Rpo Kc4

[Penniless Will]

I have an 84 with the Z51 option. I had a small oil leak and tracked it down to the engine oil cooler. Went to the local Chevy store and got the parts (gasket and oil ring ) to fix it. No problem, took 45 min. to take apart and install new items.
After doing a little research on past threads it seems like the KC4 option didn't come out till late 85 or so. My build sheet has a KC4 option listed. Is this unusual for an 84. I thought all 84's with the Z51 option had an oil cooler as part of that package? Also, my oil cooler works by cirulating the oil through the cooler lines to a small radiator attached to the front of the air conditioning condensor. So on my car, From front to back I have an oil cooler radiator then an air conditioner condensor and then my regular coolant radiator. Is that how all the oil coolers are set up? It seems I read something here that made it sound like engine coolant is cirulated through the lines on later models to cool the oil. My oil cooler looks like orignal equipment, Chevy even had the parts for it. Have they changed the design on the oil coolers since 84 model year? I guess I'm just curios to see if the early models had a different style oil cooler.
This is my first thread other then the New member intro. Great site, and I have a lot of questions but am not much of a typer so I must rest my fingers and let spell check cool down!


Penniless Will ( Really )

 

[rrubel]

My "Cor-Vette Specs" book lists KC4 as a valid 84 option...
[RICHR]

 

[Ken]

... my oil cooler works by cirulating the oil through the cooler lines to a small radiator attached to the front of the air conditioning condensor. (oil cooler radiator then an air conditioner condensor and then my regular coolant radiator). Is that how all the oil coolers are set up?

Sounds to me like someone installed an aftermarket cooler in your car.

The factory oil cooler consisted of a metal tube running from above the oil filter to the radiator and another from the radiator back again. The sticker in the console or cargo storage area should have a KC4 as the option code for the oil cooler.

 

[rrubel]

Actually, one line runs from the bottom of the BLOCK to the cooler (there's a plug on non-KC4 engines) and the other from the cooler to a T near the radiator. Sadly, the oil cooler doesn't have its own set of rows in the radiator - though I'll bet that anyone who upgraded from a 4+3 to a 6-speed could use the overdrive cooling section...
[RICHR]

 

[Ken]

Thanks for clearing that up Rich; I couldn't remember to picture it in my mind, and as you know I've switched to an aftermarket unit. The bad thing is, when I looked in my books to refresh my memory, neither the Helms manual nor the Haynes books in my possession have any photographs or diagrams.

 

[rrubel]

My books don't, either. When I initially installed mine (it wasn't there from the factory), I couldn't figure out where the input side attached to and had to have a shop do that part .

[RICHR]

 

[Penniless Will]

Thanks for all the replies. I have an update, I did a little research at the local Chevy parts department and found some interesting info. In 84 the oil cooler worked like I describe above, it actually circulates oil through the lines to a small radiator in the front. 85 and on works like you guys described. I wonder why GM changed the design? It would seem the 84 design would cool the oil better. Cost maybe? The bad news is, GM discontinued almost all the parts for the 84 design. They still have parts for the newer style.
PW

 

[Ken]

I wonder why GM changed the design? ... Cost maybe?

I think you probably hit the nail right on the head, Will.

Thanks for the insight; I wasn't aware that the '84 was different.

 

[rrubel]

Good info! Now if I find an 84 in a salvage yard, there might be some pieces worth pulling off. I'm not happy with the performance of the later cooler, but can't drop the bucks for a nice aftermarket one.
[RICHR]

 

[RonJ]

My 85 has the KC4 on it's RPO list.

The cooler is the one that is located above the oil filter, not a heat exchanger up front. Had to replace the hoses from the coolant pipes to the cooler, was lucky that Ecklers had them. My GM dealer couldn't get them.

Ron ...