I have searched around for several hours and havent found anything that fits my answer.

I am in need of a new radiator. I have purchased the ebay aluminum radiators in the past, and been more than pleased with the results.

Problem is, the one listed for the first gen only includes 79-83. My assumption is that the ebay radiator will fit just fine, but the radiator does not have a place for the sensors. Also, I am reading that I can get rid of these sensors on the radiator by simply getting rid of the emissions computer on the pass side.

The ebay radiator I speak of...

 

It should read 79-82 as the 83-84 radiators are taller and have more factory service cooling area. You can use a 79-82 radiator but will have to get a hose that fits for the lower side.
The upper hose will not need to be modified.

Fan shrouds are different also between the 79-82 and 83-84 models

I also don't see a spot on the top of the radiator for the coolant level sensor.

 

or.... you culd just buy teh right one lol

here ya go man, this is the exact one i have in car 85GS its a direct fit with ZERO problems and it cools like a ****, i have never over 200* doing brakestands all day long haha. they ship fast as hell too.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-Row...item4aa3272f8f

 

Both links are basically the same thing, but OP's is cheaper and comes with a fan.

S1 and S2 cars came with 3 row radiators (3 rows when you look in the cap) and S3's had 2
rows. Difference is that the S3's had the beehive, so they had no cooler. S3's are a larger size
than S2's as well.

First link is 27in x 15.75 x 3
The 2nd link is 20.8in x 11.4 x 2.2

 

it also looks like in the one the op linked there is no spot for the coolant temp sensor and there are no mounting wholes so that one requires quite a bit of drilling and moding, just spend the xtra 20$ and get yourself a 20$ fan thats whay i say plus that first one is some jap brand...u get what u pay for

 

Weird, I was looking at these last week.

Heres what I found. The ones for 79-83 don't have sensors or holes drilled for mounting. Even AutoPwr or whatever doesnt.

The ones for 84/85 look like it includes everything. Granted, the price is higher but you get what you pay for.

I have a radiator out of an 81 that has a 2 core, not a 3. It is the same size as the 3 core.

 

Like mazda?

 

Sensor on the radiator is for the low fluid light. The coolant temp sensor is on the
rear iron, spark plug side.

 

the coolant level sensor...that is the sensor I was talking about when I mentioned removing it. I will probably just go with the second link.

rx7.com has a copper core radiator for 175/185
http://rx-7.com/store/rx7/saengine_accessories.html

 

Japanese **** is good, it's Chinese stuff you need to look out for/

 

None of them have holes for coolant level sensors. Just ground the lead (or remove the bulb in the cluster) and keep an eye on your coolant level the normal way.

 

Im here to tell ya, the Japanese **** is also made in China.

 

200* is obsurd and I would never stand for temps that high. I don't see temps over 190* on 107* days here in Cali sitting in traffic or mashing on the track. I use a stock FC radiator in my FB. Aluminum radiators will not cool as well as stock copper/brass ones. The only reason to go aluminum is if its bigger than stock and to keep cost and weight down as aluminum is much cheaper than copper.

 

These aluminum radiators (the one with the end tanks on top and bottom at least) do cool better than stock rads. I had a brand new copper radiator in my car that was installed just before I bought it. I ended up trading it out for the aluminum short style one when I did my re-speed rack & pinion conversion because the lower hose would not clear the rack. Running the same coolant type and mix I've found that the aluminum one is much better at dissipating heat. maybe if they were the same size radiator it would be a different story, but because of it's size the aluminum one is more efficient.

 

Copper has a thermal conductivity of 231*F BTU/hr-ft whereas aluminum has a conductivity of 136*F BTU/hr-ft. This would mean that a copper radiator would absorb more heat than a comparable aluminum radiator, given the same # of rows and surface area.

Depending on the bonding agent (whatever solder is used to bond the fins and make contact) there could be additional differences. It depends on if they use lead which has a thermal conductivity of 10% of copper.

So, there are several factors. Mainly, if light is more important than cooling, go aluminum. I'm not saying Al won't cool, it just won't cool as well as copper.

 

I know this is an old thread, but seems relevant.

The fan clutch burned out on our 83 and bought a used one that was also burned out.. So my son found an aluminum radiator on ebay. Mounting holes are ok and the right size and number of hose connections. And the temp sensor fits fine.

My issue is for the coolant level sensor. Looks like the OEM is a M11.5x1.25 and the top bung is a M12. Electrically I imagine these sensors all work the same, connectivity changes when in contact with fluid. So Can't I just use about any M12 level sensor? Advice on which to use?
Radiator is by GPI Racing but from a random reseller.

Thanks,

Chris