Adding a oil cooler to a base or touring...
 

Well, I saw a oil cooler question asked lately and it got me thinking a bit. Also, I searched and maybe my searching methods suck, but I couldn't find the information I was looking for. I'm wondering if it's possible to add a stock (possibly from a R1 or even another base or touring) oil cooler to a base model car. Are both the passenger and driver-side oil coolers the same or would you need a particular one (I ask this because maybe you could use a 2nd one from a base or touring model)? Also, I supposed you would need more oil lines, but what is the setup of the system in the R1 or R2...like how is everything connected? Thanks, -Joe

Question I'd like to know the answer to as well. Anyone know of people that have done it that will have good info? I bet though that you could just buy R1/R2 replacement equipment, should bolt right in.

i just did this to my base model. the coolers are different because the inlet/outlets are on opposite sides of the cooler on each side. you can find a detailed listing of what you need at www.scuderiaciriani.com. there are part numbers an prices. the bottom line is the big parts are the passenger side oil cooler and the hard lines in betweeen. these are the most expensive parts.

in the base the lines just go from the block to the cooler and back. all this happens on the driver side of the car. in the r models basically the same line goes to the driver side first, the outlet of the driverside goes to the passenger side and the outlet of the passenger side goes back to the block in the same place as the base/touring models.

the easiest way is to just buy the parts from a wrecked car or somebody who upgraded. don't forget to get the mounting brackets for the 2nd oil cooler.

I have done it just as alwan16 has; I bought the parts from a wrecked car for little money. You need the passenger side oil cooler, a pair of hard lines with flexible ends that run across the frame under the stock intercooler, airbox and battery, and a new flexible line that bolts to the front of the block. The hardline from the oil filter area to the driver's oil cooler is the same on both so you can leave it alone.

The install wasn't very difficult once I figured out how to route the hard lines; they go over under and around some things but do of course fit. All the bolt holes etc are already there. The parts you must have from the R1:

passenger side oil cooler with brackets
return line to the front of the motor
hard lines that go between coolers

Permacools website has some really cool high performance oil coolers, they are cheaper than CWC and others .

Here are all the Mazda part numbers: http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_cooler.html

Used would be much cheaper if you can get all of these parts...

Re: Adding a oil cooler to a base or touring...
 

Unless you can get the parts off a wrecked or parted out R1/R2, I would suggest just upgrading to a larger single oil cooler. Probably cheaper in the long run than if you have to purchase the R1/R2 second oil cooler parts new.

Really great information to know - thanks a lot guys :)

Wow, this is a question that I was just about to ask. Thanks people :D

with flexible hosing anything is possibvle
just fab a mount
it sounds like a fairly easy DIY project to me

I was just wondering the same thing the other day. I'll have to add this to my RX7 Favorites list :)