Oil cooler tips and tricks??????

7.3ornothin · Mar 14, 2014

We'll... It's time to do an oil cooler on the good ol 7.3 just wanted to see if there was any tricks to help with the install. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Jaredkeller96 · Mar 14, 2014

Take the wheel off. And inner mudflap fender thing...have fun. Do it with a buddy. A lot easier having another set of hands helping

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nasty6.6 · Mar 14, 2014

about to do mine as well

Ad8 PRODIGY · Mar 14, 2014

Same... I planned on doing it the same way Jared listed

Gary · Mar 14, 2014

Lube up the new O-ring and if you don't have a press you may be able to pull it together with a ratchet strap.

Jaredkeller96 · Mar 14, 2014

We did ours with a ratchet strap, worked just fine, did you get a new block heater element and cord? If not I'd defiantly get one, only 50 from oreilly.

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StrokerGuy86 · Mar 16, 2014

some good info bout to do mine if it stops raining might just wait till next weekend when it feels better

gnxtc2 · Mar 16, 2014

Get the gaskets timing cover and block gaskets from Ford. The International black timing cover gasket leaks for some odd reason. The o-rings you can get from either place.

There are drain plugs for the oil gallery and coolant by the filter housing.

Billy T.
[email protected]

Redpower · Mar 17, 2014

It isn't that bad to do, just takes a little time. It has already been said, but lube up the O-rings good and use a ratchet strap to squeeze it all back together. The hardest part is getting it out of the truck and holding the gaskets going back in.

Magnum PD · Mar 17, 2014

Don't force it together!! While in the press. Caps are aluminum.

littleredstroker · Mar 17, 2014

I just stood my cooler on end and pushed down with my fatazz.

Magnum PD · Mar 17, 2014

That's funny.

littleredstroker · Mar 17, 2014

Magnum PD said:
That's funny.

it worked incredibly well.

gnxtc2 · Mar 17, 2014

Did you lube it up?

Billy T.
[email protected]

littleredstroker · Mar 17, 2014

some oil on the orings and just pushed. honestly it wasn't that bad.

JCart · Mar 19, 2014

I used a small nylon strap looped around the whole cooler and ends once R&R'd to re-install on the block. Also recommend using a torque wrench especially on the front bolts as they are threaded into aluminum front engine cover.

Billy T is right on point (above) DO NOT...DO NOT... use IH block to cooler gaskets as they will leak.... causing you to tighten up the front bolts and crack the friggin front cover and have it leak anti-freeze...(Read pulls engine to fix front cover, or makes it into a parts truck in my case)...relatively straight forward R&R, just messy. Make sure you change the engine oil after you do the cooler repair and prior to starting engine too, as I have seen anti-freeze drain into the pan.

jrc

Pwnm30rdi3 · Mar 21, 2014

gnxtc2 said:
Get the gaskets timing cover and block gaskets from Ford. The International black timing cover gasket leaks for some odd reason. The o-rings you can get from either place.

There are drain plugs for the oil gallery and coolant by the filter housing.

Billy T.
[email protected]

This is true. I found this out the hard way. I had to pull my cooler out for a second time to replace my leaky brand new gaskets.

Jaredkeller96 said:
Take the wheel off. And inner mudflap fender thing...have fun. Do it with a buddy. A lot easier having another set of hands helping

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This is also really good advice. It would be much easier with two people. Unfortunately I pulled mine out twice, alone. Terrible idea.

Strokin572 · May 1, 2014

I saw someone just pulled the oil filter housing off the block and left the front header on and pushed it in but didn't pull the front header. Is this a bad idea? Should I just pull the front header and put it all in one piece before putting it back in?

Redpower · May 2, 2014

Strokin572 said:
I saw someone just pulled the oil filter housing off the block and left the front header on and pushed it in but didn't pull the front header. Is this a bad idea? Should I just pull the front header and put it all in one piece before putting it back in?

That seems like more work to me. I'd pull the whole thing out. Plus you will have a new gasket on the front piece after you finish rather than the old one.