HOW COOL IS YOUR AIR-COOLED PORSCHE?

From high profile low-production shops like Singer and Guntherwerks, to boutique specialist like SV Auto who only build a handful of cars every year, there is no shortage of talented and experienced mechanics building hot-rod, resto-mod, and restored Air-Cooled Porsche 911s, many of these shops being daily customers of SSF. Through state-of-the-art distribution networks, builders now have easier access than ever before to top manufacturers of performance hard parts and software from around the globe to help merge classic Porsche style with 2022 technology.

5 years ago, if someone would have told you that their naturally aspirated 911 makes 400hp, you’d laugh at them, roll your eyes, and call them a liar. If someone told you that today, you’d raise a brow, but you would think twice about second guessing them. Porsche engine development has become so sophisticated, power levels seeing on dyno sheets floating on the internet seemed to be getting one-upped by a new “up and coming” builder or enthusiast on a monthly basis. With all of that power, comes more heat generated by the engine. This is where my company, CSF Cooling, has answered the call with innovative, high performance, air-cooled oil cooler solutions for Porsche 911.

The hottest word today in the Porsche lexicon is “backdate”. Everyone is looking for that classic 70’s look. Whether they’re chasing the period-correct classic 911 look, or something more race inspired with a ’73 RS style front bumper, or maybe even wanting to go more aggressive with the later IROC style massive opened-mouth front bumper.

Both the 73’ RS style and IROC style front bumpers both have functional bottom center front oil cooler pockets. These additional oil coolers were needed to help keep race cars cool in demanding competitive environments, especially when drafting behind other cars where direct air-flow sometimes was inadequate, or in hot weather climates in busy summer racing months.

’73 RS / RSR Bumpers and Proper Oil Cooling

Slightly smaller than the larger IROC bumpers, this is the perfect look for a balanced blend of street car and race. Many people swap to this type of bumper but often keep the oil cooler opening closed off or take an even bigger shortcut by leaving the oil cooler cavity empty behind a mesh screen. If a center oil cooler has been added into the cooling loop, they’re often universal oil coolers which have had to be retro-fitted in to work, not designed to fit the bumper it’s being installed in. 99% of the time, they’re an afterthought often being installed after paint and body.

The proper way to install one of these coolers is to cut the front tub to create more exit airflow for optimal cooling. This also allows proper routing of the lines to go straight back and around the oil cooler, as well as allows the additions of small fans to be used to pull airflow when the car is idling (i.e possibly sitting in traffic or pit lane).

In 2021, while I was building my own 911, I developed two new oil coolers to work perfectly for these bumpers – one a dual-pass cooler to allow the cooler to work in series with the right front fender oil cooler (which we’ve also developed), or as a single stand-alone cooler. The other being a single-pass design which can be used in high horsepower or race set-ups where there are two fender oil coolers (one on each side).

IROC Bumpers

The bigger front cavity allows for more room between the inside of the front bumper and the front tub. The CSF IROC style oil cooler comes with a slight 15 degree tapered female ports to allow the oil cooler lines to hug the contour of the front bumper without having to cut or modify the bumper or tub. This is the latest solution for enthusiast looking for the race look as well as the added performance of a larger oil cooler. And it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than trying to source a $10,000 used vintage RSR Porsche motorsports cooler!

Front Right Fender “Carrera” Style Oil Cooler

• 65-73 911’s came with no front oil cooler (very few (and rare) 911S models from 69-73 came with a plate type tube/fin oil cooler)
• 74-83 911’s came with a brass tube style oil cooler known as the “trombone” style
• 84-89 911’s came with an actual tube/fin style cooler often know as a “Carrera” style cooler

As builders and enthusiast have started to hot-rod engines of these older cars, full retro-fit kits have become popular for older cars. Kit builders are supplying customers with new lines, proper mounting brackets, horn relocation brackets, additional fans, and all the fittings needed to complete the installation. Many now choosing CSF’s new OEM+ oil cooler because of better performance, better technology, the coolers being readily available along with a better price point compared to trying to source a new oil cooler from Porsche. More features allow for more set-up configurations compared to the original oil cooler invented almost 40 years ago!

My own 911 that I debuted at last year’s SEMA show churns out almost 400whp out of my custom built 3.9L 993 motor swapped into my 82 SC backdate. I chose to run both one of my new right fender oil coolers as well as a dual-pass ’73 style front bumper oil cooler. In my left fender, instead of running an additional oil cooler, I chose to shoe-horn in a 986 Boxster A/C condenser for my electric AC set-up.

Even on the hottest day, and after either sitting in traffic or beating on my car at California Speedway, I’ve still yet to see over 80*C on my gauge (that’s 180 degrees F) – Going into summer, it’s time to get COOL and Stay COOL – CSF and SSF have you covered!

993 Turbo/S & GT2 Front Oil Cooler

The CSF #8119 can also be used as an upgrade/OEM+ Upgrade for the Porsche 933 Turbo/S & GT2 Oil Cooler. The CSF Cooler is larger, more robust, and about 1/4 the cost of a new OE unit (993 207 235 08) from Porsche.

964 Carrera 2 / 4 / RS Oil Cooler

The CSF #8119 can also be used as an additional oil cooler on the 964. This is a perfect OEM+ Oil Cooler Upgrade for the Porsche 964. CARGRAPHIC uses the cooler in a bolt on plug and play kit that is designed to run in series with the OE cooler.

Article Featured in SSF Auto Parts‘ online magazine AutoFocus (Second Quarter 2022 Issue)

SSF Auto Parts (Wholesale Distributor) are the European Repair Specialist’s complete source for auto parts. Their goal is to provide their clients the most comprehensive, quality coverage for German, Swedish and British vehicles, excellent customer care, and rapid dependable service.