First Gen Oil Cooler setup
 

I am looking to setup a radiator style oil cooler in my 85 gs which just has the oil filter tower style cooler. I know where it mounts, but if anyone has pictures of the STOCK setup for their early first gen oil cooler it would be very helpful.

Pics of the actual cooler and where it's mounted along with the two lines and where they run to so I can see how it's set up.

Thanks guys

I'm not sure about pre 84 1st gens (I've only owned 84-85's) but the mounting brackets are there for the GSL-SE oil cooler to bolt right in even on the 12A models. The oil lines are simple enough. One goes to the front cover the other goes to the back plate, just like the beehive style cooler and then block off the extra coolant nipple.

I forgot to include gsl-se in my post....anyone with pics/help for those would help a lot. Thanks for the help 85TIIDEVIL.

I know the 12a cars from 84-85 had taller radiators than the earlier ones. I swapped an '81 radiator with oil cooler into my 85, but I never took measurements. The oil cooler bolts below the radiator with 2 bolts through a bracket on each side of the radiator. I don't know if the '85 radiator has holes for them. Before I did the whole swap I was going to mount the older cooler in front of the lower part of the radiator and just make some type of bracket for it. I'd take some pics but the cars is already put away for the winter.

The 84/85 GSL-SE oil cooler bolts to the frame just forward of the radiator, not the radiator itself. You will also need an oil pedestal adapter from a pre 84/85 car or a 84/85 GSL-SE.

adapter
 

Could you tell me what the adapter is for?

This link shows a factory oil pedestal that has been modified. You don't need the modified part but it's nice if you want to add guage sending unites.

http://banzai-racing.com/store/modified_OFP.html

You can also get an aftermarket one like what I have from ReSpeed. I like this better.

http://mrcmfg.com/catalog/images/ped...7e256ba2941894

I plan on replacing the oil pump and chain, and keeping the factory oil cooler with the oil filter tower. Easier said than done though, but I might as well add a 2nd oil filter, I just finished adding a second fuel filter.

thank you for the link

Any advice, by the way, is still welcome. The input will help, especially since I'm going to be trying to figure out how to split lines and connect an extra set for the radiator style.

Why are you replacing the oil pump and chain? Are they bad? Did you plan on doing this with the engine still in the car? If you do, please read up on how to remove the front essentric shart hub/bolt without the bearing dropping. Also, once the hub/bolt is put back on, you'll need to ensure the endplay is within specs.

So your planning on having a beehive cooler and a front mount cooler? One of the advantages of removing the beehive is that the engine compartment does not get as hot and move the heat away from the engine. I'd go with dual front mounts before trying a beehive and a FMOC.

You bring up a good point, I figured it may be a good idea to replace the pump because there will be more oil and lines due to having both setup. But maybe I should just go with the one cooler. How do I keep the coolant running correctly if I take out the beehive? Do I block it off or run a line for it?

thanks

cooler
 

Im hopefully picking up an se soon, so I can look at the setup from that car and mimic it.

1. Unscrew the hard line that connects to the front and back of the engine.
2. Remove the coolant line from the tee fitting on the back iron
3. Remove the nuts that hold the beehive to the rear iron.
4. Discard the beehive
5. Get a factory oil pedestal from the pre 1984, one from a 1984/1984 GSL-SE, or an after-market one from RE-Speed.
6. Cap the tee on the back iron that points toward the fender with a hose end cap fitting.

Do 7 or 8

7. Make or buy steal braided oil cooler lines. Buy the Racing Beat hose adapter to adapt the factory metric oil inlet/outlet fittings on the bottom of the irons to -10AN fittings.
8. Use factory pre 1984 or 1984/1985 GSL-SE oil cooler lines

10. Install the FMOC
11. Attach oil lines

I'm sure there are a few more steps but this should help. This is what I did to convert my 1985 GSL to a FMOC

Do you think I could get the cap for the coolant line from racing beat or would i have to look elsewhere? I know they have the hose fittings....so maybe

You've been misinformed. If your car has a beehive, it also has a high volume oil pump.

The cap is nothing speacial. I think I found mine in the HELP section at Advance Auto or O'Reily's.

And this cap blocks the coolant from where it would come into the cooler?

If you plan on adding an FMOC, read through my thread in the archives.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/cooling-oil-how-install-fc-oil-cooler-1st-gen-write-up-pics-478521/

As far as the new oil filter pedestal, one from any FB/FC with an FMOC will work. Be sure to replace the o-rings when installing the new pedestal.

Yes.

mine tend to rot and break so i always keep a spare in the car with me.

Thanks again guys, I will refer to this when I finally get around to making the swap.