Harrop Oil Cooler Install

[Paul McWhiskey]

I thought that I had this all figured out. What I would like is advice from those who have installed the Harrop. Did you cut the belly pan open? I think that this should increase airflow from the grill, through the cooler, and out the bottom of the car. I believe some do not open the belly pan. This is probably not optimum for cooling, but neither is allowing air under the car for maintaining downforce. I would like to hear from those who have installed the Harrop and how you did it.

Also, what do you think of adding a small wicker (3/4”) in front of the belly pan opening to create a lower pressure zone pressure zone to help increase airflow through the cooler?

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[EFI]

I'm also looking at that, and from what I've seen people just stand up the cooler to be directly behind the lower grill. I never got the impression that it facing down will get any airflow in or out since it's blocked off.

My buddy has an M2 Competition and their oil cooler is oriented the same way as the Harrop with one key distinction...it has a hole cut out in the belly pan exactly where the cooler is so presumably BMW did their homework when designing that piece with airlow in mind.

 

[WItoTX]

Just my two cents, backed up by nothing other than watching wind tunnel videos, and my parents soft-top jeep, and opening/closing windows, and it's affect on the soft top. You won't need a wicker, because the air in the engine bay is "mostly" not moving, and certainly not moving as fast as air under the belly pan. So it's going to be sucking air through it regardless. With how low our cars sit, I wouldn't want to add much to reduce ground clearance even more, especially in a spot that might see kerbs.

I did not stay at a holiday in, and my advice might be mostly terrible. But as EFI said, the M2 has it there, and presumably it works. They also mount theirs fairly far back from the leading edge of the splitter IIRC.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

The brackets and attachment hardware that come with the kit does lay it down flat in front of the condenser. Seeing the M2 layout confirms for me that the belly pan needs to be cut open. The air pressure behind the grill and in front of the condenser will be higher than under the car when the car is moving which will create flow.

Yes, a wicker under the nose would be in a somewhat precarious place especially under hard braking and hitting a dip. I think that I will pass on that.

The M2 photo pretty much confirms for me my original plan on mounting it.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

Thanks for the replies and if anyone else has experience with the Harrop please let me know what and how you did it.

 

[TeeCee]

Thanks for the replies and if anyone else has experience with the Harrop please let me know what and how you did it.

I've had one fitted as per below for years - It must be remembered that Harrop spent many hours in the fitment to be most efficient.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

Ok, interesting. I thought that the airflow would be just the opposite. Running from the grill intake and down through the cooler and out under the car. Since I am going to tape off all of the areas that I can while I have the bumper cover off in order to reduce leakage past the radiator and condenser it seems to me, and correct me if I am wrong, that the pressure will be higher above the oil cooler than below thus causing air to flow out under the car?

But, thank you for your input here. This is what I am looking for. I know that the Harrop is not the most efficient oil cooler. It is, however, going to provide what I need for what I intend to do with the car and remove the possibility of the stock cooler leaking and destroying the engine.

So far it appears that the belly pan will be cut open.

 

[EFI]

Running from the grill intake and down through the cooler and out under the car.

That's what it's saying. It's taking "cool air from the lower intake" eg. the lower grill.

 

[G.T.]

I've seen similar questions and answers to them over on the grassroots motorsports aero forum. You may want to try asking there too.

 

[robvas]

Oil cooler thread on TMO:

https://trackmustangsonline.com/threads/oil-cooler-setup-thoughts-and-questions.19355/

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

Yes, thanks. Been there and through it. Just wanted to stay specific to the Harrop. Appreciate that you took the time to post it up.

 

[Bossdog]

@GTP has a very nice post on this. he nicely vented the belly pan for horizontal mounting of the oil cooler. The pattern you see is molded into the belly pan so you remove everyting that is not molded cross supports.

Here's the thread, starting at post # 443
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...d-due-to-high-cht.166499/page-30#post-3599569

 

[GTP]

Hey @Bossdog thanks for the tag.

If I did it over again I would just cut the rectangular window out of the belly pan and then cover it with the screen. It was a lot of work, and big mess, using a router to trace around all those molded ribs.

The screen is soffit screen from Ave Hardware. Cut to length. One edge is folded over. You could install that as the leading edge for a slight wicker effect.

I made a bracket kit for a fellow and so I can make more if requested.

 

[G.T.]

@GTP has a very nice post on this. he nicely vented the belly pan for horizontal mounting of the oil cooler. The pattern you see is molded into the belly pan so you remove everyting that is not molded cross supports.

Here's the thread, starting at post # 443
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...d-due-to-high-cht.166499/page-30#post-3599569

This looks clean as usual!

Is the screen on the outside or inside? I rather like the plastic intact to serve as support for the screen, but I do agree cutting the entire rectangle out works too and is easier.

 

[GTP]

Screen is on the outside.

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