Hi, any recommendations on aluminum aftermarket radiators for a 79' ? I checked out eBay and there are soo many different kinds. Thanks

 

The champion ones aren't bad. You can get a stock after market cheaper. The 1984/1985 will fit.

CARQUEST or ToughOne Radiator 810097: Advance Auto Parts

 

It seems KoyoRad are finally doing one for the 1st gens too

https://www.rx7club.com/vendor-class...ators-1095504/

 

The one Koyo just released is for the 83+ cars with bee hive oil coolers.

Word is they are working on one for earlier cars.

 

I'm looking for a 3-core aluminum rad too (80 SA) - but anyone had any experience with the chinese ebay units? $100-120 looks too good to be true (?). I'd buy a USA unit if there was one. I called Champion about theirs and was told "we can't guarantee on EO fit" -!! huh?

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Champion off Ebay has good reviews.. If I had a series 1/2 then I'd just get the Koyo one and move my oil cooler forward. Theres a guy in the Vendors section selling Koyo at a good price

 

I run them on my race car with 0 issues using an e-fan.

 

I came across another thread and someone said the aftermarket stock ones keep it cooler cause it's made out of copper/brass. He said aluminum ones also keep it cool but they are lighter so it's more for racing. Not sure which ones would be better overall.

 

which are you running, ebay cheapie or champion ?

 

Thanks for the feedback George!
Anyone else running the Chinese 3-cores? Gads, they list enough of them! there MUST be a bunch of rotor heads that have tried these??

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

if you're serious about a high quality rad I had a Howe in my race car, worked great in 100+ degree weather

 

I'm using a Ebay one also in my race car. 110+ deg no problems.
Howe's are better quality. But I was in a hurry. So I tried the cheepbay one. So far, I'm impressed. But I've heard you need to look for slag inside to make sure nothings floating around.

 

im going to need one eventually too.

have heard bad things about cheap ebay radiators that they don't last and start leaking?

wich ones are the good brands as I cant justify spending big money for a rad on a stock 12a.

 

What I noticed on the champion radiator for the 79' is that in the picture the heater hose would coming out from the driver side of the radiator. The welds on the champion look better than the cheaper aluminum radiators but just odd that the hose would be on the wrong side.

 

GIAN -
is there a brand name on your rad so I know what to look for for street car?
thanks Mark

 

this is the second one I bought.....it was from a different supplier but identical to the first one I bought off a similar vendor

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-RX-7-RX7-S1-S2-S3-1-1L-1-3L-MT-12A-13B-Aluminum-Radiator-3-ROW-1979-85-/251760624872?hash=item3a9e1a44e8

 

Thanks Georgethefierce I'll look for one. By the way you're a racer, it7 or the like I assume, I raced what we in my area call PRO7 which is copied from SCCA's IT7 rules.
Please post a few pics of your car if you will, I'm out of it now but still interested in what people are doing.
Mark

 

Gian,
please post pics too, help an old man out with his fix!
Thanks Mark

 

I do run IT7 here in New England... we have a great local group of about 12 cars or so and we differ from other regions because we run a spec 15" Nitto 01 tire to keep the purple crack away

 

Oh man those pics bring back memories (not the winners flag) thanks for posting. Ya know I would have loved to have your tire rules we were stuck with 5.5" wide stock wheels, I had by far the skinniest tries on the track.
Mark