Rad + Oil cooler vs. Rad + Oil cooler
 

Which is better?

Tall (83-85) Style radiator with GSL-SE or 2nd gen front mount air/oil cooler

or

Short (79-82) Style 3 row radiator with matching year style oil cooler (Under radiator)

?

I'm abandoning the idea of cramming a 3 row core in tall style end tanks... Nobody around here will do it...

I will also be swapping the clutch fan for an electric, so spacing between the engine and rad is a concern.

My car is an '85, so it has the bracket for the front mount oil cooler.

I believe both long and short radiators are effentive for cooling your engine if your cooling system is in good condition and you dont have other mechanical overheating problems.

the infront of rad install would be easiest. Just fittings, hoses, oil cooler and a filter pedistal.

Here a pic on an 85 gsl
http://home.comcast.net/~seanroth/GSLSEoilcooeler.jpg
There are more pics in the Weber Ida help Video post that thread there are som pics of the mounting tabs. If you need help with the install I can probably save you 45 minutes to an hour is wasted time trying to get that oil cooler mounted.

The under rad will require all the above and a rad.

from my radiator repair experience, the copper rads r much easier to repair, so that eliminates the use of aluminum rads of the 2nd gen. i use the oil cooler that mounts under the rad, both it and the rad is out of a '74 rx4. from what i've seen in pics, the 2nd gen oil coolers r similar. IMO, the air/oil coolers cool better than the "bee hive" coolers. the only issue i see would be how to mount the 2nd gen cooler since i've never actually seen one up close. good luck.

i am using a 82 oil cooler with gslse lines from RB in front of my 84 radiator. infortunatly i had to get the return outlet welded for i found a small crack making it leak, just took it to the guy 2day. i have read the 83-85r better at cooling and the earlier oil coolers r better the repu had a 7 row i think is the best.

link to picture of FC vs 82 FB coolers


FC is on top

nice shoes

79-82 12A
84-85 13B GSLSE
86-92 13B All


http://www.mazdatrix.com/pictures/b-engprt/coolers.jpg

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I used an FC cooler on the race car. I didnt use a 90* fitting thou. On the top I used a 180* fitting, much less stress on teh hose. And on the side I used a 45*, again minimal stress on the hose.

Chuck Taylors....cool.

I thought the T2 oil cooler was bigger... The pre 83, SE, and FC all look about the same size.