SP36/3208 coolant pipe replacement

[Greggnvt]

The steel/metal coolant pipes running along the bottom driver side are needing replacement. They are not leaking/weeping but seem pretty close to being at the end of their life.

I was thinking of replacing this entire section with a 2" hose (marine grade) but given the proximity of the exhaust, I'm thinking I would need to shield the hose from the heat.

Could these be Caterpillar OEM pipes? If not, any good sources to secure replacement pipes/tubes with the correct bends?

Thanks, Gregg

[hexspeed]

Different generation - different model, but Dan Hartley at Coachparts.net was able to source mine. One was stock; one was fabricated using his factory drawings. Others have told me they can be made locally using the old part as the template, but I wasn’t able to find anyone willing to do it. YMMV.

[Mike Hohnstein]

Aluminized exhaust pipe will do fine, any muffler shop w/a bender can match up the originals, if you can find such a shop in your area. Midas or something like that.

[Greggnvt]

Originally Posted by hexspeed

Different generation - different model, but Dan Hartley at Coachparts.net was able to source mine. One was stock; one was fabricated using his factory drawings. Others have told me they can be made locally using the old part as the template, but I wasn’t able to find anyone willing to do it. YMMV.

Thanks Jim!

[Greggnvt]

Originally Posted by Mike Hohnstein

Aluminized exhaust pipe will do fine, any muffler shop w/a bender can match up the originals, if you can find such a shop in your area. Midas or something like that.

Mike - Sounds good - I'll start looking in my area for someone/business that can do this.

Thanks for the reply.

[isp2952]

Originally Posted by Greggnvt

The steel/metal coolant pipes running along the bottom driver side are needing replacement. They are not leaking/weeping but seem pretty close to being at the end of their life.

I was thinking of replacing this entire section with a 2" hose (marine grade) but given the proximity of the exhaust, I'm thinking I would need to shield the hose from the heat.

Could these be Caterpillar OEM pipes? If not, any good sources to secure replacement pipes/tubes with the correct bends?

Thanks, Gregg

Not being the expert here, but I would think it would be counter productive to NOT shield that coolant pipe, no matter what material you used.

[Greggnvt]

Good point Jim - It should be shielded. Let me see what I can do.

Thanks!

[Kb1jkn]

Thinking of those pipes. They have a pretty decent run from the engine to the transmission heat exchanger and back. I wonder if there would be any noticeable temperature drop if they had some sort of heat sink along the pipes. It certainly gets enough airflow.....
A quick search netted this as an idea, I am sure there could be something better.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33434482379...mis&media=COPY

[Greggnvt]

Originally Posted by Kb1jkn

Thinking of those pipes. They have a pretty decent run from the engine to the transmission heat exchanger and back. I wonder if there would be any noticeable temperature drop if they had some sort of heat sink along the pipes. It certainly gets enough airflow.....
A quick search netted this as an idea, I am sure there could be something better.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33434482379...mis&media=COPY

It's something to consider for sure. I keep thinking that if I had to pull the engine for some rebuild reason, it would be great to make the modification (and I don't know exactly what's involved) to try and get to 375 HP (Marine 3208TA). What I've read in the WOG about this is cooling - there is not enough cooling capacity in the current SP cooling configuration. I recall reading about a Wanderlodge with a Detroit that had an additional, smaller, radiator added. There is room on the passenger side engine compartment to possibly add a small radiator...
The heat sinks would help as well as shielding the exhaust from the coolant hoses/tubes.

[Randy Dupree]

Originally Posted by Greggnvt

It's something to consider for sure. I keep thinking that if I had to pull the engine for some rebuild reason, it would be great to make the modification (and I don't know exactly what's involved) to try and get to 375 HP (Marine 3208TA). What I've read in the WOG about this is cooling - there is not enough cooling capacity in the current SP cooling configuration. I recall reading about a Wanderlodge with a Detroit that had an additional, smaller, radiator added. There is room on the passenger side engine compartment to possibly add a small radiator...
The heat sinks would help as well as shielding the exhaust from the coolant hoses/tubes.

Greg,a proper cooling system in an SP will keep it cool no matter what.
There has been reports of SP's running hot and the ones i know about had dirty rads and dirty CAC'a.
One owner that talks about how SP's all run hot on a day with temps over 80 degrees had a leaking CAC and it spewed 500 degree air into the engine bay,which got sucked into the rad,which heated the coolant rather than cooling it.
And the old wives tale got its start.
If any 2 stroke wanderlodge owner needed to add a small rad to keep his big rad cool then he should have had the big rad repaired and or cleaned.
Or maybe fixed his bad head or head gasket.

The SP is getting a bad reputation from poor coach maintenance.
( i have owned 3)