What is the correct method for oil cooler disassembly

[Brad S.]

I'm sure there are many different ways oil cooler have been taken apart, but want to make sure I don't mess something up.
I would guess a 2x4 plus a hammer then tap the ends off the body of the cooler.
Let me know what you've all done, thanks.

 

[89Laredo]

Put the body in a vise, knock the ends off with a rubber mallet. It takes quite a bit of force.
Theres not much to worry about, just dont crush the body or anything.
Its a total PITA to put back together. Our vise didnt open far enough so I had to drop the truck on it. lol
Buy a tube of Sil-Glyde and put a pretty good layer on the orings to help protect them when you put it back together.

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[icanfixall]

Reassembly really is easy with a pipe wood clamp. Or spring for the nice Bessy wood clamps. Grease is very important when assembling the cooler and do one end at a time. The alignment is critical. Test fit the ends without o rings to get a feel for the alignment fit. then on a bench place the header and bundle in the clamp with some soft wood to cushion the ends. Apply pressure but if there is great resistance back off and recheck alignment. It will slide on easy. Then do the same for the other end. Its best to pressure test the o rings but if you don't have the cover plates your not going to be able to test the rings. Its a tuff job if you have to do it twice.

 

[Michael Fowler]

89Laredo Great photo--and VERY redneck. I am jealous. I used a 2 X 4 to the ceiling and a hydraulic jack to put mine together.

 

[icanfixall]

Wow you guys sure can get em dun redneck style... I do what I can when the times get ruff too. Had to bleed my brakes once with a 30 lb concrete block on the brake peddle.

 

[cheap bronco]

There is a youtube video. Rebuild it while the front housing remains on the engine.

 

[79jasper]

I used a ratchet strap to pull mine back together.

I don't like that YouTube method, as you should pull the front header and replace the gaskets anyways.


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[ifrythings]

Wow you guys use some pretty "extreme" methods to put the ends back on, I just grease them and put one end on something soft and push down with my hands (and a bit of body weight) and they slide on nice and easy, I do also make sure there's no corrosion in the ends so you don't have to fight it on.

 

[typ4]

Wow you guys use some pretty "extreme" methods to put the ends back on, I just grease them and put one end on something soft and push down with my hands (and a bit of body weight) and they slide on nice and easy, I do also make sure there's no corrosion in the ends so you don't have to fight it on.

Thats how I do it also, but as Gary can verify, I DO have the body weight.

 

[79jasper]

I had mine clean. Even lightly sanded.
But at 150 Lbs...


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[Brad S.]

Thanks guys, if 240lbs of body weight is enough, then I'm good.
Another question, how hard is it to rig up a pressure tester for these oil coolers????

 

[HammerDown]

89Laredo Great photo--and VERY redneck. I am jealous. I used a 2 X 4 to the ceiling and a hydraulic jack to put mine together.

Been there, done that!
Actually I used a long length of 2x4 as a leverage/torque arm...worked great.

 

[yARIC008]

Make sure you put the Orings on the bundle and not in the headers as some manuals will say. You put the in the headers and they will get cut every time. Lube them up, which may not even be not possible as there will probably be some oil leaking out still. I used a large clamp to get the headers 90% on, then my clamp wouldn't squeeze any harder, then i just set one end on a sturdy piece of wood, and banged the other side with a hammer and 2x4 and it went the rest of the way on.

I heard some people push them on, with one header kinda bolted on the block, then push this in, then push the other header on or something. Whoever did that must be the Hulk because my muscles did about nothing to push it together manually. Plus I can't imagine even keeping the thing completely clean while under the truck. So much crap in the cramped quarters to bang up against and get dirt on things.