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9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:12 pm
by abri
I have an opportunity to buy what is advertised as a late '66 1275 S. The engine number however contains a "D". Parnell's book does list 1275 S's with 9FD/SA/Y prefixes but nothing after about September 1964. What does this "D" mean and could it be right on a late '66 model?? The car is in South Africa.

Chassis number is CA2S7 932 ***
Engine number: 9FD/SA/Y 425**

Any help will be appreciated!

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:31 pm
by Canuk
Hope this is helpful to you...

Cooper S variants

970cc

9F/Sa/X Engine numbers 29001-29003 with Tecalamit filter

9FD/Sa/X Closed circuit breathing introduced with Tecalamit filter

9FE/Sa/X Closed circuit breathing, oil filter with oil light switch introduced

9F/Sa/X Engine numbers 29039-30029 Purolator oil filter with oil light switch and closed

circuit breathing

1070cc

9F/Sa/H Engine numbers 26501 to 33660 and 19201 to 20410

9FD/Sa/H Engine numbers 33661 to 33948 with closed circuit breathing and oil light switch in

oil filter head

1275cc

9F/Sa/Y Engine numbers 31001 to 31504 pre closed circuit breathing with Purolator oil filter

9FD/Sa/Y Closed circuit breathing with oil light switch on filter housing after engine number

32178

9FE/Sa/Y Closed circuit breathing with oil light switch on Purolator filter housing and piston

design change

9F/Sa/Y From engine number 32378 onwards, cosed circuit breathing with Purolator filter

with oil light switch, Aeg510 camshaft introduced at engine number 40006, cross-

drilled EN40Bcrank at engine number 42730 and metal dipstick tube at engine

number 42548 onwards

12H397 Cooper S Mk3 with dynamo, negative earth and Tuiftrided EN16T crankshaft

12H398 Cooper S Mk3 with alternator, negative earth and Tuftrided EN16T crankshaft



Note: Only Cooper S engines with prefix '9F' had EN40B forged steel, nitrided crankshafts. All other A-series engines had EN16T steel crankshafts which were only Tuftrided on Mk3 'S' and Austin 1300GT (ADO16) and were stamped 12G1683.

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:48 pm
by abri
Thanks Canuk,

According to the info you posted, a 9FDSAY prefixed block with metal tube for the dip stick with an engine number in the late 42500's should not exist.

This number has been quoted by the owner and a third party who went to look on my behalf. I have not see it myself. I wonder if they could be confusing a / for a "D". :?:

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:15 pm
by Canuk
I am not sure but would this not indicate engine numbers after 32178....

9FD/Sa/Y Closed circuit breathing with oil light switch on filter housing after engine number 32178

It shows there was a 9FD/ Designation though..

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:25 pm
by abri
Ok, I just got picture confirmation

9FD - SA - Y425**

The rivets are right next to the 9 and the last digit, touching the 9 and the last digit.

The number tag and rivets look like they've been on the car for a long time.

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:05 pm
by Canuk
Also check to see if the engine has the removable tappet covers at the back of the engine....

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:21 pm
by abri
Canuk wrote:Also check to see if the engine has the removable tappet covers at the back of the engine....
It certainly does.

Image

Image

Image

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:18 pm
by Canuk
Looks nice, all the right bits there...Now just the decision to buy???

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:25 am
by abri
Yes, there are a few small things that need to be changed (air cleaner, spark plug caps, washer bottle, etc). The owner said the original brake master cylinder will come with the car as well.

My main concern is the authenticity of the engine number tag. Anyone who does repros and keep records of the tags they make??

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:12 pm
by abri
Turns out there is another late '66 S on record with a 9FD-SA-Y number in South Africa, according to the records of our MOCSA historian quoted below. Weird!

"I attach a section of my "unofficial" records on Coopers in RSA starting with 932*** chassis numbers. These are 1967 or late 1966 cars. You will notice that the Cooper with chassis number C-A2S7- 892855 had a 9FD engine number. John Parnell some time ago sent me his records of CKDs Coopers dispatched for assembly in other countries. According to his records 48 Austin Cooper 'S' kits were sent between 14 October 1966 and 3 November 1966 to South Africa with 932 chassis prefixes ranging from 932272 to 932450. It seems that the 'S' that you are interested in could very well be a late 1966 model and that a 9FD engine was not common but apparently slipped in here and there as late as 1966/67 (I also have two 1965 models that have 9FD engine numbers on record)"

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:13 pm
by Simon776
Whilst the characters on the tag look right the spacing of them doesn't. Can't recall having seen an S tag spaced like that before.

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 7:26 am
by abri
I agree that it looks weird. Apparently there were Coopers with 9FDSAH prefixes around at the same time. I've never seen how they are spaced. Could this be similar to the Coopers?

Re: 9FDSAY 1275 S

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:01 am
by abri