Oil Cooler Install

Today I worked on installing the oil cooler. I was able to get it done, but I did run into some problems. The biggest issue was that the plans called for a 60 degree clocking of one of the fluid fittings on the oil cooler. But this angle had it pointed directly at the scat tubing for the cabin heat. There was no way the oil line would have fit, and access to the fitting was limited. Unfortunately I didn’t realize this issue until I had already set the RTV and installed the air inlet. My choices were to either remove the oil cooler and the fluid fitting then reinstall at a different angle, or move the scat hose out of the way. I decided to try to move the scat hose and the related assembly to make room for the oil line. This seemed less disruptive than removing the oil cooler and redoing the RTV.

In the end I was able to move the scat hose just a little, and while it was disconnected I hooked up the oil line. Once the oil line was routed to the engine, it bent away from the scat hose just enough to make it work out.

Torquing the b-nuts on the fluid fittings was challenging, as I had to use a crow foot to apply torque. I used a wrench to hold the fluid fittings while torquing the b-nuts to avoid applying excessive torque to the oil cooler.

In the end I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

The air inlet. The large bead of red RTV in the foreground squeezed out once I torqued the bolts. It was subsequently removed leaving that row of veins unobstructed.
The fluid fitting in the top of the picture is oriented to be pointed directly at the scat tube. I had to move the scat tube out of the way to allow the oil line to fit
Looking up after moving the scat tube. The fluid fitting is visible in the background, just to the right of the scat tube. This was enough to allow the oil line to sneak past the scat tube.
The oil line connected and torqued
The other oil line connected and torqued
One of the oil lines where it connects to the engine. In the background is a rats nest of wiring, something I’m looking forward to tidying up soon.
Looking down, both oil lines are visible, either side of the oil filter. The red cap in the foreground is the last port that needs a fitting. This is an unused tach port, and I need to order a cap to go over it.

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