GSL-SE oil cooler cracked top boss (two places). Searched the forum not finding any real answers. What is the success rate for fixing (welded by a rad shop), and does anyone have one for sale? What about older/newer year oil coolers? What kind of modifications are we talking? Any help is greatly appreciated....

 

A good shop can fix it easily. While your at it, have them run a bead around the base of the bosses to strengthen them. That seems to be the problem with the coolers.

 

I'll call around today, I got the runaround from machine shops yesterday, I'll focus on radiator shops today. Thanks for the info, still looking for other options if anyone has any... Thanks again..

 

I have a second gen cooler for sale.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=248403

 

This is a pretty common complaint among SE owners for several reasons. The oil cooler location provides for a much larger (wider) oil cooler which presents a greater ability to eliminate heat through surface area. Where this cooler is located, if you manage to bump the front undertray on a curb or something, anything enough to jar the oil cooler on it's mounts, it will quickly lead to fatigue in the fittings which will then leak.

The other way that the leak forms is through installation or other work that requires removal of the oil cooler lines. On reinstallation, sometimes owners attempt to use the old copper crush washers, which, having already been crushed, then require more torque to be applied to get the cooler to seal. Unfortunately, this extra torque is usually enough to cause the flimsy aluminum bosses to form stress cracks at the neck where the fittings attach.

This is a catch-22 for SE owners (and also for 79/80 owners before they went to the 'beehive' cooler), since the intuitive way to stop a leak is to tighten it a bit further - which contributes to the problem.

What I have found to work well is to assemble the oil cooler lines and cooler in position (using new copper crush washers, usually supplied with the lines), and tighten all fittings to finger tight or just a little bit more. Then start the car, expecting to see leaks from the front oil cooler lines where they enter the cooler. Using only enough torque on your wrench to stop the flow, tighten each fitting JUST until the oil stops leaking.

Using this method, you'll be able to tighten the fittings just enough that they won't leak, but not so much that you cause a leak.

ALSO, and very important, you need to use 2 wrenches to tighten/loosen fittings during assembly or disassembly. Trying to use the one wrench that fits the oil cooler hose connection and twisting is a sure way to break the neck. Also, on reinstallation, be sure to use a anti-seize compound on the oil cooler line threads to prevent future problems with the metals bonding and making disassembly that much more difficult. HTH,

 

Very nice preventive maint. Now I just need to get mine fixed or replaced. Im going to the JY today to see what I can get for $10. Thanks hades12 but by looking at the pics there is now way to mount. I think pre 83 may be a better bet. Thanks...

 

some people like the second gen ones. But you have to find a way to mount it and change the oil lines as they are different sizes on some of the cars.


by the way. One of my local yards has one on an 80 That I may go get. I also have one that has been in a wrecked car that is odd shaped but holds oil. PM me if you want one of them.

 

If it is cracked at the threads, I was told that it would be near impossible to fix and guarantee that it wouldn't leak down the road.

 

Thats what I'm afraid of. I was looking at it today and one of the crack goes all the way to the cooler. Im taking to a rad shop tomorow for a verdict, if not I'll put a 80-81 in and rig it up somehow. Thanks.

 

New one is $355 plus shipping. Might be worth welding for now.

 

Looking for a used one on the forum as we speak.

 

get in touch with ebargainllc@yahoo.com. the man's name is samuel. tell him dave jones sent you. he has alot of used parts for sale. he is honest and shipps promptly. good luck.