67 mk1 Cooper RAD

[colonel mustard]

Hi all,
Can anyone tell me if this is correct radiator for my Cooper project?
Thanks.

[redrobbo]

What is the date stamp on the side of the rad and what angle does the bottom hose come out at?

[colonel mustard]

Hi,
I have stripped off the silver cowl and can not see any date stamps
Additional photograph of the pipe work.

[Aginley]

The date, should be on the side of the radiator

[iain1967s]

That looks like a mid 90’s Minispares re-cored radiator, from when they were still using the Coventry pressed top and bottom tanks. I have one exactly the same installed by a previous owner of my car. The clue is the side rails will be galvanized/zinc dipped if you scratch under the black paint.

Details here: http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?p=208458#p208458

[colonel mustard]

Thanks Ian
Very interesting thread(s) on this subject.
So...
Am I correct in thinking this RAD works with a single piece cowl rather than a two piece? On a late mk1 Cooper, would a two piece cowl be correct?

[iain1967s]

My rad worked fine with a S two piece cowl. It’s just a bit tight at edges due to the wider/squarer core.

[colonel mustard]

Thanks Ian,
Worth saving then? Will test over the weekend for leaks etc...

[LarryLebel]

A modern core with zig zag cooling fins is way better than an original. A rad shop can build you one using your original upper and lower tanks and other parts.

[iain1967s]

Worth saving then? Will test over the weekend for leaks etc...

Definitely worth getting it re-cored (again). The top and bottom tank style is correct for late mk1 / mk2 and maybe mk3 also - not sure exactly when they went to the 'denso' style squared off top, but "Coventry radiator and presswork Co." rebranded as Covrad late 1971. I've held on to my old one, and plan to have a go at re-coring it someday.

[InnoCooperExport]

Beware re-coring a rad with a more modern option. We did the same on an MGA and the flowrate through the core was too high, so although the new pattern is meant to be more efficient the car suffered horrendous overheating. It wasn't until we changed the rad for one with the OE pattern that we worked out what the problem was...