Would a cooler like this work in the front, of a 6-conversion? Options

[JmuRiz]

I was wondering if an oil cooler like this one would work as a front oil cooler of a 2.7 6 conversion.

What are your thoughts? BTW it's a Behr from an old Mercedes.

[Scott S]

I had the RX-7 cooler - they were so cheap from our local pic a part (like 10.00). However, after researching within this group, it seemed like it would take quite a bit of cutting and rewelding to get the cooler to work (removing the built in t-stat). The cost to have this work done and then have the cooler cleaned was getting close to the cost of other options.
I gave away the ones I had several years ago because of this.

[SLITS]

I had the RX-7 cooler - they were so cheap from our local pic a part (like 10.00). However, after researching within this group, it seemed like it would take quite a bit of cutting and rewelding to get the cooler to work (removing the built in t-stat). The cost to have this work done and then have the cooler cleaned was getting close to the cost of other options.
I gave away the ones I had several years ago because of this.

I hate this .... the only reason to remove the thermostat from the RX7 cooler is that it takes a little longer for the engine to come up to temperature because of the added 1-2 quarts of oil in the lines.

The stock RX7 thermostat would prevent the oil from flowing thru the cooler until it came up to temperature.

If there is that much wear in the engine created by having to warm up a couple more quarts, then there is something wrong in the metallurgy or design.

Besides, you could remove the thermostat and probably use an expandable freeze plug to achieve the same thing as cutting, replacing the mid plate and re-heliarcing the tank back on an RX7 cooler. ( I haven't tried this as yet, but I'm getting there).

Just my thoughts. I've been running a plate cooler for about 10K miles with no thermostat and my engine is far from wearing out.

Rant over .....

[larryM]

the front cooler is a LONG WAY from the sixer engine - it may NEVER get warm oil to open that RX7 thermo - since no flow exists to warm it up until the thermo is open

take it out

I hate this .... the only reason to remove the thermostat from the RX7 cooler is that it takes a little longer for the engine to come up to temperature because of the added 1-2 quarts of oil in the lines.

The stock RX7 thermostat would prevent the oil from flowing thru the cooler until it came up to temperature.
Rant over .....