I read through this thread https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...ght=oil+cooler
and had a couple of questions... we now have a 97 block that did not come with an oil cooler just a filter screwed into where the cooler would be... last block was a 96 with the vertical coolant lines (i'm sure after reading that thread, that this is part of the reason the engine spun a bearing). When we started taking the engine apart it was all gunked up and i'm sure nothing was moving right, anyway, that engine is dead. Moving on to the 97 block that we meticulously went through and took our time cleaning. From the thread I gather that there is great debate on having an engine cooler or not to have it, but since we have a 94 oil cooler with the horizontal lines lying around from the original engine (and said to be the better designed one), I figure that we should use it on the 97 engine going back in the car.

Here is my question/s... Will the 94 oil cooler screw right into the 97 block without having to make modifications (hopefully)? and does it matter which line goes to the radiator, and which goes to the water pump (probably not is what i'm thinking)?

 

The early cooler would work with no problem, if you choose to use it. Maybe it does not matter for operation, but the hard line that points toward the water pump goes to the pump and the other pointing away from the pump goes to the radiator. If it were me, I would just leave it off. Not all LT1s had it for an option and even GM dropped it as an option after 1995.

 

Ok cool, thanks shoebox. probably just block off the water pump and radiator then.

P.S. I very much appreciate your web page

 

You can buy the correct hose as well that goes from radiator to WP. Picked mine up at NAPA for $9.

 

Ok so I read through several threads on this, and am deleting the oil cooler on my 97 before I put it back in the car. Question is though, can I use one of the umpteen oil filter pieces off any older Gen I small block, I have laying around? Same thing?

 

this is a pretty old thread but you shouldent have to buy the peice just remove youor cooler/heater and its already there, the cooler screws into it.. just remove it, grind down the bolts so your filter dont hit it, then screw your filter on.. just did mine today =)

 

Done, thanks everyone!