Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I have seen photos of other oil cooler installations that have the cooler mounted at the cowl inlet, flush with the baffle ramp. I cant seem to locate that photo in the gallery, so I was hoping whoever has that setup, would they send me some photos of the under side of the baffle and the oil cooler. I am concerned about potential clearance problem with the cooler and the cowl inlet.

Here is where I am talking about.

I've had that setup before. My experience has been that when you need cooling the most ( high angles of attack / low speed) you will not get enough flow through the cooler. Best to mount it on the aft baffle or on the firewall with a duct.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

good thought lee. I hadnt considered that issue.

I have more than adequate cooling . In fact I installed a damper valve (controlled from the cockpit) to adjust the amount of air flowing over the cooler . Bada Bing , Bada Boom !

RB

Precisely RB!

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

I had the front baffle set up originally on 711SH. The baffles kept cracking and in the final analysis, i wanted to move the cg aft due to my constant speed prop. It sits on the rear of the #4 cylinder now and has given no problems. Keeps hoses short as well.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Here's mine, works fine.

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Chuck Kincer
Richmond, Me
575CK
KIWI

Never thought of putting it there Chuck, I will bet that does work just fine. I too put mine on the back of the plenum behind cilinder # 4 Bob, 2- little short hoses. In the cold part of the year I have a 025. blockoff that I use to stop the airflow through it. Its hard enough to get some heat in hot weather, I like to see temps of 180-200 deg but have to work the thing pretty hard to get those numbers. I never have to worry about too much heat when Im taxing around on the ground on those 107 deg days, except for myself I sweat and the ole lycasaurus runs cool as a Cucumber....Dan

Ryan: My cooler is mounted also behind #4 cylinder on the aft baffle.
The aft baffle was strengthened with .025 Aluminum frame which was adequate to support the cooler and lines weight.
This design has the majority of air pasing through the cooler, however there is a small opening at the lower frame to allow air flow in the event the cooler becomes obstructed.
This installation eliminates the additional ducting and as has the additional benifit of shorter 0il hoses that has been previously discussed.

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Victor J Thompson
C-GIRQ
In memory of Dad

Victor,
You mentioned "a small opening in case the oil cooler becomes obstructed." Why would you want such a thing? The air is intended to cool the motor ... Why would you bypass it out the back when it could be going down the much bigger leak around the motor?

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Prior to rehab (the plane, not me) the oil cooler was mounted on the port intake baffling - there was some cracking of the baffling there, given there was some weight there as well, plus oil lines passing around and near exhaust stacks - given I was a little nose heavy anyway, I elected to relocate it to the firewall when I replaced the baffling - I think this makes it easier to connect the remote filter (hose is pricey) and eliminates any oil lines running around close to exhaust stacks. If I were building new, I would either locate it right where I have it now, or at the back of the baffling. As far as doing it's job, knowing my oil temp probe/gauge is accurate to within 5 degrees after shooting it with an infrared heat gun, it does a great job. Too good as a matter of fact.

When I bought my Thorp it had a Corvair cooler mounted out front. The baffling was in pretty bad shape. I put an AC cooler mounted to the rear of #3.

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http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

I'm tempted to put it up front just because that space below the front of the baffle ramp is wasted space, and the real estate between the motor and firewall is limited. But, I dont want the hassle of relocating the darn thing 6 months from now either.

Certainly not a major issue here for me, but I was interested in getting some thoughts/opinions on the subject before I did anything. Lots of good points have been brought up so far. I bought a Vans oil cooler shutter, so I should be able to control temps pretty well. I only hope putting the shutter in there doesnt block too much of the surface area of the cooler. RV folks say thats not an issue on the RVs, and I hope that translates to the Thorp.

When I buy the plane the cooler was mounted in the back of the last cylinder. The plane flew around 220tt. No inscription on the journey log about hi-temp oil or...I think I re-install at the same place with proper hardware and with new aviation hoses.

Picture taken during the quick pre-buy insp.

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Lee: Dad had 2 events that occurred when he 1st test flew C-GIRQ in the winter with the oil cooler installed.
1. Engine oil temps ran excessively cooler.
2. Oil Cooler plugged, no air flow, resulting in high engine oil temperature.
Note: Indicated CHT's have never been an issue for C-GIRQ.

Situation: The aft baffle oil cooler frame originally was totally boxed in. (100% of the air passing through the oil cooler all air swirling around cylinder cooling fins)
With engine oil level (1/2 liter less than max), 100/130 aviation fuel, appropriate ground run, taxi to warm the engine, dad found in -20 to -30

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Victor J Thompson
C-GIRQ
In memory of Dad