i just bought a oil filter adapter ( 3952301 ) yesterday thinking i needed it because i was wanting to get rid of the oil cooler lines. im deleting the cooler lines because the lines are cracked. what do i do to delete the oil cooler? here are some pictures of what i am talking about. to delete the cooler do i just leave the lines unhooked from the radiator? Ive been frustrated about this because im trying to get this engine into the car by Saturday.

 

do you mean the transmission coolant lines? for some reason i cant access your pics

 

yea the pics don't work, it asked me to log in.

And I hope you mean trans cooler lines also.

Those are what runs through the radiator.

And you needs to have one.

If its an oil cooler for real, id do my best to keep it, they are a good idea.


for the trans I run both, first through the radiator like stock, then through a small external one to drop the temp some more.

 

I think he means the KC4 engine oil cooler (modine part), all you do is remove the lines, remove the filter and remove the heat exchanger (the black part between block and filter, remove by turning the hex on the oil filter spin on threads ccw) and then spin the filter on the stock filter adapter. Make sure the c clip is still on the heat exchanger, remove the c clip and the threaded oil filter spin on pipe falls out.
Next hook the in and outgoing coolant lines up and you're done.

As for the cracked lines, why not uy the alu ones from hakws or find a late 91 or 92 car w/ the KC4 cooler? They have alu lines and they have a much nicer heat exchanger too. The same one as on the 4th gens w/ the mounting block that uses 1 bolt instead of the 2 hoses w/ hose clamps. Same system as on the AC compressor:

A little hard to see but here it is (the alu lines are powdercoated because they were stained badly but it's just a cosmetic issue)





2 o rings and a bolt...that's all.

 

yes twin that is exactly what im talking about. i was having second thoughts on keeping the lines because i have heard bad things about the cooler. like on some certain years of the LT1s had a cloggy cooler. are those the stock cooler lines in your picture and what is your engine from? it wouldn't hurt to spend an extra few bucks i guess on new lines. I'm trying to be cheap. do you happen to have the part number for the ones that you have?

 

My engine is an 87 but the lines and heat exchanger are from an 92 because they are aluminum lines w/ the much nicer bolt on connection.

The 1st adapter in your pic is an LT1 adapter for use w/ the smaller filters. Those came on vettes (maybe others too?) to make room for the cat cons next to the oil filter pad. Even LT1 vettes without the engine oil cooler had an adapter like that, just without the coolant hookups.

The one I have is identical to the stock one, the only difference is the way the 2 liens hook up. Your 2nd pic is the normal spin on adapter, you will need it. The heat exchanger bolts onto that using the large "pipe" in the center that's held on w/ a c clip. Just put a socket over the hex on the underside and screw it on.

stock pre 92: (you can even see the c clip in this pic)


This is the 92 one: I do not have the part number for it but that same unit was used on other cars as well.