[DeTomaso] DeTomaso Digest, Vol 124, Issue 10

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/10/14 22 59 43, npdrs at maui.net writes:


> 
> I already got a louvered panel that mounts in front of the right rear 
> wheel,
> so am planning to mount the cooler on front of that; would someone have a
> suggestion for particular cooler that would offer maximum size/efficiency
> and still fit in this space?
> 

>>>I have always felt that the placement of an air-to-oil cooler in the 
wheelwell behind a louvered panel represented the height of optimism, to the 
point of being totally delusional.   Air-to-oil coolers are just a form of 
radiator, and require fairly extensive airflow in order to have any positive 
effect.   The architecture of the Pantera doesn't lend itself to air-to-oil 
coolers very well.   Some factory Gr4 race cars had a scoop in the left rocker 
panel (sill) between the back of the door and the wheelwheel, which ducted 
air to a cooler placed to the left of the engine (because the fuel tank was 
on the right side on those cars).   That would be effective at high speeds 
but not sitting in traffic.

When #2860 was converted to dry sump, the oil tank was placed there, and it 
was equipped with a long, narrow cooler placed in the front beneath and 
ahead of the radiator, with long oil lines running through the right-side 
rocker panel.   Once again, it relied on ram airflow achieved at triple-digit 
speeds.

As Jack said, Panteras respond much better to the use of a water-to-oil 
heat exchanger, which will serve the dual purpose of raising the oil 
temperature when the engine is first running (because water temp rises much faster 
than oil temp), then as the temp lines cross, will lower the oil temp as heat 
is transmitted to the water which is then shed by the water radiator.

I note that your e-mail address is 'maui.net'.   Presuming this means that 
you are living on Maui, I would argue that any form of oil cooling (and, 
truthfully, dry sumping the engine) represents a monumental waste of effort.   
The ONLY place a Pantera will see any benefit from either of those 
modifications is on a racetrack or open road race, and even then, it would require 
extensive high-rpm running before either one came into play.   You may be 
committed to the dry sump system (which is unfortunate if you're actually 
driving the car on Maui) but I would urge you to save yourself a lot of time, 
money and potential grief, and shelve any oil cooling plans.   While oil coolers 
have a lot of benefits for those who need them, they also have attendant 
problems, to include multiple Panteras that have suffered engine fires as a 
result of oil cooler plumbing leaks....

Mike
-------------- next part --------------
   In a message dated 10/10/14 22 59 43, npdrs at maui.net writes:

     I already got a louvered panel that mounts in front of the right
     rear wheel,
     so am planning to mount the cooler on front of that; would someone
     have a
     suggestion for particular cooler that would offer maximum
     size/efficiency
     and still fit in this space?

   >>>I have always felt that the placement of an air-to-oil cooler in the
   wheelwell behind a louvered panel represented the height of optimism,
   to the point of being totally delusional.  Air-to-oil coolers are just
   a form of radiator, and require fairly extensive airflow in order to
   have any positive effect.  The architecture of the Pantera doesn't lend
   itself to air-to-oil coolers very well.  Some factory Gr4 race cars had
   a scoop in the left rocker panel (sill) between the back of the door
   and the wheelwheel, which ducted air to a cooler placed to the left of
   the engine (because the fuel tank was on the right side on those
   cars).  That would be effective at high speeds but not sitting in
   traffic.
   When #2860 was converted to dry sump, the oil tank was placed there,
   and it was equipped with a long, narrow cooler placed in the front
   beneath and ahead of the radiator, with long oil lines running through
   the right-side rocker panel.  Once again, it relied on ram airflow
   achieved at triple-digit speeds.
   As Jack said, Panteras respond much better to the use of a water-to-oil
   heat exchanger, which will serve the dual purpose of raising the oil
   temperature when the engine is first running (because water temp rises
   much faster than oil temp), then as the temp lines cross, will lower
   the oil temp as heat is transmitted to the water which is then shed by
   the water radiator.
   I note that your e-mail address is 'maui.net'.  Presuming this means
   that you are living on Maui, I would argue that any form of oil cooling
   (and, truthfully, dry sumping the engine) represents a monumental waste
   of effort.  The ONLY place a Pantera will see any benefit from either
   of those modifications is on a racetrack or open road race, and even
   then, it would require extensive high-rpm running before either one
   came into play.  You may be committed to the dry sump system (which is
   unfortunate if you're actually driving the car on Maui) but I would
   urge you to save yourself a lot of time, money and potential grief, and
   shelve any oil cooling plans.  While oil coolers have a lot of benefits
   for those who need them, they also have attendant problems, to include
   multiple Panteras that have suffered engine fires as a result of oil
   cooler plumbing leaks....
   Mike