Engine Oil Cooler Upgrade: Add 2 quarts! (SAS guys you'll want to see this)

[88GMCtruck]

Ever since I have owned my 88, I have despised the engine oil filter. Not only is it small, but it's at a rediculous angle that makes installing and removing it somewhat messy. Anyone who has changed oil in a GMT400 truck will have noticed that it drains directly through the front u-joint. Since the 350 motor (along with every other motor in a GMT400 truck) was designed well before the IFS suspension under it, GM made an oil filter adapter that angled the filter out of the way of the front driveshaft.

Now, Since I have converted my truck to a passenger drop D44, my driveline is now on the passenger side, just like the older GM trucks. So, I purchased old style oil adapter. The reason behind this is to put the filter straight down, and upgrade to a larger oil filter. The second portion of this install was to add a fully external oil cooler. now, even if your truck is still IFS the cooler upgrade is still possible.

Parts:

\Oil filter adapter (included new gasket, o-ring and bolts) - 12562831 - $13.00 - Ebay
Donaldson P550964 Oil filters (16 of them) - $32.00 - Ebay
Oil cooler line fittings - 15529401 - $5.49 - Napa
Cooler Line Out - 12472230 - $44.00 - Local GM dealer
Cooler Line In - 12472234 - $44.00 - Local GM dealer
Engine Oil Cooler (included the items below) - 15557751 - $30.00 - Junkyard
Upper cooler bracket - 15972505
Lower cooler bracket - 15972506
Cooler line clip - 15731998

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Oil filter comparison:
You can see the obvious size difference, both in length and diameter. Coke can was used for reference.

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Stock filter setup:
Stock angled filter (obviously no driveline is in my way). The oil cooler lines run along the block, and up to the radiator cooler in most cases. While the radiator cooler is adequate, I of course wanted more.

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Removal
Obviously you'll have to drain your oil. Once you get that out of the way, crack the lines on your ol radiator oil cooler lines, let them drain some more. Then unbolt the filter adapter, and the bracket holding the cooler lines to the frame, and pull it all out.

Install
Pull your grille off. Now, your core support will already have holes punched in it to mount the cooler.

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Mount your cooler, and run the lines under the core support.

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Now, install the cooler line fittings to the filter adapter and bolt it to the block with a new gasket and o-ring.

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Then you'll have to hook the lines up. They simply push into the fittings. They are somewhat of a PITA to get together, but they will go. With everything installed.

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Cooler behind the grille

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Now, with everything installed I ended up throwing 5 quarts in it, and once the motor filled the filter, cooler and lines ended up putting 7 quarts in. I think during a regular oil change, it will probably be closer to 6 quarts as the cooler and lines will not drain fully, unless you let it sit a LONG time.

 

[The Daver]

Huh thats strange Im pretty sure I have that filter set up on my stock 88 2wd. Minus the oil cooler of course but if you wanted to junk yard it you can probably pick up the filter thingy that bolt to the block for cheap...

 

[88GMCtruck]

yeah the 2wd trucks had the filters straight down just like the older trucks. The filter adapter that was angled up was used on 4wd trucks to clear the front driveline.

 

[Nuke]

I have a couple of questions.
Are you using both the radiator cooler and the external cooler?If so, how did you plumb it up?
For IFS apps, we would use all the things listed above, except for the larger filter and adapter?
What truck did you get the cooler out of, and is a factory part for that truck?

 

[88GMCtruck]

I'm only running the external cooler now. Its hooked up with those factory lines.

For IFS, you would just keep your current filter and adapter.

The cooler is from an GMT400 truck that had one, typically 454 and 6.5L trucks. Keep in mine that 96+ used a different fitting on the cooler than the 95 and older.

 

[Nuke]

So I would look around for a '96+ cooler since I have a '97.

 

[88GMCtruck]

you can run either style cooler, you just have to get the correct lines from that year.

 

[borahshadow]

Did an oil cooler come as a stock option on 97s? I'm pretty sure I have one. It doesn't look like the one you installed but I don't know what else it would be.

Oh and here's a dumb question. what does SAS mean?

 

[88GMCtruck]

SAS = Solid Axle Swap.

 

[chevy_man]

Did an oil cooler come as a stock option on 97s? I'm pretty sure I have one. It doesn't look like the one you installed but I don't know what else it would be.

Oh and here's a dumb question. what does SAS mean?

Probably your power steering cooler. I have one behind the grille on mine.

And If anybody is ambitious, you should be able to run the vertical filter adapter with one of the newer "short" filters. All the GMT800's I've seen use a filter that is the same diameter and seal, but about 2" shorter. Should clear the driveshaft, and it's not like you need clearance for the shaft to travel.