I have an 84 z28, I pulled the 305ho for a healthy 350. Its got a 600cfm edelbrock carb and intake, headers and flowmaster exhaust. The car runs 170-190 all day depending on outside temp. My oil gets dark and dirty within 1200 miles and I dont drive the car "Hard" daily. Nothing is mechanicly wrong either. I was wondering if it was because I never installed an oil cooler. The 305's did'nt have an oil cooler, but I know the 350's L98, 1LE, and B4C's had one. Would it be wise to install one since I did the 305 to 350 swap?

 

An oil cooler won't change anything.

 

There is nothing out of the ordinary with the oil getting dark or "dirty" ,can you see physical dirt particles, if not you definitly do not have a problem. Even if it was to get dark within the first 500 miles you still don't have a problem, just means your oil is being circulated through the engine, which most people consider a good thing.

 

Just curious about it cus I know there's no blow-by, and the mixture and timing are also good. Are there any other benefits to having one? I dont tow or anything but just considering options. How about the fact that the exhaust pipe from the drivers side header runs about an inch away from the oil pan? You think maybe its helping to overheat the oil a bit?

 

It won't hurt to add a oil cooler, it's also good the oil cooler adds about a .5-1qt of oil capacity, you don't need blowby or any mixture or timing problems to cause the oil to darken. I just want to tell you even brand new or very young engines operation alone cause the oil to darken within the first 1000 miles every time. The exhaust pipe close to the oil pan isn't going to cause enough heat to cause thermal breakdown to the oil in most cases(99% of the time) so long as your using a quality oil(any api or ilsac gf-x) rated oil will be fine.

Check out bobistheoilguy.com to answer any more of your questions.

 

A quality synthetic oil (AMSOIL, Mobil 1, Red Line) and good oil filter would make more difference than an oil cooler.