This rig is a E-350 in an RV and she sprung a leak between the timing cover/ block interface. So I pulled the radiator, fan and the alternator and air pump on the left side and loosened all the bolts on the cradle on the right that holds the AC compressor and power steering pump and was able to muscle it to the right and get the cover off with a lot of twisting and contortions.
I could do a nice straight and clean cover install, but one of the things thats in the way is the receiver asembly for the oil filter, and right on top of that is a square sheet metal box. This box has two coolant outlets; one for the bottom radiator hose and the other connects to a small elbow hose that goes to the water pump. I don't know what the purpose of that box is or what it's called. I do see a big cast iron connector behind it that bolts the whole thing to the block. I see a big head of a bolt that looks like it runs through to the block. My question is I'm thinking of removing it to make the cover install easier without twisting and turning and messing up my sealant/gaskets, or am I asking for trouble messing with it? Anybody been there done that? thanks in advance

 

Sounds like you have identified the oil cooler.
The bolt that holds the assembly onto the block is hollow. Some truck models use an air-cooled oil cooler that taps off that casting, and some use this assembly but do not use any cooler at all, but it is plugged with pipe plugs.
If yours is like my oil cooler (the air-cooled type), the seal between the casting and the block is a large O-ring. Be careful, as it tears easily.
Hope this helps, I must confess without a picture I can't even be sure it is an oil cooler, although it sounds like that is what it is.

 

Thank you Banjo. Your description fits it perfect. There are a couple pipe plugs on the assembly that are right behind where the oil filter screws on, and resting right on top of that is a square sheet metal box with a coolant entry and exit point. Im thinking that the coolant comes out the bottom of the radiator, enters into the box, cools the oil the goes to the engine or something like that. Thanks for the tip about the O ring. This E-350 is just murder to work on with such limited access to just about everything.

 

I am dealing with a leaking one on my 97 F250 right now. I have the same thing where a little elbow goes from the water pump into the box and then out to the lower radiator hose. the whole thing bolts to the side of the block wit a hollow bolt where the oil filter normally would except for the crossmember is now in the way. Oil filter bolts to the front, making for the easiest oil filter change I have ever seen.

I can not locate one of these things anywhere to decide to rebuild or replace it. Anyone have ideas? I guess a remote oil cooler mount (like L&L or Bronco Graveyard sells) where the oil filter would still relocate and then just fab a different lower rad hose port would work too.

 

If you can find either an older truck, big truck with 385 family engine or an older police car with a 460 and the old 429 SCJ used a remote air to oil cooler and had an adapter that bolted on where the present water to oil cooler goes. Older (mine is an 86) 460s just used a dummy version of this to rotate the oil filter forward and cleaar the frame.

 

If you look closer at the adapter on your 86, you'll find there are pipe plugs in it, the external cooler was an option on these trucks.
When I built my current engine(used a 97 block,) I was going to run the water/oil cooler, but it won't fit with v-belts... LOL

 

I wish it did, but it doesn't. I have an external cooler complete with lines and that was what I was going to do. It has the "lumps" on it, but they aren't machined.

 

Try this; worked for me....

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/90...r-failure.html