Dropping Focus ST Oil Temps! Mishimoto Oil Cooler R&D, Part 2: Prototype Completion
Interested in picking up our Focus ST oil cooler kit? Check out our product page for more details.
Mishimoto Ford Focus ST Oil Cooler Kit
Continuing with our progress last time, we were set on constructing a prototype bracket so that we could fully install our system and collect some on-road data.
Cooler Bracket Fabrication
When we left you our team had selected an appropriate cooler location and had started making a bracket template for the heat exchanger. Once we had a general idea of the size, bends, and hole location, we started making a bracket from plate steel.
Oil cooler bracket fabrication
A couple of bends were needed to properly locate our mounting points!
Oil cooler bracket fabrication
Getting closer!
Oil cooler bracket fabrication
Additional measurements were taken, and the bracket was trimmed to its final shape.
Oil cooler bracket fabrication
The four holes on this mounting bracket attach directly to the oil heat exchanger.
Next, we mounted this into position on the car!
Oil cooler bracket prototype mounted
A look at the core of this cooler through the air duct.
Oil cooler bracket prototype mounted
Auxiliary Bracket
Although this bracket provided reasonable rigidity for the cooler, we wanted to add an auxiliary bracket to the base of the cooler for additional strength. We followed a similar process to fabricate this component!
Auxiliary bracket template
A few welds and we had our second bracket complete!
Auxiliary bracket fabrication
Auxiliary bracket fabrication
Sandwich Plate and Line Route
To complete our kit we would need to install our sandwich plate and oil lines. First, the oil filter is removed.
Oil filter removed
We then installed our thermostatic sandwich plate and routed our lines.
Sandwich plate installed
We are placing the lines behind the crash beam to conceal them from view once fully installed.
Oil cooler line route
Fully Installed Kit
Check out our finalized kit ready for road testing!
Mishimoto oil cooler kit installed
Mishimoto oil cooler kit installed
A close-up looking through the grille!
Mishimoto oil cooler kit installed
Coming up!
Next week we will have details from our testing as well as additional information about our upcoming presale for this kit!
Thanks for reading!
-John
