The old thread on the Al radiator questions is gone, so I'm hoping the other member who was waiting on an Email reply from his/her contacts will notice this and give us an update. On my side, I contacted a supplier who does musclecars mainly but claimed he could fabricate any radiator for a no hassle fit. He say that an early style radiator that has the separate oil cooler underneath would run around $400 but would have to be a cross flow style which is actually more efficient than the current down flow in these early RX-7s. The later style radiator that is taller because the oil cooler is on the engine would run around $500. All prices before shipping. He's going to need me to send him a junkyard radiator, though, because he currently has no radiator in his inventory for 1stgen RX-7's. We already know the Indigo piece runs around $700 which is why I was pursuing an alternative...

 

Why not just get a Griffin radiator for $200 or so? A 2-row Griffin cools like a 5-row copper radiator. Sure you'll have to fabricate some brackets, but that shouldn't be any problem.

I think a Chevy-oriented radiator would be great. The lower hose nipple is in the right spot. Not sure but I do think the Griffins have the heater-hose return nipple on them too, like stock Chevys. (It's also on the passenger side, but on the top) The upper hose nipple is on the wrong side, but an upper hose can probably be located that will work, or a couple hoses can be used (90 deg on radiator, 120 or so on the engine) and a length of exhaust tubing can mate the two.

 

The shortest Griffin I see in the 1.25" tube size is 16". The stock height with the oil cooler underneath is 12". The oil cooler is too close to the ground already now that I've lowered it, so I don't know if I'd want it 4" closer to the next speed bump. The 1.25" tuber is also $285 and 27.5" across, which is 5.5" wider than stock which is 0.75" from my red top Optima already. To get a 24" wide radiator in the Griffin line means it has to be 19" tall which means no lower oil cooler at all or clumsily placing in front of or behind the new radiator. Where's the dawg that was barking about the Indigo radiator? Was it short enough that he could use the big oil cooler or did he have one of those insidious air fin oil coolers? Anybody else running that brand? Anyone? Anyone?

 

Do you need the stock fan shroud, ect? I had a Howe built special, very easy to make work, not quite bolt in but close. Needs Slim electric fans and no stock shroud. Two row, double pass cross flow. Need to place the oil cooler in front, which means custom oil lines. Other option is to go to a custom built Griffin Scirocco radiator, which lets you put the oil cooler underneath. When I talked to Griffin about a custom built, their price was pretty steep. If You want pretty, the Griffins are much nicer looking than the Howe's. Most any one can do you a custom from a properly dimensioned drawing, the trick is to work from their existing cores. Cutting down a core to a smaller size is going to take a lot of work, which means more of your money. The really trick low cost method would be to make one of the plastic single core Scirocco radiators from Summit or Jegs and make it work. Should be able to get your cooler under that, and for a street car it should be plenty of radiator with the right fan.

 

RR and I have been swapping Emails on this subject and he believes they can build a jig so that their product will be a simple bolt in affair. He had his initial concerns about doing an import (RR caters to musclecars) but seems excited about breaking into new ground. He's still talking $400 for the separate oil cooler style radiator and I believe something on the order of $35 for shipping. His radiators have been used in cover cars for HPP and Musclecar Review and the writers loved 'em. I'll have an update and firm pricing next week.