Racer X Fabrication, oil cooler kit

[Jeff@Racer X Fab]

We released this kit a couple weeks ago, but I thought I would take a few moments and post about the development work we did before releasing the kit.

From the start we knew we would be making our own thermostatic oil adapter plate. The real issue become sourcing a thermostatic valve that was reliable. Had an operating temp of 185F and would cycle without issue and not leak wax into our oil system.

Thermostatic valves work on a simple principle and design. The body is comprised of copper, typically is filled with wax on the inside and a pintle. As the thermostat reaches a pre-determined temp the wax pushes the pintle out and in our case reroutes oil through your oil cooler.

While working out the final spring designs, and appearance of the thermostatic adapter plate we needed to know our source for the Wax valve. We tested several units, some with varying operating temperatures. I was a bit shocked to find the disparity between the valves. Some valves did not open in the correct temp range or in certain cases actually leaked wax past the pintle. I will give credit were credit is due, hats off to Mocal for using a robust design from a manufacturer that knows how to construct these types of valves. In short our thermostatic plate uses the exact same wax valve as the Mocal units.

Here are a few pics of our test adapter plate, and a mocal unit we used for benchmarking.

Questions and comments always welcome.

[celek]

I want all of your parts!
Grrrr

[OkieSnuffBox]

Crap, was seriously interested until I saw it mounts to the undertray.

For track guys that just seems like a terrible idea. Go off, rip off undertray or a hard hit and that seems like a recipe for disaster.

[DAEMANO]

@racerx1715

Lovely!

I've been eyeballing this on your website for the past several days. Your parts are second to none and you have outstanding prices for such quality. Your sandwich plate seems like the one to beat. Also the free black anodize option is the bees knees.

1. As @OkieSnuffBox noted, mounting to the plastic undertray is ok, but some form of top mount bracket (similar to the Mishimoto kit) would be great, even as an option. Reason is for what he mentioned and also that weight on that tray can contribute to bumper cover sag that many owners have fought with over the years.

2. The Jackson Racing Oil cooler kit uses a Setrab 9 series radiator (#50-915-7612) (instead of the 6 series (#50-613-7612) included in most kits). For the additional cooling capacity needed for F.I. can you offer the same 9 series radiator as an upgrade option in your kit? http://www.setrabusa.com/products/oi...ine/index.html

3. Keep up the great work!

[crazyfrenchbiker]

What thread pitch is used for the oil lines? Would you sell just an adapter plate?

[Jeff@Racer X Fab]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Crap, was seriously interested until I saw it mounts to the undertray.

For track guys that just seems like a terrible idea. Go off, rip off undertray or a hard hit and that seems like a recipe for disaster.

No problem, we will offer an alternative solution that mounts from above instead of to the under tray. Appreciate the feedback.

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

@racerx1715

Lovely!

I've been eyeballing this on your website for the past several days. Your parts are second to none and you have outstanding prices for such quality. Your sandwich plate seems like the one to beat. Also the free black anodize option is the bees knees.

1. As @OkieSnuffBox noted, mounting to the plastic undertray is ok, but some form of top mount bracket (similar to the Mishimoto kit) would be great, even as an option. Reason is for what he mentioned and also that weight on that tray can contribute to bumper cover sag that many owners have fought with over the years.

2. The Jackson Racing Oil cooler kit uses a Setrab 9 series radiator (#50-915-7612) (instead of the 6 series (#50-613-7612) included in most kits). For the additional cooling capacity needed for F.I. can you offer the same 9 series radiator as an upgrade option in your kit? http://www.setrabusa.com/products/oi...ine/index.html

3. Keep up the great work!

1) Yes, we can offer an alternative mounting solution.

2) We can also offer the larger core size, we may end up offer a Bell core with custom end tanks. This would eliminate two fittings, and still maintain quality while reducing cost.

Originally Posted by crazyfrenchbiker

What thread pitch is used for the oil lines? Would you sell just an adapter plate?

The thread pitch is 7/8-14 (10AN) on the sandwich plate adapter. We will be offering the adapter plate and spacer separately.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by racerx1715

No problem, we will offer an alternative solution that mounts from above instead of to the under tray. Appreciate the feedback.

1) Yes, we can offer an alternative mounting solution.

2) We can also offer the larger core size, we may end up offer a Bell core with custom end tanks. This would eliminate two fittings, and still maintain quality while reducing cost.

The thread pitch is 7/8-14 (10AN) on the sandwich plate adapter. We will be offering the adapter plate and spacer separately.

My day is made Please let us know when the updates are made. This will be my kit. Very much appreciated

[Teseo]

Its possible to take a pic on front view?
I'd like the idea of having a V mount with it

[celek]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Crap, was seriously interested until I saw it mounts to the undertray.

For track guys that just seems like a terrible idea. Go off, rip off undertray or a hard hit and that seems like a recipe for disaster.

So flip it and mount it to the crash beam?

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by racerx1715

No problem, we will offer an alternative solution that mounts from above instead of to the under tray. Appreciate the feedback.

That would be fantastic. Now, also redesign your rear LCAs with a lower mounting hole for the shock ala Stance/SPL, to gain back some suspension travel.

Originally Posted by celek

So flip it and mount it to the crash beam?

Yep, look at the Jackson Racing solution.


I'm still not doing anything with the car just yet, at 8800 miles it's low on coolant (had Subaru top it off yesterday) so I'm going to watch for the next month or so before I think about AutoX or tracking with this car. If it's already using coolant before 9k miles I'm going to be supremely pissed off.

[yomny]

Really need this to mount somewhere on the passenger side fender well, possible? Driver side has the obvious, washer fluid reservoir and from is front mount. Don't want to clog things up as I need full flow to keep AC cooking right in this Miami heat, I was just going to purchase the full blown unit. Noticed you mentioned larger core, I need it also 19 row or similar. I know this won't happen over night but ready to buy. @racerx1715

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by yomny

Really need this to mount somewhere on the passenger side fender well, possible? Driver side has the obvious, washer fluid reservoir and from is front mount. Don't want to clog things up as I need full flow to keep AC cooking right in this Miami heat, I was just going to purchase the full blown unit. Noticed you mentioned larger core, I need it also 19 row or similar. I know this won't happen over night but ready to buy. @racerx1715

With all the different preferences for mounting positions, I'm really glad RacerX is going to be offering their sandwich plate individually. People can build up their own kits from their exquisitely machined parts. I like having another high quality thermostatic sandwich plate option above the Mocal and Mishimoto plates that come with most of the kits out there.

[yomny]

This is true, I've been closed to making my own with the known mocal plate but still need a bracket for mounting in the passenger fender well area. Have no way to make anything decent myself.

[celek]

@racerx1715 do you have any over all pressure drop numbers vs stock or added capacity recommendations on install?