AN Bung Welded to Stock Oil Filter Housing?

[tinkwithanr]

Hey guys,

I'm working on getting my aftermarket oil cooler setup plumbed, and I was wondering if anyone has welded a male AN fitting onto the stock Oil Filter Housing. Yeah, I know you can just get the M22x1.5 -> AN orb adapters, but those can get pricey, not to mention seal poorly. So I was thinking of just buying two aluminum AN -10 weld on fittings and welding them to the stock housing. This would retain the thermostat (which I want to do) and give me a leak-proof connection with only the AN fitting to screw on/off. Considering I have the necessary equipment, it seems like it would be the best option unless there is something I'm missing...

Thoughts?

[unevolved]

I don't have any input, I'm just chiming in because I want to hear the answer.

[tinkwithanr]

Unless somebody can tell me a good reason to not do it I'm gonna give it a shot.

[jlevie]

That would work, or you could do what I did. Which was to have a shop make up new hoses with the stock fittings on the engine side and A/N fittings on the cooler side. I think the hose make up only cost about $35.

[tinkwithanr]

Thanks for the suggestion, that would work well if I knew I would never be changing my setup. But I'd like the ability to change the location of the cooler if I need to (like when I go turbo in a year or two) and the AN fittings would give me a certain 'modular' functionality. Plus I'd rather be able to do the work my self as opposed to paying someone else to do it for me.

[unevolved]

No shame in getting hoses made. I don't really classify that as passing off work, that takes specialty equipment.

[TobyB]

My verson was to silver solder steel AN-10's to the stubs of the stock
pipes. That way the steel pipe was closest to the header,
and then the AN hose picked up from there.
Cost was almost nil (silver solder's not cheap, though!) and it works fine.
Easy if you have oxy-acetylene.

Did it on the cooler end too, and used the stock cooler for now.
Like you, I wanted to have the flexibilty to change coolers if I wanted to.
Gen 2 RX7 coolers are huge...

heh
t

[tinkwithanr]

Not a bad idea. Ironically TIG might be easier than the silver soldering for me lol. I'm not sure if I have a brazing nozzle for the oxy-acetylene, I normally only use it for cutting when the plasma is already taken.


I broke down and bought an Earl's Perf. Cooler already. I didn't wanna run the stock e30 one in the turbo airdam vent, it's pretty low to the ground on the '02 and I would worry about rocks and or small mammals taking out my oil system. Plus it leaves a place for me to throw the intercooler (if I can find one the right size/shape).


Thanks for the input guys. Feel free to post other comments/thoughts. I'll update the thread with my solution.