3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Please add Porsche parts and anything you wish to sell here (no commercial sales)

Moderator: Bootsy

User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

Authentic reproduction of the 1974 Porsche 911 3.0 RS & RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Image

Image

Manufactured in the UK by one of the worlds leading suppliers of racing radiators, oil coolers, charge air coolers and motorsport fabrications these are fully functioning motor sport quality coolers, each pressure tested and built to perform at the highest level.

Built to the correct dimensions of an original cooler with end tanks cast using CAD scans from a genuine 74 item, these match the original Behr 23.014 cooler exactly in shape and dimensions both externally and internally. Complete with the correct oil pressure relief valve, internal spring and ball bearing and finished in the original Aluchrom 407 protective coating, I believe these are about as close as you can get to an original NOS item.

Available at £2,350 + VAT

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

I never intended to start producing these coolers however having searched everywhere I concluded there is nothing available today that remotely resembles an original 74 RS/RSR cooler and with used items (with unknown cores) selling for £10K or more I set about trying to fabricate my own. I was fortunate to be guided and helped in the process and then stumbled across amazing luck enabling perfect end tanks to be cast and meeting brilliant professionals to help fabricate the end product ensuring the highest of quality and performance.
A few Porsche specialists have expressed an interest in these coolers and I think this is where most will end up with a number already spoken for, however I wanted to post them here first in case there's anyone, like me, that's in need of such a cooler.
This is a limited production run for a limited market however, once this batch has sold, I could produce more if there's enough interest and with the required commitments with a lead time of 5-6 months.

Thanks for looking.
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

My next post is really for the US threads where I've advertised these but worth adding just in case anyone stumbles here.

Cheers,
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

I've been asked various questions about the coolers such as how they were fabricated, who built them, weight, core used etc. etc. I'll try to cover all these questions here.

From the outset this was never a commercial venture and I was simply looking for a cooler for my 3.0RS build, which can be seen here - https://www.early911sregistry.org/forum ... 548-Flares

I had an initial batch of 10 coolers fabricated which meant I had 9 for sale. I have 3, possibly 4, still available. I've retained the moulds for the end tanks and can produce more however the market is limited, I'd have to do a minimum batch and it's a large outlay. Therefore without committed orders a second batch is unlikely.

In my hunt to get these produced I was lucky to be introduced to someone who had CAD scans of original end tanks, this was the key to this project and meant these could be produced exactly both externally and internally. Drawings were produced from the scans and a leading casting company were commissioned to produce moulds and casts....

Image

Image

....the castings turned out perfectly and better than I'd ever thought possible....

Image

Image

....the castings were then machined as required to original specification....

Image

Image

....at this time I was also put in touch with Dockings Engineering based at Silverstone in the UK. They're seasoned professionals in this kind of work, they had the advantage of working for a number of Porsche specialists on a whole range of race cars including 962's etc but also had the advantage in that they were currently in the process of re-coring an original Behr cooler from a genuine RSR.
Fortunately Dockings took a keen interest in my project, they agreed to carry out the fabrication and produced drawings using the original cooler as a reference...

Image

Image

....the core for this project was the tricky bit. The originals used a 15-row bar and plate core however there's very few companies that produce cores and getting them made in small batches in a custom size is impossible. There was an option to go this route with something similar although it still wouldn't have been 15-bar and the end cost would have been three times the price. Someone had mentioned a number of cores are manufactured in China although Dockings strongly advised against this as in their experience the quality of aluminium used is poor meaning the weight is nothing like what it should be and super heavy.

Ultimately Dockings wanted a known core of the correct size, from a reliable source and something they could pressure test both before and after fabrication. I went with their advice and they supplied a tube and fin core to the correct dimensions which is the same core as fitted to the original RSR cooler they were recently working on.

The finished result is a quality, light cooler that's fully pressure tested and assembled comes in at circa 3.8KG....

Image

Image

I was also fortunate to be able to obtain all dimensions for plug/relief valve from the original RSR cooler. These were then reproduced exactly with springs manufactured of the same dimensions, wire size, number of coils etc so they matched perfectly. The plugs are also anodised....

Image

Image

....finally, rather than use a modern corrosion protective coating on the coolers which is now the norm, I was introduced to a company who could still carry out the original Aluchrom 407 protective finish giving the coolers that old school greenish NOS appearance :cool: ....

Image

Image

I think that pretty much covers the whole process but please let me know if you need any more information.

Many thanks,
Last edited by Darren65 on Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
g3ngs2
Married to the DDK
Posts: 249
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2021 10:00 pm
Location: St Albans

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by g3ngs2 »

That is a thing of utter beauty, passion and diligence. Thanks for sharing the story behind them, I'm guessing the US forums must be, or will be soon, losing their minds over these

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

--------------------
911T MFI
Gen 2 Boxster
Merc stealth shed
--------------------
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

g3ngs2 wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 11:51 pm That is a thing of utter beauty, passion and diligence. Thanks for sharing the story behind them, I'm guessing the US forums must be, or will be soon, losing their minds over these
Thanks for the kind words and glad you like them :)

They've been especially popular over on Pelican including with one very cool Porsche racer who's details I'll share once I've checked it's ok to do so 8)

Cheers,
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

# 9114609048

Post by Darren65 »

One of the benefits with this project has been talking to other enthusiast and learning about the awesome cars these coolers will find a home in. With permission I hope to share a few details along the way....

....one thing I never expected was to be contacted by a true Porsche Racing Legend.

Many here will know the name George Dyer and that in 1977 he won the Sebring 12-Hours driving a Porsche 911 3.0 RSR #9048 :cool: .....

Image

Image

Image

Image

....George is currently building his own #9048 in incredible detail and to exacting standards back to it's 1977 Sebring livery :cool:

He thinks these coolers are the best reproductions he's seen and I'm honoured one will be fitted to his amazing build...

Image

Image

....a truly amazing experience for me..... George really is quite a guy....

Image

Image

Huge thanks George, can't wait to see your car finished :)

Cheers,
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

Three coolers still available.

Many thanks,
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Behr 03.274 2.8 RSR Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

In other news, due to a number of people asking about a 2.8 RSR cooler and how well this project has gone, a friend and I have been discussing producing the earlier RSR cooler.

My friend just happens to have a NOS cooler (not for sale) to use as a template.....

Image

Image

Image

Production time would likely be 4-6 months and currently gauging interest.

Please let me know if you'd be a buyer?

Many thanks,
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Cooler fitted....

Post by Darren65 »

A couple of pics of the cooler in situ....

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
matteo68
I luv DDK!
Posts: 922
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:43 am
Location: Wootton, Woodstock, UK

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by matteo68 »

Magnificent!
'72 T 210 2176 (ex-Hawaii donor car for '72 M491 2.5 SR)
'72 S 230 0347 (two-owner tangerine unicorn)
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

Fresh batch of these coolers now available........

Image

...this time beautifully fabricated and welded by Bob at Concept Racing.....

Image

...freshly protected with Alocrom 407 (please excuse my previous misspelling) and ready to go....

Image

Image

Image

Image

....
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

...I hadn't planned to make any more of these as the market is pretty limited but the last one I was holding for a friend was needed for an original RSR running at this years Rennsport Reunion 8)

All bar one of these coolers has been sold to US, every customer has been extremely happy with one commenting that it matches his original RSR cooler exactly......as previously stated these are an authentic reproduction of the original Behr oil cooler and are a fully functioning, pressure tested motorsport item.....

....now priced without VAT and available at only £2,350 + postage....

Image

Cheers,
User avatar
KS
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 14918
Joined: Fri May 07, 2004 3:12 pm
Location: Cornwall

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by KS »

Wondered where you'd got to! :)
Keith Seume
Follow on Instagram @orange914
My YouTube channel
User avatar
bjmullan
Me and DDK sitting in a tree! KISSING
Posts: 2978
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:15 pm

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by bjmullan »

Darren, love this thread. The engineering and attention to detail. I just need to get myself and RSR! Keep up the great work :)
Brendan
1969 911T
2007 2.7 Boxster

Pray, hope and don't worry - Padre Pio
User avatar
Darren65
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 7864
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:55 pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Contact:

Re: 3.0 RS / RSR Front Central Oil Cooler

Post by Darren65 »

bjmullan wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 10:33 pm Darren, love this thread. The engineering and attention to detail. I just need to get myself and RSR! Keep up the great work :)
Thanks for the kind words Brendan and hope you're well mate :)
Post Reply