Oil cooler on 1071 Cooper S

[panda911]

Good day.
I would like to fit an oil cooler to the car that is as near original as possible.
My linited research seems to say that it fits under dynamo and is mounted vertically.
Would any of the members have photo or drawing of how it is mounted and plumbed.
Thank you

[Toby]

This thread should help:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28827&p=246438

[TECH396]

This may help. There aren't a lot of images of originals but this will give you an idea.


https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/oil-coolers

[AndyPen]

Took some photos of my 1071's today for you. Original brackets and pipes, and Bob1971 sorted out the side plates on the actual cooler for me. I hope they help with identification? As you see it is 7 inch centre to centre, but I guess a 6 inch one could be adapted by modifying a pipe and extending the side plates required?

In theory, this will be in the car (with the engine) by next summer

1071 oil cooler parts.jpeg

oil cooler centres.jpeg

[panda911]

Thank you for taking the trouble to do this.
BR
Paul

[richardACS]

Interesting post - I searched for one of these a few years back and have reason to believe they were also fitted (maybe as an optional extra) to the 1275 up until the front panel fitted type became a standard fitment in 1966 - but I stand to be corrected...

It is a while back now but when the bangers and cash Surf blue car was sold at their auction (1965 1275 S) I noticed that car had one fitted and spent some time rewinding the moment to be certain of what I was seeing, I wonder if this still remains fitted to the car?

I did source one from Australia in the end for my 1965 S, but as my engine builder asked - do you really want to fit this - supposing the car it came from blew its engine it could quickly ruin yours!

I wonder whether anyone knows of someone who could reverse engineer from the one I have and could then beef up the weak areas for which it was known, I guess with all that vibration from a four pot and a not too cooling position (tucked so low down) the later type would be clearly better - but not for originality.

[mk1]

Interesting post - I searched for one of these a few years back and have reason to believe they were also fitted (maybe as an optional extra) to the 1275 up until the front panel fitted type became a standard fitment in 1966 - but I stand to be corrected...
They were, they are listed as an accessory for all Minis.

It is a while back now but when the bangers and cash Surf blue car was sold at their auction (1965 1275 S) I noticed that car had one fitted and spent some time rewinding the moment to be certain of what I was seeing, I wonder if this still remains fitted to the car?
It is.

I did source one from Australia in the end for my 1965 S, but as my engine builder asked - do you really want to fit this - supposing the car it came from blew its engine it could quickly ruin yours!
They are legendary for the pipes breaking due to vibration & the engine dimping all it's oil out. However, this is fairly unlikely on a Cooper S nowadays as the most exciting driving they ever see is a sedate drive down to beaulieu once a year. It was however an issue in the days when they were driven hard.

I wonder whether anyone knows of someone who could reverse engineer from the one I have and could then beef up the weak areas for which it was known, I guess with all that vibration from a four pot and a not too cooling position (tucked so low down) the later type would be clearly better - but not for originality.
The std kit is perfectly adequate unless the car is driven hard for a lot of miles.

[mk1]

The bottom bracket for the S & Non S were different.

MA64-A41.jpg

[timmy201]

I think the more worrying part about a used oil cooler is that it could be full of bearing shrapnel from a dead engine.

I wonder if there is a sufficient market for the cooler core to be reproduced?

[mk1]

Two very good points Tim.

[Peter Laidler]

That 1071 Bob man is certainly a dab-hand at making the brackets by the look of it...... Well done Bob!

[AndyPen]

They seem to reverse flush quite well. I’ve done two and used gauze and a magnet - just to play safe. Mind you, they were pretty clean.

[iain1967s]

I think the more worrying part about a used oil cooler is that it could be full of bearing shrapnel from a dead engine.

The cooler is plumbed between the oil pump outlet and the oil filter inlet, so even if it were full of crud the filter should take care of it… so long as it doesn’t get completely clogged and go into bypass.

[OzOAP]

Got a NOS one for an engine I'm building.
Suprising how filthy the fluid was in ultrasonic machine after a 20 minute 'buzz'

[Toby]

Here is a shot of it listed in the BMC approved parts catalogue:

[IB 1]

The oil cooler fitted to early Cooper ss was a factory option. It actually used an after market accessory oil cooler kit for the small one fitted under and to the inner side of the radiator. Can't actually remember who sold it, but did find an advert for in in Motor/ Autocar. The later one mounted on the front panel was I am sure standard fitment along with the twin tanks etc.

[AndyPen]

Here is a shot of it listed in the BMC approved parts catalogue:

Great pic, I notice the lower nuts look different to mine

[Pete]

So few cars were ever fitted with these in period so it’s no wonder they’re so hard to find, even early Cooper S race cars seemed to opt for an aftermarket set up from the likes of Serck, probably a cheaper option at the time too.

[bubbacluby]

So few cars were ever fitted with these in period so it’s no wonder they’re so hard to find, even early Cooper S race cars seemed to opt for an aftermarket set up from the likes of Serck, probably a cheaper option at the time too.

In Australia, they were standard fitment to all Early mk1 Cooper S. From 1965 to to partway through 66.
I know my April 66 Mk1 S had one from factory. Though are VERY rare here as well

[Simon776]

So few cars were ever fitted with these in period so it’s no wonder they’re so hard to find, even early Cooper S race cars seemed to opt for an aftermarket set up from the likes of Serck, probably a cheaper option at the time too.

Over 2500 were supplied as a factory fitted option - it cost £12 1s 8d in the January 1966 price list which is just before it became a standard fitment; that is almost £250 at todays prices.

Another reason aftermarket coolers were popular is because the BMC item was no good according to contemporary reports.