When I rebuilt the engine, I brazed a port into the pan for an oil sensor.
Well, 6 months later, I got around to wiring the actual gauge. The results were surprising-
oil temp takes about 10 minutes to come up to 75c- and then it stays there as long as I'm moving. It might climb to 80c if I'm towing up a long hill, but never higher.

Sitting in traffic, it will climb to water temperature (90c) but drops right back down as soon as I start moving. Seems a tad low to me- I suppose I should order a new oil thermostat.

But the real surprise to me was how well that little oil cooler works. It's gotta be pretty efficient if it can keep the oil cooler than the water!

fwiw,
Toby <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The extra oil cooler came standard on the 4dr trucks. The 2dr trucks only have the cooler loop in the radiator. I wonder what a stock 2dr would see for oil temp?

My guess is that a 2dr would see closer to the water temp, since it's going through the radiator and not through the extra oil cooler.

The radiator loop in the Gen1 SWB is in series with the external A/T cooler. Do the M/T SWB trucks use the radiator loop for oil cooling?

Do all of the Gen1 LWB trucks have an extra oil cooler? If so, I need to make a run to the junkyard.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Every Gen 1 LWB I've seen has it-

it's a separate cooler on the passenger's side (lhd, of course!) well in front of the radiator, and pretty high up. It's small- by race car standards...

The m/t cars don't use the radiator for cooling anything but water.

Some of the auto trans 4- doors have the extra trans oil cooler in series with the radiator- but I've seen at least one that didn't have the extra trans cooler.

My SWB m/t didn't have either, but Vic Lee hooked me up- the oil cooler is easy to add. No idea what temps the SWB ran.

Toby

My A/T cooler is in series with the built-in radiator unit and seems to work fine - I've not had an A/T temp light indication at all.

I am a little concerned about the coolant temp since the DRB-II scanner is showing 207F on a new OE 88C thermostat. I think I'll have a 3-row radiator core installed and see what it does.

Otherwise, I don't think it would hurt to run an oil cooler so I'll check the next LWB I see at the yards.

Thanks,
Frank

Just to be sure we're all on the same page.

Gen I SWB Trucks:
A/T Oil - Two in series coolers. One inside the radiator. One air cooled radiator.
M/T Oil - N/A.
Engine Oil - None.

Gen I LWB Trucks:
A/T Oil - Two in series coolers. One inside the radiator. One air cooled radiator.
M/T Oil - N/A.
Engine Oil - One air cooled radiator.

The engine oil cooler found on the LWB trucks can be installed on the SWB trucks. The SWB oil pump has the radiator inlet and outlet ports blocked off with plugs. Be sure to get all the hose mounting hardware and brackets. The only modification needed to the SWB truck is to weld on a hanger for the hose bracket where the hoses pass through the radiator support.

Thanks, Mark. I'll look for a LWB. One more job to add to the list.

Frank <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Every LWB A/T I have seen had it. They do bolt right up on the SWBs v6s. One of the brackets is welded to the LWB. You can custom build the bracket or drill out the one on the LWB. Mine was being held in place with zip ties.

Frank, I have an oil cooler from a 91LWB on my flooded out Raider. Im not sure about water in it, I dont have the truck from NO yet. I plan on parting the Raider. PM me if interested.

Well, almost. Those with turbos in SWB/MTs probably have engine oil coolers. I don't offer this up as a smart ass answer, but as another possible solution.

If you can't find an LWB oil cooler, perhaps a Starion oil cooler could be adapted.

One somewhat interesting note. i was looking at the 89 v6 oil cooler diagrams, and the lines are drawn connecting to the back of the block in the vee, just above the flywheel/flexplate. I thought all 3.0rwd oil pumps had the connection points for the cooler plugged on the pump, just no lines or banjo bolts.

I would guess that you could put the starion oil cooler adapter on the v6 filter mount (it's a sandwich style adapter), if the thread in the block adapter nipple is the right thread, the sealing ring diameter of the adapter matches the sealing surface of the v6 filter mount, and if there's physical clearance for the adapter. Might or might not have to use the starion oil filter, again depending on diameters of the respective filter seals.