Hey guys, I am looking to replace my radiator on my 82 Rx-7 and I found one on Racing Beat --> https://www.racingbeat.com/RX7-1975-...tem/11501.html - The only problem is that they say it wont work with an 82 Rx-7 I was wondering if anyone knew why this was. Is it because of different mounts, or did the radiator change design from 82 to 83.

Thanks in advance.

 

The 1983 was a design year in which they changed a few things. Some early 1983's are like a 1982 and later ones are like a 1984. The 1982 has the front mount oil cooler and the 1983 has the beehive oil cooler. This is the difference. The 1982 radiator is shorter because the oil cooler sits below it.

There was recently a discussion about radiators in the first gen forum. The brass radiators are almost if not entirely unavailable. The go-to ones are the aluminum one because of this. The quality is hit and miss. Some have experienced that the top low coolent sensor hole is not correct. The Champion radiator has shown to be the best , I used that loosely, if you can find a genuine one.

 

I picked a cheap ebay aluminum radiator, and everything fit up just fine.
The low coolant sensor does NOT thread into the radiator, so i just grounded that wire and will do without that warning.
Everything has been good so far.

 

I bought a eBay cheap 3 row aluminum radiator for my 82 ..... it's half the price of that one on Racing Beat and it will work the same.....i think I paid $135.00 for mine......

 

If you have a FMOC , Buy a rad that is for a 79-82 that works with AUTOMATIC transmisions. They are ALL clones of the ORIGINAL champion radiador 701. Champion fucked up and redesigned their original aluminum tad , which was 2-3 row with the Auto trans oil cooler built in to work with all first gens but as a result none of the fittings are oem and it will require custom plumbing, and they removed the trans cooler fittings. Thus if you want a drop in guaranted to fit rad , buy a auluminum one thats designed to fit auto trans , you are buying a champion clone. Always preasure test it at a local shop as well.
I would recomend the brass Spectra premium one but I bought the last new one on earth .. Until another one pops up on ebay..