Fresh Air Heater Hose for 1966 Mk 1 Cooper S

[Tim Harber]

We used to do the large air hose and I let it slip and gave up a few years back

I have been given such grief to do it again by two or three of our locals, we shall be having it available shortly , in short lengths if needed

Price to follow

[apblake]

I have a question about the correct placement of the reducer that goes from the larger fresh air hose to the smaller diameter fresh air hose. Do we know definitively where that should be placed? I have seen instances where it was placed close to the firewall (essentially just unsupported with no bracket on the wing) and I have seen instances where it is located at and supported by the bracket on the wing.

I have a '67 S built in August of '66 that incorrectly has a large diameter hose that runs the full length that I am changing out for the reducer setup. I had been planning on installing the bracket and putting the reducer at that wing mounting location. BUT, when I look at the predrilled hole for that bracket, I swear it has never had a self-tapping screw go thru it. It might have been painted over, but I still see zero deformation of the metal, zero burr on the back of the hole and it really just looks like a fresh hole. I really don't want to put a screw into it unless I'm totally sure there was a bracket there to begin with. Not sure the picture helps, but I'm including a picture of the hole.

IMG_5076.jpg

[apblake]

For example: here are 2 1967 Mk1 cars that are supposed to be very original and neither of them show the strap that could hold the large heater hose to the wing:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967- ... ooper-s-5/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-austin-cooper-s/

[Catmint]

As far as I am aware this is how it is supposed to go, but who knows how they left the factory in the day, or just removed so you can get at things better. I think it would be a bolt and nut rather than a self tapper

[AndyPen]

I have a '67 S built in August of '66 that incorrectly has a large diameter hose that runs the full length that I am changing out for the reducer setup. I had been planning on installing the bracket and putting the reducer at that wing mounting location. BUT, when I look at the predrilled hole for that bracket, I swear it has never had a self-tapping screw go thru it.

Could it be that you have a car with the earlier set up??? I think you are around the change point, but I'm sure someone more familiar with that era would be able to confirm.

[Catmint]

I have a '67 S built in August of '66 that incorrectly has a large diameter hose that runs the full length that I am changing out for the reducer setup. I had been planning on installing the bracket and putting the reducer at that wing mounting location. BUT, when I look at the predrilled hole for that bracket, I swear it has never had a self-tapping screw go thru it.

Could it be that you have a car with the earlier set up??? I think you are around the change point, but I'm sure someone more familiar with that era would be able to confirm.

JP's oracle gives the change over as April 66

[apblake]

As far as I am aware this is how it is supposed to go, but who knows how they left the factory in the day, or just removed so you can get at things better. I think it would be a bolt and nut rather than a self tapper

Thanks for chiming in Gordon - btw I'm excited to get my new parts to install from you!

This is what I assumed, but as I keep searching for more photos I keep finding cars that at least in theory are relatively original (of course this could easily be changed at any point in the life of the car) that seem to not have that clip installed. Take a look at these additional examples from Bring A Trailer:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967- ... ooper-s-6/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967- ... ooper-s-3/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967- ... oper-s-14/

In terms of self-tapper or being a bolt and nut, unless I'm looking at the wrong hole the hole is definitely sized for a self-tapper and not a bolt and nut.

I have tried looking thru all of the body parts books and I don't find any that even show the reducer setup. Is there one available that I am just not seeing?

[iain1967s]

The Somerford page has line drawings. No band clip shown for the later Mk1/Mk2 reducer setup.
https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/fresh-a ... ts-1959-69
Where that band clip is used on the other non-S setups it is listed as a self tapper, PTZ804.

On the few cars I’ve seen, the reducer is near the regulator, closer to the firewall than the crossmember triangle. The reducer attaches to the hose with a HCS156 wire clamp, but isn’t attached to the body - it just tucks neatly under the bend of the hydrolastic hose.

I think the hole in your photo is left over from the previous design, which was a short length of the large hose with a gauze screen that ended at the triangle, held in place with the 14A9982 band clip. See previous photos on this thread.

[Ross]

My 66 "S" has long trunk was built 5th March. Definitely as original as I remember seeing the car at 12,000kms as a near new car then. Most "S" I've seen here have brake booster angled over slightly to clear trunking.

[Catmint]

The Somerford page has line drawings. No band clip shown for the later Mk1/Mk2 reducer setup.
https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/fresh-a ... ts-1959-69
Where that band clip is used on the other non-S setups it is listed as a self tapper, PTZ804.

On the few cars I’ve seen, the reducer is near the regulator, closer to the firewall than the crossmember triangle. The reducer attaches to the hose with a HCS156 wire clamp, but isn’t attached to the body - it just tucks neatly under the bend of the hydrolastic hose.

I think the hole in your photo is left over from the previous design, which was a short length of the large hose with a gauze screen that ended at the triangle, held in place with the 14A9982 band clip. See previous photos on this thread.

Thanks Iain - I am getting myself confused with the earler setup when the hose was terminated at the bulkhead.

[apblake]

The Somerford page has line drawings. No band clip shown for the later Mk1/Mk2 reducer setup.
https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/fresh-a ... ts-1959-69
Where that band clip is used on the other non-S setups it is listed as a self tapper, PTZ804.

On the few cars I’ve seen, the reducer is near the regulator, closer to the firewall than the crossmember triangle. The reducer attaches to the hose with a HCS156 wire clamp, but isn’t attached to the body - it just tucks neatly under the bend of the hydrolastic hose.

I think the hole in your photo is left over from the previous design, which was a short length of the large hose with a gauze screen that ended at the triangle, held in place with the 14A9982 band clip. See previous photos on this thread.

Thanks Iain - that is what I was looking for - I think that confirms that the bracket should not be used. Greatly appreciated.

[Pete]

If you think about it any kind of fixing clip to the body on a post April 66 arrangement would bring the reduced pipe over too near to the servo anyway so kind of answers itself. You can easily understand why the factory stopped the early pre Sept 64 full size/full length trunk as it doesn’t really fit in the space but can only guess that the short pipe arrangement that followed was discontinued just as suggested here due to engine bay fumes/noise. Much better to be sucking in the fumes from the car in front instead. . Hose-gate, must be one of the longest running threads on here?

[mk1]

Hose gate