Oil cooler modification
 

Ok... so I'm using the FC oil cooler but not on a FC.

So what i have done is remove all the thermal bypass parts. Tapped the and plugged the area that would let the oil through without going through the core. And welded on 10AN fittings.

My question is if it now matters which side of the oil cooler is the in and which is the out with the "guts" removed?

reason is, for how im using it. It would be MUCH better if i flip it upside down from how it normally mounts. And if it does matter which is the in and out still, how much would it matter, if at all, that the oil is being fed against gravity instead of with it? I would imagine no effect at all... but I'm curious to see the opinions or if someone here has done something simlar to this already?

Yes it does matter. The core is full of perforated strips or "turbulators" (part of the reason i think these coolers work so well) which will all end up bunched up in the end tank if you plumb it backwards. I found out the hard way, went through two coolers before and was wondering who the hell was putting all this scrap aluminium in my end tank lol. (I didnt do the initial install lol. Mine's not an fc either)
Ended up finding the diagram and plumbed the 3rd one in the right way around.

Wank, it would be awesome if you could fill him in on WHICH side is the INLET and which side is the OUTLET given your past experiences with these. This is something I completely overlooked and am SO glad you guys brought it up.

I believe the entrance is the fitting on top and the side is the outlet. I also welded shut the area "on bottom", which would normally house the thermal bypass parts.

ok, so for a second question. If the oil system is under pressure. It should not matter how it's mounted correct? So long as I keep the oil going in the correct direction the oil cooler was designed for.

For example, if the oil cooler was mounted upside down, meaning the feed was pointed towards the ground, fighting against gravity. Oil flow should still be just fine?

a 2 second google search using extremely complex words like "RX7" and "oil flow diagram"

https://www.rx7club.com/attachments/...rbo-ii-omp.jpg

Yes^ that's the diagram I had to refer to. Doesn't matter if you install it upside down, back to front, whatever, as long at the inlet and outlet are right.

just try to keep the cooler as low as possible to prevent it from gravity draining with engine off, causing prolonged oil starvation on startup.

^ good point. Although it would be pretty hard to mount it any higher than as low as possible in most applications, it is probably a more important point than anything else. Also, Op, why did you remove thermo-bypass? Those things work great.

x2

I think that ANY thermostatic device should be used on a street car for reasons such as oil pressure and warm-up time. The factory solution is great and opens at an optimal temperature.

Thanks for the PROPER pic, guys. ;) Haven't been spoon-fed information in years.