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To figure out how much hose we’d need and the fittings to connect it all together we sketched this diagram and made a parts list. Browsing the Earl’s site we’re presented with all kinds of different bends and styles of fittings at equally mind bending prices. If you’re not an experienced hose fitting shopper prepare for sticker shock before you start your project. These fittings run anywhere from $15-$50 each! Figuring out the cheapest way to plumb everything together became a challenging financial puzzle.
We chose Earl’s Auto-Fit Ano-Tuff fittings which use a military spec hard anodized coating for corrosion resistance and durability.
For hose we chose Earl’s Pro-Lite 350 braided nylon -10 AN hose. The hose itself is synthetic rubber capable of withstanding pressures up to 350psi and temperatures up to 300 degrees.
The abrasion-resistant nylon sheathing is not quite as robust and kink-resistant as a braided stainless sheath would be, but it is much easier to manipulate and and installing hose ends on it is a cinch! We ordered a 20 foot section crossed our fingers and hoped it would be enough.To plumb the whole mess into our LS3 we once again turned to our friends at Improved Racing for one of their trick little oil thermostats. Just like the thermostat on the engine’s coolant system the oil thermostat maintains oil temperature at optimal levels. Having a thermostat on the oil cooler makes good sense on a street car like ours because while oil coolers do keep engine oil from getting too hot, they can also cool the oil too much—especially in cold weather or on the highway. Bypassing the cooler also speeds up the time it takes a cold engine to reach operating temperature.
Machined from a single piece of 6061-T6 aluminum and black anodized, the thermostat features standard -08 AN O-ring boss ports to connect optional adaptor fittings for -08, -10 or -12 AN lines which Improved also sells for a couple bucks more. We ordered a 180 degree thermostat (they also offer a 212 degree unit for more race specific applications) and a pair of -10 AN adapter fittings. The thermostat also features an 1/8″ NPT port for an oil temperature sensor or turbo oil supply. It’s fully serviceable, made in the USA and has a lifetime warranty.
