Oil and PS coolers
#1
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I am switching from small block to a big block this winter and my small block will get sold with everything, including the coolers. I need some input on what size oil and PS cooler to get for my big block set up. New motor makes 514hp and boat has full hydraulic Latham steering. I see plenty of them for sale here and on e-bay but don't know what is a good size or brand.
What length, diameter, inlet size?
Should the oil and PS be separate, or combined?
What are some of the aftermarket brands that are good?
Thanks in advance
Joey
What length, diameter, inlet size?
Should the oil and PS be separate, or combined?
What are some of the aftermarket brands that are good?
Thanks in advance
Joey
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The best and easiest way is to buy a complete setup off a stock Mercury engine. This will get you the brackets, the coolers which are already sized, custom professionally made hoses, and the water hoses with all the funky bends. The system has been professionally engineered to eliminate any problems. I'd try to find a kit from a HP500carb. You want it to be totally complete.
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Post a thread on the parts wanted section. Somebody here has one.
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I will have to agree with Cord,just don't let some one sell you one from a standard performance motor it will be much to small.I am running my old cooler off my 454 mag on my new 502 and just about the same hp as you and I'm at 250* WOT.
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I am running my old cooler off my 454 mag on my new 502 and just about the same hp as you and I'm at 250* WOT.
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I switched from a stock 7.4L with the little dual cooler to a 502 Mag. I went with a 5" X 2" cooler for the PS and a 12" X 2" for the engine. I have had no problems with the PS but, the 12" X 2" (length does not include water connections) is too small. I get to just under 230* at a sustained 3500 rpm cruise. Just a short time at WOT and the oil is going past 250* and the oil pressure drops to 10 psi at idle. I am going to upgrade this winter to a 3" engine oil cooler from Eddie Marine. I also use a thermostat to get the oil up to temp quicker. On my 1993 setup I am able to mount everything in basically the stock location except the PS cooler. I put it in the hose on the front of the motor going up to the thermostat housing. I fabricated a bracket to mount it on the front and just needed to lengthen the oil return line.
The funny thing is that last year I hurt a piston on the 502 due to detonation so I pulled it out and put the 7.4L back in to finish the season. I used the new oil cooler setup since it was already there. I was surprised how high the oil temp got with just the 7.4L. I can't imagine how hot the oil in that motor was getting when I was running the stock cooler and no temp gauge.
Bottom line is I hope to see a lot lower temps with the new 3" cooler that is going in over the winter. I would like to cruise at 210* and never see more that 240* at WOT.
The funny thing is that last year I hurt a piston on the 502 due to detonation so I pulled it out and put the 7.4L back in to finish the season. I used the new oil cooler setup since it was already there. I was surprised how high the oil temp got with just the 7.4L. I can't imagine how hot the oil in that motor was getting when I was running the stock cooler and no temp gauge.
Bottom line is I hope to see a lot lower temps with the new 3" cooler that is going in over the winter. I would like to cruise at 210* and never see more that 240* at WOT.
Last edited by MACDAD260; 11-21-2003 at 08:20 PM.
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Ursus good info.Guess it boils down to what opinion you are going by as to what the max temp.you are willing to run.For me my 250* at WOT could be in my opinion run up to 265-270*and that would bring my return temp up from what it is now 200* to maybe 210*?Wish someone would make an oil cooler that you could control yourself by diverting the water flow to or away from then we would not need oil thermostats and I would be able to hold even higher midrange temps..
James
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Last edited by FloridianSon; 11-28-2003 at 08:00 AM.
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Seems we all have some discarded 454/502 mag coolers laying around. What would be wrong with using TWO of them?
Other than a little extra plumbing and brackets, it may be a cheap and effective answer for a lot of us.
Other than a little extra plumbing and brackets, it may be a cheap and effective answer for a lot of us.