Need a bit of help getting started

GreenEggSam

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Al, I think I'm finding out that the steering is in the way, the cooler won't come out to the rear. I'm also not seeing where the steering column bolts on to the steering box. Is it a pinch bolt arrangement or are there several bolts that I need to find? There is a plastic cover over the lower end of the shaft, does that just snap off, is there a correct way to get it out so I see what is going on there? Whoo Hoo, this is tough! I will take some pics. Thanks, Sam
 

GreenEggSam

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I had to pull steering shaft out and over, then the cooler came out! Now I will get busy and make that test jig. Maybe I can get lucky and find someone who has one in town, I'll test the cooler before taking it apart. Shouldn't be rocket science to pressure test both ends. Thanks again, Sam
 

GreenEggSam

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Well, I may have found a problem with my oil cooler. My cooler bundle appears to be have been either manufactured poorly or damaged by a previous repair job. On one end the inner land that stops the large green o-ring is wavy. It seems to be bent towards the end between two of the four spot welds holding the land to the cooler body (on the rear header side). Measuring the ID between the the inner and the outer land, I have a runout of 0.050 inches. It looks to me like someone might have banged on the land (why?) and pushed it in by the 0.050 amount. This would result in uneven pressure of the green o-ring against the land. I don't know if this is a big deal or not. Maybe the flexible o-ring just squeezes a little tighter here and there is no concern. Could I just take a torch and heat the ring as best I can and try to tap it back the other direction to make it more parallel with the other one? Has anyone ever seen this before? I got the shop manual and took the cooler apart (it was easy) per the instructions. The wavy section was on the rear header. When I took the cooler apart the rings looked good. All four were intact and soft. The cooler bundle looks to be new, there wasn't any junk blocking any of the water tubes. I'm thinking my oil in water symptom is not related to this, I don't think those header bolts were tight enough into the block and the rear header gasket looks like it might have been leaking across the oil side to the water side. I am pretty sure a previous owner may have had this repaired, and maybe the gasket to block on the rear header failed. The oil cooler did not leak oil externally, at either end.
Thanks, Sam
 

riotwarrior

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I have several used coolers in stock if need be fyi.

Come shake my hand...we can talk over a :cheers: or :cheers: two and yould likely walk away with what u need...
 

GreenEggSam

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Sounds like a great idea, Al. I do need to get the enhanced Wa driver's license, tho. Does that work to drive over the border?
Sam
 

rwk

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It should work, enhanced Mi license gets us across the border ok, lot cheaper then passport.
rwk
 

GreenEggSam

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Success. The test jig is completed, today I assembled the cooler and pressure tested both oil and water side. No leaks. I've taken a number of photos of the construction of the jig and will post them in a new thread as soon as I get a photobucket account. One last question, do I use permatex avation form a gasket on the header to block gasket, or does it go on dry? I'm thinking a thin coat wouldn't hurt? Again big thanks to Riotwarrior for meeting me at the border and checking out my cooler bundle, he said don't worry about it, use it and he was 100% correct! Thanks to everyone who replied to this post for their assistance.
Sam
 

riotwarrior

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Make sure if you do it haz to be first and formost....SURGICALLY clean before application.

Second that you dont use too much and slip gaskets when installing as that can happen

Good luck

A pleasure meeting you too.

EDIT

And if it was me....I wouldnt install the cooler without using elephant snot aka permatex aviation form a gasket...
 
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