Hey Guys,

I've got a chance to get a set of MINT housings out of a 1972 Rx2 12a. No flake, beautiful condition.

My question is, can I use these to build a 12a for my S3? I don't have to worry about emissions or any of that wonderful stuff, so it'll basically be insert frost plugs, bolt on Nikki mani with Sterling and RB RR Header.

With 12a housings NLA I figured I'd hop on these, and I'm pretty sure they'll work, I just wanted confirmation from you guys that they won't cause me any issues.

Pics attached.

Jon

 

Somebody told me the older housings had a different oil pan bolt pattern. I'm not sure how true that is, but if I were you, I'd ****** those housings up quick because they're a better quality, and mint housins are hard to find anymore. If the bolt pattern is in fact different, I have a full set of 72-74 housings with BEAUTIFUL street porting done on them taht I'd let go for a hundred bucks plus shipping.

 

the chrome surface was improved in the series 3 housings. see 1984 training manual, pages 1-4 - 1-6

 

I seem to recall that older (pre-SA) housings had a pair of air-injection passages from the exhaust ports, out the bottom, that had to be plugged for later apps. I'll see if I can find you the reference...

Yep, here it is:

 

The housings on my motor just had bolts in those holes. I've been told that the 70's housings had a much higher nickel content making them better and more durable.

 

...and port specs, esp exhaust, varies from 12a to 12a version/yr - for eg: 79-80 SA ported so that you MUST use the correct one for its front or rear position, whereas most FB years, you can interchange housings front to back.
-and yep, you'll need to use Blocking Nozzles to use those housings, since the extra holes are for the use of the old-school (early 70s) reactor - Racing Beat used to sell these
-unlilke bstrange, I'd heard the older housings are LESS durable and flake sooner
(tho if the price is right, who cares??)

BUT - if they are cheap enough and even if you CAN'T use them, RX2/3 owners would pay BIG $$$$ (esp our looney Auzzie friends!) for these unobtainium housings - so its WIN-WIN! Get 'em!
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Lots of great info here

Good to know about the improvements to the S3 12a housings. Funny that they went to all that work to improve the S3 housings, then slapped the beehive oil cooler on there. One step forward, two steps back?

Well if I could find a pair of S3 12a housings in this condition I'd snap them up for sure, but Stu had the right word for these things - Unobtanium.

If they haven't already sold from the guy who has them, I'm going to pick them up for sure.

Jon

 

I bet that beehive saved a fat chunk of production cost over the FMOC. Removes several parts, and several install processes, from the design, even if it is less efficient at cooling. Was probably dubbed "works good enough, costs far less."