SonexBuilders.net

Thank you all for your responses and links, all of which I will be following up
Tim Mobbs Sonex #1555 Aerovee #0672, Bungay, England

Timwaiex0146 wrote:Mike < have you installed the rear baffling duct to let the air thru the rear fence? I would love to see the pictures if you have any > i just started fitting the top cooler and it fits just as you say. I am now trying to figure how to make that duct. Thanks< Tim Koehler Waiex 0146

Hi Tim,

I would say you need to create a baffling duct or tunnel for the oil cooler so air can flow through the cooler and out the back of the baffling. If you simply leave the cooler sit on top of the engine, unbaffled, there would be very little airflow going through the cooler and you will have oil temp issues.

My setup is very close to Brent's pictures in the first post of this thread. I don't have an actual picture uploaded, but I fabricated a tunnel that runs from the back of the cooler to the rear baffle where I had cut out a hole. If I were to do things over, I'd follow the newer Onex style system where I simply extend the rear baffle forward to the back edge of the cooler so as to seal the cooler onto the baffle. I'll try to dig up a picture but I believe that would be the easiest and best method.

I fitted my cowling to the AeroVee before I got the top cooler. Now, with it in place, It's going to poke through the upper cowling; I'll have to cut a hole to miss the forward edge of the cooler and fair it over with a fiberglass bump. Onex supplied engine mount & cowling, which fits fine at the firewall. Anyone else having this problem?
Steve Craigle

1X99 wrote:I fitted my cowling to the AeroVee before I got the top cooler. Now, with it in place, It's going to poke through the upper cowling; I'll have to cut a hole to miss the forward edge of the cooler and fair it over with a fiberglass bump.

It was a pretty close fit on my Sonex. I think I removed a little material from flange that sticks up on the top of the cooler to get it to fit. Would that work for you? I wonder if it would be possible to machine the oil cooler plate a little thinner for clearance (I'd do a lot of research before considering this option)?

Yes, take a good look at the top of the cooler, you can take a LOT of material off without getting into the oil channel. All the way down to removing ALL of the top set of fins at the front if needed. (carefully)

The Onex plans call for the rear baffle to jog forward to the back side of the oil cooler, dumping the oil cooler air behind the baffle. Adding the mod shown above keeps the baffle seal straight across and may be easier to fit to the top cowling.