How the Porsche 914 Won Le Mans - The Front Mounted Oil Cooler

Unleash Your Porsche 914-6’s Potential with PMB Performance’s 908-Inspired Oil Cooler

Keep Your Engine Cool, Keep Your Porsche Winning

Porsche Enthusiasts,

At PMB Performance, we live for the roar of a “built” Porsche 914-4 or 914-6 tearing down the straightaway or carving through a mountain pass. But whether you’re chasing lap times or building the ultimate street machine, one truth reigns supreme: a high-performance engine is only as good as its cooling system. That’s why we’ve poured our expertise into crafting a modern masterpiece inspired by the legendary BEHR 908 oil cooler, a critical component that powered Porsche’s racing dominance and remains essential for your 914-4 or 914-6 conversion. Available now at the link below, our 908-inspired oil cooler is your ticket to protecting your investment and unlocking track-ready performance.

The 914-6/GT in the 24H of Le Mans, 1970

The Legacy of the BEHR 908 Oil Cooler: Born on the Track

Porsche’s racing history is a saga of engineering brilliance, and the BEHR 908 oil cooler is a cornerstone of that legacy. Designed for the Porsche 908, a Group 6 sports prototype that conquered endurance racing in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this air-cooled, finned masterpiece kept the 3.0-liter flat-eight engine running cool under the brutal demands of races like the 1969 1000 km of Brands Hatch and the 1970 Targa Florio. Its lightweight aluminum construction and efficient airflow design were key to the 908’s ability to endure grueling 24-hour races, securing Porsche’s reputation for reliability under pressure.

But the 908 oil cooler’s story doesn’t end with the 908. Porsche adapted this cooling powerhouse for the 914-6/GT, a homologation special built for Group 4 racing. In 1970 and 1971, the 914-6/GT stormed the GT class at Le Mans, leveraging the 908’s oil cooler to keep its tuned 2.0-liter flat-six (Type 901/37, ~220 hp) at optimal temperatures. The front-mounted cooler, paired with a factory-style shroud, maximized airflow and ensured the engine could sustain peak performance lap after lap. This wasn’t just about surviving the race, it was about winning, and the 908 oil cooler was a linchpin in Porsche’s strategy of attrition to outlast the competition.

The 914-8 Prototypes: A Rare Chapter in Porsche’s Cooling Legacy

The BEHR 908 oil cooler’s versatility extended beyond the racetrack to one of Porsche’s most intriguing experiments: the 914-8 prototypes. In 1969, Porsche built two 914 chassis fitted with the 908’s 3.0-liter flat-eight engine, complete with its race-proven oil cooler. One, a fire-breathing test mule for Ferdinand Piëch (delivering 298 hp), pushed the limits of what a mid-engine roadster could achieve. The other, a detuned version (261 hp) gifted to Ferry Porsche, showcased the potential for a production supercar that never materialized. Both prototypes relied on the 908 oil cooler, adapted with a front bumper air intake to manage the flat-eight’s intense heat in the 914’s compact chassis. These one-off machines proved the cooler’s ability to handle extreme performance, cementing its role as a go-to solution for Porsche’s boldest engineering ventures.

Ferdinand Peich's Crazy 914-9 Prototype and the Motor that Powered it. Check out the front mounted oil cooler!

Why Cooling Is Critical for Your 914-6 Conversion

Your 914-4 or 914-6 conversion, whether it’s a 2.3L screamer or a 3.6L beast, is a significant investment, often costing $15,000 to $30,000 or more. Pushing these engines to their limits generates intense heat, and without proper cooling, you’re gambling with catastrophic failure. Overheating can lead to oil breakdown, warped components, and even engine seizure, turning your dream build into a costly nightmare. The BEHR 908 oil cooler, as used in Porsche’s racing and prototype applications, was designed to prevent exactly that. Its front-mounted, air-cooled design maximizes heat dissipation, keeping oil temperatures stable at 180–200°F, even during hard driving. On the track, you might briefly nudge past 200°F, but our cooler ensures your engine stays safe, letting you focus on the thrill of the drive.

At PMB Performance, we got tired of modifying shrouds and retrofitting inadequate coolers to keep up with the big motors we were installing. So, we engineered our own 908-inspired oil cooler to deliver race-grade performance with plug-and-play simplicity. This isn’t just a part, it’s a lifeline for your engine, ensuring every dollar you’ve invested in your big 914-4 or 914-6 conversion delivers the performance you expect.

Why Choose PMB Performance’s 908-Inspired Oil Cooler?

Our oil cooler is a modern evolution of the BEHR 908 design, tailored specifically for Porsche 914-4 and 914-6 conversions from 1970–1976. Here’s why it’s the ultimate choice for your build:

Seamless Fitment: Designed to drop directly into factory-style shrouds, with perfectly aligned M6x1mm mounting holes and M30x1.5mm oil line fittings. No fabrication, no fuss, just bolt it in and hit the road.

Track-Ready Cooling: Proven to maintain oil temps at 180–200°F across engine sizes from 2.3L to 3.6L, protecting your investment during street cruises or track days.

Flexible Configuration: Choose your oil line routing, right side for most 914-4 setups or left side for 914-6 and GT builds, via our easy dropdown menu at checkout.

Race-Inspired Design: Like the original 908 cooler, ours is front-mounted for optimal airflow, ensuring your big flat-four or flat-six runs cooler than the competition.

Built for Performance: Whether you’re chasing podiums or building a street legend, our cooler delivers the reliability that powered Porsche’s Le Mans victories.

The PMB Difference: Engineered for Enthusiasts, by Enthusiasts

At PMB Performance, we’re not just selling parts, we’re preserving the soul of Porsche’s racing heritage. Our 908-inspired oil cooler channels the engineering that made the 908 and 914-6/GT icons of endurance racing, reimagined for today’s high-performance 914-4 and 914-6 conversions. Don’t settle for makeshift cooling solutions that leave your engine vulnerable. Protect your investment, maximize your performance, and drive with the confidence that comes from race-proven technology. To browse PMB Performance's 908-style cooler, as well as oil cooler accessories, check out the link below! Use code NEWSLETTER at checkout for 10% off a PMB Oil Cooler! Interested in a cool video breaking all this info down? We made one, CHECK IT OUT