How do I add explorer oil cooler?

[zerostar2410]

I have an explorer oil cooler that I want to add to my 93 mustang block. What parts and modifications are needed to accomplish this? I've read posts on how to delete the oil coolers but didn't see anything on how to add one. I am using the extreme motor mounts for the clearance issues I've read about and have a 2"BL.

 

[sykanr0ng]

Viperwolf1 has done it:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136990&highlight=explorer+oil+cooler

Seems to be a good idea to me too.

 

[zerostar2410]

Viperwolf1 care to chime in? looking for a tech write up or specifics on how I can get this done this weekend.

 

[Crush]

You have to take out the oil filter adapter that is in the block now. Then screw in the cooler and plumb up the water lines. I used an f250 cooler on mine and it had a special lower rad hose that has the cooler lines made into it. Don't know if the explorer is the same or not. Some peolple have reported not being able to do it cause it hits the crossmember. Oh and by the way that filter is an 820s

 

[hankjr]

If you are using the exploder cooler, you can't buy the hose that goes between water pump and cooler. It's only sold with a new cooler. I would guess that there is another option from standard hose of get one off of a wreck.

Hank

 

[zerostar2410]

You have to take out the oil filter adapter that is in the block now. Then screw in the cooler and plumb up the water lines. I used an f250 cooler on mine and it had a special lower rad hose that has the cooler lines made into it. Don't know if the explorer is the same or not. Some peolple have reported not being able to do it cause it hits the crossmember. Oh and by the way that filter is an 820s

I've tried taking the mustang 11mm hex adapter out and screwing in the explorer oil cooler but the bolt wouldn't screw in. It seems that I would need a different sized adapter or different bolt. anybody else run into this problem? is there a different adapter out there? I know you can purchase a different adapter to delete the oil cooler but is there an adapter to add the cooler?

 

[hankjr]

I have some of those parts. I pulled a cooler off a wreck but decided to not use it. You are welcome to what I've got if you can't locate locally. PM me if you want them

Hank

 

[Broncobowsher]

I've had some coolers that sandwiched under the oil filter. Have a pair of heater hose sized water fittings. I recall the Explorer oil cooler is the same. Just the little hoses siphon off water as it goes to the water pump.

Another solution is to tap water off the top of the engine. Do you really need an oil cooler, or an oil warmer? The first time I found the oil coolers they were just tied into the heater hoses. They warmed the oil on a cold engine and if the oil ever got really hot it would dump heat into the water. Pretty good engineering. I'm more impressed with that then the all cold water off the lower hose.

I have done one by tapping water off the back of the manifold at the crossover. This is warm water off the block, but not hot as it hasn't cooled the heads yet. Run that to the cooler/heater and the other line was tee'd into the heater hose return going into the waterpump. I ran this for some time and never really noticed anything positive or negative about it. While trying different stuff I ended up removing it for some reason. Didn't notice any change and eventually just left it off in the name of simplicity. Fewer hoses and seals.

 

[Viperwolf1]

Viperwolf1 care to chime in? looking for a tech write up or specifics on how I can get this done this weekend.

You need the filter/cooler standpipe that comes from the explorer with the cooler. It has a couple O-rings, one to seal the cooler to the block and one to seal the standpipe to the cooler. A Ford parts guy might be able to look those up still and they might still be available new. Your old standpipe may or may not have a hex center hole to remove it. Mine didn't so I jammed a couple nuts on it to get something to turn.

The explorer cooler gets installed inline of the lower radiator hose. It doesn't use the smaller two hoses like the F trucks did. You will have to search for hoses that will fit. I tried using the explorer lower hose but it wouldn't work for me. I ended up just looking at the parts store hose rack to find some that looked right.

The cooler will still be a tight fit to the crossmember even with the taller motor mounts. I had to cut the drip lip off the cooler and even rotated it further up in the front by grinding off some of the locating tab.

 

[sykanr0ng]

What I'm thinking of with the cooler is using a remote oil filter instead of one on the cooler fitting, that will help with clearance and access to change the filter too.

 

[zerostar2410]

You need the filter/cooler standpipe that comes from the explorer with the cooler. It has a couple O-rings, one to seal the cooler to the block and one to seal the standpipe to the cooler. A Ford parts guy might be able to look those up still and they might still be available new. Your old standpipe may or may not have a hex center hole to remove it. Mine didn't so I jammed a couple nuts on it to get something to turn.

The explorer cooler gets installed inline of the lower radiator hose. It doesn't use the smaller two hoses like the F trucks did. You will have to search for hoses that will fit. I tried using the explorer lower hose but it wouldn't work for me. I ended up just looking at the parts store hose rack to find some that looked right.

The cooler will still be a tight fit to the crossmember even with the taller motor mounts. I had to cut the drip lip off the cooler and even rotated it further up in the front by grinding off some of the locating tab.

Im not sure what you're referring by standpipe. This is what i have from the explorer. The middle 11mm hex screw thingy came from the 93 mustang engine. I removed it because the bolt at the bottom (stand pipe?) and the 11mm screw are both male ends. after removing the 11mm screw, i tried to screw in the bolt. The bolt wont screw into the block because its too small. Is there an adapter or something else im missing to be able to use this oil cooler?

 

[Viperwolf1]

Yes, you need the special explorer adapter instead of the mustang piece. The bolt will screw into it then. Should be a small o-ring near the bolt head also as I recall.

 

[Broncobowsher]

If you are poking around looking for a angled oil filter adaptor, check the bone yards for a Merkur Xr4ti. The turbo 2.3 ran a heater hose style oil cooler and a ~80° oil filter adaptor that I think you can run spate from the oil cooler. The 2.3 turbo in the mustangs and T-birds didn't run the angled adaptor, only the Merkur.

Getting to be a long time since I delt with these.

 

[zerostar2410]

Yes, you need the special explorer adapter instead of the mustang piece. The bolt will screw into it then. Should be a small o-ring near the bolt head also as I recall.

where can I get this special adapter piece? I figured I needed one but I haven't been able to locate it online.

 

[Viperwolf1]

where can I get this special adapter piece? I figured I needed one but I haven't been able to locate it online.

Wrecking yard or maybe even Ford parts dealer.