beehive oil cooler conversion

otterbob · 10-07-2009, 10:36 AM

I'd like to get rid of the water/oil cooler on my '83 GSL. If I get a cooler and lines from an earlier or later model, what else is needed to hook it up and get rid of the beehive?

djmtsu · 10-07-2009, 01:59 PM

You need the filter mount as well. Shouldn't be hard to find.

BigIslandSevens · 10-07-2009, 02:57 PM

If you want a direct bolt in I beleive you will need the short radiator as well. Since the front moount oil cooler is "stacked" underneath the rad. Would be too low I think otherwise. Also the brckets to mount it to the radiator. Or make your own since they will probably be old and cracked rubber.

djmtsu · 10-07-2009, 03:27 PM

Yes, the front mount cooler is part of the radiator. An FC cooler can be used, but unless you are wanting big HP and a turbo, you shouldn't need it.

There are write ups for how to convert I believe.

rx4ur7 · 10-07-2009, 05:52 PM

You can mount the oil cooler in front of the radiator. Have done a bunch of these. You do have to do a little fabrication but nothing serious. You can use the oil lines from gsl-se. And you need the oil filter tower. I have some that blank and some that are setup with oil pressure or temp sensor.

I mount them with right infront of the sway bar. Bolting the 'L' brackets to the side radiator mounting plates. Then used old style rubber mounts to hang the cooler from them. I have done both cutting off part of the left side mount on the oil cooler and mounting it as is. Cutting it to match the right side then drilling mount holes made the cleanest install.

orion84gsl · 10-16-2009, 10:18 AM

I mounted mine using two pieces of 3 inch angle iron. The bolts attached to the two front tie down loops come out, and I used them to bolt the angle iron to them. There's a little bubble on the tie down loops that had to be ground down. I then bent the mounting ears on the oil cooler to lay over top of the iron and used two bolts per side. The tough part is getting the lines to go around the front crossmember tube. Where I put the cooler the two hose bungs sit only a couple inches in front of that tube so putting the lines straight in isn't possible. I had to use 4 45* AN fittings to get everything lined up. Otherwise haven't had any problems with it.

10-07-2009, 10:36 AM	#1
otterbob member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Decatur, GA iTrader: (0) Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	beehive oil cooler conversion I'd like to get rid of the water/oil cooler on my '83 GSL. If I get a cooler and lines from an earlier or later model, what else is needed to hook it up and get rid of the beehive?

10-07-2009, 01:59 PM	#2
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	You need the filter mount as well. Shouldn't be hard to find. __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

10-07-2009, 03:27 PM	#4
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	Yes, the front mount cooler is part of the radiator. An FC cooler can be used, but unless you are wanting big HP and a turbo, you shouldn't need it. There are write ups for how to convert I believe. __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

10-07-2009, 05:52 PM	#5
rx4ur7 Rotary since 1972 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tucson iTrader: (0) Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	You can mount the oil cooler in front of the radiator. Have done a bunch of these. You do have to do a little fabrication but nothing serious. You can use the oil lines from gsl-se. And you need the oil filter tower. I have some that blank and some that are setup with oil pressure or temp sensor. I mount them with right infront of the sway bar. Bolting the 'L' brackets to the side radiator mounting plates. Then used old style rubber mounts to hang the cooler from them. I have done both cutting off part of the left side mount on the oil cooler and mounting it as is. Cutting it to match the right side then drilling mount holes made the cleanest install. Last edited by rx4ur7; 10-20-2009 at 12:04 PM.. Reason: add more info

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10-07-2009, 02:57 PM	#3
BigIslandSevens Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, NC iTrader: (0) Posts: 201 Rep Power: 17	If you want a direct bolt in I beleive you will need the short radiator as well. Since the front moount oil cooler is "stacked" underneath the rad. Would be too low I think otherwise. Also the brckets to mount it to the radiator. Or make your own since they will probably be old and cracked rubber.

10-16-2009, 10:18 AM	#6
orion84gsl Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 167 Rep Power: 17	I mounted mine using two pieces of 3 inch angle iron. The bolts attached to the two front tie down loops come out, and I used them to bolt the angle iron to them. There's a little bubble on the tie down loops that had to be ground down. I then bent the mounting ears on the oil cooler to lay over top of the iron and used two bolts per side. The tough part is getting the lines to go around the front crossmember tube. Where I put the cooler the two hose bungs sit only a couple inches in front of that tube so putting the lines straight in isn't possible. I had to use 4 45* AN fittings to get everything lined up. Otherwise haven't had any problems with it.