So I have a B20 vtec in a 1992 Integra, using the usual oil filter sandwich plate for the oil feed to the cylinder head. I'm wanting to add an external oil cooler setup to the car because I use this car for endurance road course racing. How is this possible with an oil filter sandwich plate. I've searched for options and not coming up with much. Thanks in advance

 

There are tons of ways to make this happen, and you can certainly piece together a package of parts that is perfect in every way for your particular application. Mishimoto has universal kits available.

 

I guess the man reason that confuses me is, can you run the oil feed line off the oil filter block and oil cooler lines off the the oil filter block at the same time? Assuming that's where the oil comes from that would go to the cooler.

 

No. I don't recommend that. There is an "old school" way that we ran the oil line off of the oil sending unit to the head (since you're not running a turbocharger), and use the oil sandwich plate that has an internal oil thermostat for the oil cooler. (not sure if the current sandwich plate you have has the internal oil thermostat , but you can see a small spring housing on your plate to know.) I believe the threading for this is M20 x 1.5 (someone correct me here, as it's been a while)

If you don't have the oil thermostat sandwich plate and this car sees both the street and Circuit, you'll want one of those first. Then go back to the old school way of setting that up.
Here's a an older write-up .... LS-VTEC conversion "Old School" circa 2004

So, a couple of Pro Tips as you get ready for this..

1) -8AN or -10AN sized lines only. Any smaller and you'll cause a blockage
2) Make sure the oil cooler is below the oil sandwich plate at the block - You don't want the oil to fight its way up towards a higher grill opening on the chassis.
3) Location, Location, Location ---
- a. Make sure the oil cooler is either right-side-up or at a 90* angle. DO NOT INVERT THE OIL COOLER.
- b. Have the oil cooler mounted where it can get fresh air coming in. You can even use ducting to route to the cooler
- c. A 19 row cooler is about the minimum size, don't go any smaller than that.

4) You'll need sharp 90* -10AN or -8AN fitings to go from the sandwich plate to the lines, the curved female-female fittings won't fit well.

I hope this helps as a start

 

I appreciate the information, this helps out huge. Is a thermostatic oil filter adapter necessary? Tbis is strictly a track car that sees abuse for 7-10 hours at a time. Also the mishimoto adapter I found also has an 1/8npt fitting in the adapter tbat says it could be used for an oil feed line? Either way works for me I guess.

 

I'm a bit of a parts snob , and honestly wouldn't use Mishimoto anything for something that crucial like oil cooling or management. Sorry if I offend others.. . If this is strictly a track car, then no. you don't need the thermostat. Many people say they want to circuit a car, but few every mean dedicated track car. So, I never assume such.

If you feel safe to run all three from the filter like that, I must leave that to you. I never would rely on one source of oil for everything like that. .But again, since this isn't a turbo car, you do have options.

 

This is definitely a dedicated track car, what brand would you recommend for a filter adapter for cooling and oil cooler? Thanks

 

Setrab for both. 19row oil cooler and internal thermostat oil sandwich.

 

Hey! If you dont mind me asking, why wouldn't you recommend using Mishimoto parts? I know their radiators arent great and are pretty over priced, but I have had a good experience running one on my WRX before I sold the car. I was planning on setting it up on my b20Vtec this weekend.

Also, If I have the golden eagle Vtec conversion, can you sort of "stack" the oil cooler and the vtec sandwich plates together? Would it work well enough for track use?

Thank you!

 

Def still run a thermo adapter on a track car, especially if it’s an endurance car. Even if you need to cool the oil, you still want it hot. Hot oil frees up more power, too cold of oil can break things. 20F or so hotter than the water is ideal.

Plus if you have yellow running, you can lose oil temp without a thermostat.

a thermostat will just keep everything at the ideal temp.

 

Do NOT stack the plates... Run the sandwich plate for your oil cooler and get your LS/VTEC oil feed from the oil pump primary. Motorvations Motorsports makes a fitting for this purpose.