Oil cooler lines replaced for under $17 !!!!!
Oil cooler lines replaced for under $17 !!!!!
For those of you who are familiar with my build-up thread, this will be a repeat of one of my latest updates -- but regardless I was so excited by this that I thought it was worth it's own thread...
<excerpt from my other thread>
Today I went to several hydraulic shops trying to find someone who carried another banjo fitting I could use for my oil cooler lines. I had 2 banjo fittings already that I cut the old hose off of from the oil-cooler ends, but I was hoping to find a banjo fitting for the top of the block too. (FYI the back oil cooler line actually goes to the top of the block under the oil filter on an RE in case you're wondering).
Everywhere I went basically said they'd never seen a banjo that big so I felt like the scrap yard was my only hope. Finally I decided I would do a bit more research and found the thread size of the banjo bolts (18mm x 1.5 pitch). My hope restored, I figured I would be able to find a suitable fitting of that size instead of the banjo. I went back to one of the shops I visited and they had a nice swivel style fitting and a 90* barb. They then clamped on some high pressure high temp hose. He was feeling good and I got out of there for 12 BUCKS!!!!! Yep that's right, I replaced my oil cooler lines for 12 dollars, 12 bucks, 1200 pennies. Needless to say, I was ecstatic since the alternative is to go stainless and approach the $200 mark.
I then went and got raped by OReillys for the copper washers for 2 pairs it was $4.9x with tax. I was in too good of mood to complain much (although I did double check at the Ace close by to see if they were cheaper). But all told, I replaced the whole thing and got them installed tonight. Total price was just under $17 by reusing the 2 banjo fittings on the cooler, the short angle barb on the front of the block and the new swivel 90* fitting on the top (back) of the block.
Here's some pics...
Wide shot of both hoses:

Close up of the newly crimped hose on my reused banjo fittings

Close up of the newly crimped hose on my reused block fitting and the new swivel 90* fitting:

Hose is rated to 1000psi (that ought to do it) and over 300* (which may be a bit closer to concern, but still plenty of breathing room). They installed quite easily although I did have to turn one of the fittings on the short line a bit to make it line up. The short hose was 13 inches and the long hose was 33 inches. The short one could have stood to be about 1-2 inches longer for slack, although it still fit just right. The long one turned out to be about 2-3 inches on the long side, but as it turned out, the routing worked great so it was fine. I didn't take pictures of them mounted because I'm not sure there was really anything to see. If you're really interested, I'll get some good light in there and snap some pics later...
<end excerpt>
If you want more details on my build-up, check out the thread in my sig.
<excerpt from my other thread>
Today I went to several hydraulic shops trying to find someone who carried another banjo fitting I could use for my oil cooler lines. I had 2 banjo fittings already that I cut the old hose off of from the oil-cooler ends, but I was hoping to find a banjo fitting for the top of the block too. (FYI the back oil cooler line actually goes to the top of the block under the oil filter on an RE in case you're wondering).
Everywhere I went basically said they'd never seen a banjo that big so I felt like the scrap yard was my only hope. Finally I decided I would do a bit more research and found the thread size of the banjo bolts (18mm x 1.5 pitch). My hope restored, I figured I would be able to find a suitable fitting of that size instead of the banjo. I went back to one of the shops I visited and they had a nice swivel style fitting and a 90* barb. They then clamped on some high pressure high temp hose. He was feeling good and I got out of there for 12 BUCKS!!!!! Yep that's right, I replaced my oil cooler lines for 12 dollars, 12 bucks, 1200 pennies. Needless to say, I was ecstatic since the alternative is to go stainless and approach the $200 mark.
I then went and got raped by OReillys for the copper washers for 2 pairs it was $4.9x with tax. I was in too good of mood to complain much (although I did double check at the Ace close by to see if they were cheaper). But all told, I replaced the whole thing and got them installed tonight. Total price was just under $17 by reusing the 2 banjo fittings on the cooler, the short angle barb on the front of the block and the new swivel 90* fitting on the top (back) of the block.
Here's some pics...
Wide shot of both hoses:

Close up of the newly crimped hose on my reused banjo fittings

Close up of the newly crimped hose on my reused block fitting and the new swivel 90* fitting:

Hose is rated to 1000psi (that ought to do it) and over 300* (which may be a bit closer to concern, but still plenty of breathing room). They installed quite easily although I did have to turn one of the fittings on the short line a bit to make it line up. The short hose was 13 inches and the long hose was 33 inches. The short one could have stood to be about 1-2 inches longer for slack, although it still fit just right. The long one turned out to be about 2-3 inches on the long side, but as it turned out, the routing worked great so it was fine. I didn't take pictures of them mounted because I'm not sure there was really anything to see. If you're really interested, I'll get some good light in there and snap some pics later...
<end excerpt>
If you want more details on my build-up, check out the thread in my sig.
It's not kinked although it is slightly twisted from when I removed the original lines. The flow is not restricted however.
As far as what type of hose, I'm not real sure other than what I mentioned -- it is some kind of hydraulic hose I'm sure. It does have the brand name of "Gates connected" on the hose itself, but you can see some of that in the first pic. My only real concern at this point is whether it will stand up to the elements -- but the hose itself was like $2.54 / ft, so I think it's pretty high quality stuff. I doubt I'll ever have a problem.
As far as what type of hose, I'm not real sure other than what I mentioned -- it is some kind of hydraulic hose I'm sure. It does have the brand name of "Gates connected" on the hose itself, but you can see some of that in the first pic. My only real concern at this point is whether it will stand up to the elements -- but the hose itself was like $2.54 / ft, so I think it's pretty high quality stuff. I doubt I'll ever have a problem.
Originally Posted by Trav
It's not kinked although it is slightly twisted from when I removed the original lines. The flow is not restricted however.
As far as what type of hose, I'm not real sure other than what I mentioned -- it is some kind of hydraulic hose I'm sure. It does have the brand name of "Gates connected" on the hose itself, but you can see some of that in the first pic. My only real concern at this point is whether it will stand up to the elements -- but the hose itself was like $2.54 / ft, so I think it's pretty high quality stuff. I doubt I'll ever have a problem.
As far as what type of hose, I'm not real sure other than what I mentioned -- it is some kind of hydraulic hose I'm sure. It does have the brand name of "Gates connected" on the hose itself, but you can see some of that in the first pic. My only real concern at this point is whether it will stand up to the elements -- but the hose itself was like $2.54 / ft, so I think it's pretty high quality stuff. I doubt I'll ever have a problem.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
Yep, that's why the hydraulic shop should be the first place to go for stuff like this. My original set was a little more expensive at $80 because I opted for braided stainless line, but the labor was something like $15 to have the hoses actually made. About a month ago I picked up my new metering oil lines with new thick walled nylon tubing, crush washers, etc. for $20. 
Hydraulic shops are a great source (as can be expected really) for anything to do with fluid or air fittings. And generally at 10% the price of everywhere else.

Hydraulic shops are a great source (as can be expected really) for anything to do with fluid or air fittings. And generally at 10% the price of everywhere else.
Damn! I just got my lines replaced with SS Braided steel lines. I don't even want to say how much I paid, because I feel like I got bent over now. Well I will anyway. I paid $150.
You guys scored.
You guys scored.
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I paid $84 for stainless brake lines, which I'm ok with. (Should they fail, it could be fatal.)
I paid nearly $200 for the racing beat stainless oil cooler lines, which I would have rather done the hydraulic shop deal. (Should they fail, I get stranded, not a big deal.)
I paid nearly $200 for the racing beat stainless oil cooler lines, which I would have rather done the hydraulic shop deal. (Should they fail, I get stranded, not a big deal.)
This is another great oil cooler hose info. I might be need some soon.
I replaced the shorter one a long time ago when I first got my car because the car was just sitting before I bought it.
One of the oil cooler hose got brittle so I ended up buying that hose from the dealer. Wow, that was EXPENSIVE for one ******* hose. I did'nt know **** about the car.
Originally Posted by Turbo23
how long will that hose last?
Originally Posted by timmybighands
Wow, that's REALLY a good thing. You should have them make a bunch of these to help us all out. Whatdya say?
Actually I may have caught the guy in a good mood. I don't know if I'd be able to get the $12 deal everyday. But I suppose if I told him I had 20 to do, he might cut me a deal. 
Go on, just find you a local shop that will crimp them and be done. Actually one of the OReillys in town does the same thing. I went there originally looking for my fitting. Only reason I didn't go back there was because I'd been to these other places already and frankly the folks at OReillys just don't know much about what they are doing and I didn't get a warm fuzzy... But if you had the fittings already and just wanted the hose crimped on, they might be able to do it too.
I'd really just go to the hydraulic shop though... You know you're getting quality parts and quality craftmanship -- and it's dirt cheap. (and they know what they're doing).
Wondering if I should go back to the same shop for my fuel fittings and such? Any thoughts on that? Obviously the temp and pressure of the fuel will not exceed the hose ratings, but is there anything that's more corrosive about fuel that would make hydraulic lines a bad decision?
I'm just thinking if they can get to the fitting ends that I need, it would look good (no hose clamps) and be a very cheap alternative to stainless. Frankly, I don't care about the bling anyway and I think it would be a more solid solution than just running plain hose and be easy to remove at will.
I'm just thinking if they can get to the fitting ends that I need, it would look good (no hose clamps) and be a very cheap alternative to stainless. Frankly, I don't care about the bling anyway and I think it would be a more solid solution than just running plain hose and be easy to remove at will.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
You can get basically the same fittings for your fuel stuff at the hydraulic shop, but the only problem is that it is a lot harder for you to make up the lines at home and they are not certified for racing...I've seen people kicked off the track before because their fittings weren't NHRA legal...Also they don't come in fancy colours.
meh, I don't care about the fancy colors... I think as long as I could figure out the lengths of everything, I might just go that route. Or at least keep it in mind for later. I just have some hose barb fittings right now that I don't really like, so thinking this may be an improvement although somewhat unnecessary.
Food for thought. Thanks Aaron.
Food for thought. Thanks Aaron.
Originally Posted by Twofer
I forgot to mention the thread was 6 months old.
Oh well it's archive material anyway.
Oh well it's archive material anyway.
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