Rad fitting blues

[Peter Laidler]

Following on from this interesting thread and a recent one about fan belts. Here's a simple idea that all Cooper S owners ought to take up.....

Your 'S' lower rad shroud, ARA 1342, is different from the standard mini one in that the lower mounting bracket is in effect, back to front to allow for more room. That said, the standard lower shrouds are ten-a-penny as spares at the autojumbles - and as I saw at Beaulieu last Sunday.

What I suggest to all Cooper S owners who do their own maintenance is to buy a standard mini lower shroud and modify it in two ways.
FIRST, cut out the recess that allows a much simpler fan belt change as shown in this article. And...
SECOND, speak kindly to 1071BOB of this parish and obtain from him one of his repro 'S' reverse lower mounts. When you've got it, fit the new 'S' type mounting bracket to the standard lower shroud.

It'll take you a couple of hours and then prime and paint. Then you'll have a spare, already modified lower rad shroud, ready to fit when the time comes. And when it does come, believe me, you'll thank me! The best of both worlds, all done with the assistance of the members of this very forum