumping it back into the pan rather than directly bypassing it back to the pedestal on the rear iron.
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I bought the Improved Racing t-stat bypass/remote filter setup for my RX8. I’m not comfortable at all just dumping it back into the pan rather than directly bypassing it back to the pedestal on the rear iron.
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Last edited by TeamRX8; 03-04-23 at 08:45 PM.
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F1blueRx7 (03-05-23)
#21
Built Not Bought
iTrader: (14)
Originally Posted by TeamRX8
I get that, but wasn’t making reference to you; only referencing the kit relative to it being supplied the way it is rather than the other.
I bought the Improved Racing t-stat bypass/remote filter setup for my RX8. I’m not comfortable at all just dumping it back into the pan rather than directly bypassing it back to the pedestal on the rear iron.
.
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I bought the Improved Racing t-stat bypass/remote filter setup for my RX8. I’m not comfortable at all just dumping it back into the pan rather than directly bypassing it back to the pedestal on the rear iron.
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.
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