Been a busy few days trying to get some jobs done before our Aussie Rally, main ones being Randys Oil Cooler Mod, and getting the headers ceramic coated. The oil cooler was fairly easy to install, only thing I had to double check was how much to tighten the fittings. I did them up finger tight, then tightened them by 1 "across the flat" width further. I looked up a website covering A/N fittings, and they described this as being a reliable way not to over tighten. Worked well.
I was going to repaint the headers black again, but looked into something more permanent, and ceramic coating was the answer. Competition Coatings in Brisbane removed all the carbon buildup inside the headers and sprayed the full length of each tube internally, and of course externally. The 4 header collars I had done in a ceramic black coating. Could have sprayed them myself with paint but was only a piddly amount extra to have them done at the same time. While all this was going on it was time to tidy up the engine with an "in frame" spray job with VHT Engine Enamel, Gloss Black. Painting while in the frame is never the best way, but a full tear down is on the cards later on. Now heres hoping the rain finally fecks off for a while, so we can get to our Aussie Rally next week in some of that stuff called "sunshine", haven't seen it for ages, :lol:
PS, Wattyl Killrust Enamel spray in "Aluminum" colour is a very close match for the original FJ frame colour for touch ups etc. Its just a bit brighter, which looks good.
(http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/raywise_2008/FJ1200%20Bits%20and%20Pieces/FujiF550-10831.jpg) (http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/raywise_2008/FJ1200%20Bits%20and%20Pieces/FujiF550-10835.jpg)
(http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/raywise_2008/FJ1200%20Bits%20and%20Pieces/FujiF550-10872.jpg) (http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/raywise_2008/FJ1200%20Bits%20and%20Pieces/FujiF550-10874.jpg)
(http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/raywise_2008/FJ1200%20Bits%20and%20Pieces/FujiF550-10875.jpg) (http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/raywise_2008/FJ1200%20Bits%20and%20Pieces/FujiF550-10930.jpg)
(http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/raywise_2008/FJ1200%20Bits%20and%20Pieces/FujiF550-10970.jpg) (http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/raywise_2008/FJ1200%20Bits%20and%20Pieces/FujiF550-10971.jpg)
Very pretty, nice work and that oil cooler really pops. :good:
CraigO
That is sweet looking.
I defo like the headers.
Sooo much better that stock :).. Looks great. !
George
You will not regret the inside/outside ceramic coating.
That looks really good! Someone on this forum talked about FJ Porn in another thread... This must be the hardcore version of it :pardon:
Looking good Ray :good2:
See you on Friday
Darran
Another fine FJ example! Your effort is definitely showing :good2:
I have to say there are very few motorcycles out there that i can be happy just looking at... The FJ has just enough of everything to pass the eye test....nice flowing broad shouldered bodywork with a beautiful hunk of engine that you can actually see. :good2:
KOokaloo!
Frank
:good2: Thanks everyone, you are too kind. I just wanted to tidy things up a bit, and so far seems to going to plan. Only thing is now I see where I have to pull out the swingarm, clean/paint it, clean the rest of the frame etc etc, help me, I can't stop, lol.
I'm definatley happy with the headers. It was only $210.00 to get them and the collars done, top job.
The sun is out today, hope it hangs around, :yes:
Hoo Roo
X-Ray
The Oil Cooler looks awesome, That mod is one of the remaining mods that is on my list. I am hoping to get that done before the 95 to 100 degree temps hit this summer.
The mention of pulling the swing arm for preventative maintenance, maybe consider mounting a 89'-90' Aluminum swing arm and save a little weight.
Fred
looking good xray, that cooler has just a few extra fins, and not as wide as the xjr one i used, but should work even better,, maybe one day ill be able to afford to upgrade again,,
Quote from: aviationfred on March 03, 2013, 04:30:09 PM
The Oil Cooler looks awesome, That mod is one of the remaining mods that is on my list. I am hoping to get that done before the 95 to 100 degree temps hit this summer......
Only 95 to 100 degrees? That's sweater weather down here.....Burr
I like the built in thermostat on Randy's oil coolers. My bikes warm up faster.
I hope to gawd there are others out there that have thought the same, but are too frightened to ask...
As nice as that oil cooler looks, I think I shall stick to my OE one (for now). Sorry.
Yes, it's a lovely cooler, there's no doubt about that, and with the coated headers, it looks gorgeous. All was looking well for me, as I drooled at the pics before the headers went on....
But - headers fitted, and all that money spent, to have oil line fittings resting on the headers? How long before the heat damages stuff / discolors / or the nice blue alloy cracks with the heat? With the lines now sitting against 2 headers (or near as), the chance of 2 hot spots is (I say) fairly big.
Can I ask RPM why the design of the exiting line feeds are in this position (either end) and not machined in the centre running down clear of the headers like the original cooler? If the cooler was made the same way, but the oil feed lines kept running central, then it'd still perform the same?
Is there an advantage to the lines being on the far corners of the cooler? I can understand it to be better for if hot oil goes in the furthest away point, and "cooled" exits at the opposite furthest point. But, does it not counteract by now being so close (or touching as these photos seem to show) the downpipes? As the exiting "cool" oil will be subjected to instant heat up when passing the header?
Pic No. 5 (before headers) shows the lines wanting to follow the original central route (they are curved in). If the lines were made shorter, and the feeds were made in the middle, you'd still get the nice easy connect, and the lines would run straight down, inbetween the biggest gap available which is the central space of the 2 inner headers. But then I suppose you wouldn't have the distance between the entering oil, and the exiting. So - I ask if that would be counteracted with the cooler having being made bigger? Questions questions!
No offence meant to Randy or anyone who has one fitted. Just an observation.
H2H
If you install it correctly, nothing is touching the exhaust.
DavidR.
Quote from: Anti-Dive Dave
I hope to gawd there are others out there that have thought the same, but are too frightened to ask...
No, I am glad you did, and I am happy to answer the questions or concerns you have. I hope there isn't anybody out there that is afraid to ask any question about anything I make or supply. I take pride in making products that work better than stock, look better than stock and not create additional problems for anyone down the line.
Quote from: Anti-Dive Dave
But - headers fitted, and all that money spent, to have oil line fittings resting on the headers? How long before the heat damages stuff / discolors / or the nice blue alloy cracks with the heat? With the lines now sitting against 2 headers (or near as), the chance of 2 hot spots is (I say) fairly big.
I can honestly say I had not looked closely at the pictures posted in this thread, but after you comments/concerns I went back and looked.
I see that the hose(s) might need to be turned away from the header by rotating the back towards the engine, but they do not appear to be touching as I can see the fitting in the reflection. It is difficult to see in these photos as they are from an angle.
I have had the cooler on my bike for over two years and have not had any issue with heat affecting the fittings/hoses and I live in Central California where we see summer temp above 100* on a regular basis.
Quote from: Anti-Dive Dave
Can I ask RPM why the design of the exiting line feeds are in this position (either end) and not machined in the center running down clear of the headers like the original cooler? If the cooler was made the same way, but the oil feed lines kept running central, then it'd still perform the same?
Is there an advantage to the lines being on the far corners of the cooler? I can understand it to be better for if hot oil goes in the furthest away point, and "cooled" exits at the opposite furthest point. But, does it not counteract by now being so close (or touching as these photos seem to show) the downpipes? As the exiting "cool" oil will be subjected to instant heat up when passing the header?
Actually both the O.E. cooler and the RPM cooler have the fittings at the far ends of the cooler. The fittings for the coolers are always placed at the ends to ensure proper oil flow and effect cooling. The O.E. cooler has the fittings manufactured combined with a specific hose at a 90* angle to the cooler. This allows the hose to travel horizontally across the top of the header before turning down in the center to the oil pan fittings. Also the O.E. is more than an 1" shorter than the RPM as it is only a five row cooler compared to a twelve row.
If the fittings were placed into the center of the cooler then the cooler would fill, but not use the outer portions of the cooler. The fittings must be at each end of the cooler to flow oil completely though the core and cool the oil.
Quote from: Anti-Dive Dave
If the lines were made shorter, and the feeds were made in the middle, you'd still get the nice easy connect, and the lines would run straight down, inbetween the biggest gap available which is the central space of the 2 inner headers. But then I suppose you wouldn't have the distance between the entering oil, and the exiting. So - I ask if that would be counteracted with the cooler having being made bigger? Questions questions!
I tried several ways to get the cooler lines to run back down the center portion of the header when designing the cooler kit. But due to the increased height of the cooler and the fittings available for use, there is just not a good way to get the hoses across the top of the header to the center opening. I found that much more of the hose was exposed to more heat sources of the header when trying to get back to the center space to route the hoses downward. With the exclusion of having a propriety cooler made with specific fittings/attachments this is the kit in its form. I did contact the cooler manufacture about making me a specific cooler and they told me the minimum amount of coolers they would entertain in making was 2500, plus the design fees. We since I have introduced the RPM oil cooler kit I have sold 23 and there are four out there that were prototype/test kits. In that time I have had one bad fitting which required a hose to be replaced, but it leaked at installation. So, I see no time in the future where I could ever justify the manufacture of 2500 coolers.
During the testing of the cooler, I rode with my infrared heat gun and would take temps of the fitting at stops. I can tell you that the fitting and headers at that point are in a great source of air flow and there was never a temperature I observed that caused any concern for me regarding a heat issue on the fitting or hose.
I hope I have answered your questions and addressed your concerns. If you, or anyone else for that matter, have further questions or concerns please let me know.
Randy - RPM
I had similar thoughts about the AN fittings being close to the headers. Thank you Randy for your great response.
I do have a question, Has the thought of a 90 degree AN fitting been considered, and if used, would the hoses be long enough?
Fred
Quote from: aviationfred on March 08, 2013, 02:08:55 PM
Has the thought of a 90 degree AN fitting been considered, and if used, would the hoses be long enough?
Fred
Fred,
I did try and use a variety of fitting to make is work. The 90* fitting will only allow the hose to point forward around the header and straight back toward the engine. The issue with going straight back was the hose actually contacted the head/cylinder area and made the have to make more turns & twists.
This also could lead to hose failure due to rubbing. Believe me, I tried a variety of fittings & configurations and the 30 & 60* fitting were the best routing for the hoses. I think Pat's bike might even have the 45* fitting hoses still on it...
Randy - RPM
Mr Randy wrote: "I hope I have answered your questions and addressed your concerns. If you, or anyone else for that matter, have further questions or concerns please let me know".
YES SIR! - MANY thanks for such an explanatory explanation (does that even make sense? Can there be such a phrase? Well, I guess there is now!)
I'm humbled you took the time to write all that, and in such a "polite" way too. I was expecting a bombardment of electronic flak!
Again, my sincere thanks for setting my mind at rest!
David.
i have the setrab 10 row cooler and made up my own lines. Not sure how much cooling difference between a 10 row and a 12 row as they are both larger than the stock cooler but Randy makes it easy with the nice kit and i really like the built in thermostat on his cooler.... it takes my FJ quite awhile to come up to operating temps in the cooler months since the setrab does not have this feature.
circa 2001.....
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/FZ1%20mods/sideview.jpg)
KOokaloo!
Yep, no part of the hose or fittings actually touches the headers, and as you have mentioned, I was a little confused also as to why the oil lines were not designed to follow the original tucked in oil lines, but after reading Randys explanation I understand why. I am going to find one of those oil temp gauges that screw in to the filler hole just for reference, but after having just done 1100 kms on our 3 day Aussie Rally, the cooler passed with flying colours. There may be a way to purchase different fittings etc and route the hoses exactly how you would like, (as Flips has done with his oil cooler lines), but I'm happy with the way it works. I'll see if I can take a clearer pic of the lines.
Big thumbs up from me, :good:
Quote from: racerrad8 on March 08, 2013, 01:35:53 PM
I see that the hose(s) might need to be turned away from the header by rotating the back towards the engine, but they do not appear to be touching as I can see the fitting in the reflection. It is difficult to see in these photos as they are from an angle.
Randy - RPM
Actually after looking just now at the hoses I could probably turn them a little more so they are pointing more straight back to the engine, instead of the 45 degree angle I have them on now. I haven't used these fittings before so can they be undone/retightened again without damaging the seal etc? Thought I'd better check before I undo them,
Yes, they can be used over & over again. Loosen the fittings and rotate them away from header. No issue at all.
Randy - RPM
What would we do without you Randy,
Thanks Kindly, :drinks: