Grill to Radiator clearance for Oil Cooler.Pic Update.

[288gto]

Calling Series 2 owners.

Next time someone has chance to look, what is the size of the gap between the radiator and the grill with the bonnet closed.
My bonnet is off the car as part of the restoration and won't be back on for a while.
I'm trying to work out the position of the oil cooler and pipes.

Any help always appreciated

Simon

[Julian.P]

Hi Simon,
I have some pics of the position of the stone gaurd fitted to the bonnet with it tilted in the up position, let me know if there of any use I'll send them across to you.

Julian.

[288gto]

Hi Julian,

That would be great it might give me an idea. I need about 60mm clearance between the grill and the radiator with the bonnet shut.
My worry is fitting it and then it hitting the grill. As I've discovered changing anything from standard seems to have knock on effects you don't discover until much later.


Simon

[Julian.P]

Simon I have emailed you some pics, looks like you should be ok for space, let me know how you get on.

Cheers, Julian.

[288gto]

Julian you're a star. I was starting to worry it wasn't going to fit. As you say it looks OK.
I'm fitting modern fans so at a push the rad could go back 20 mm but hopefully not necessary as the stainless brackets are already made.








Simon

[johnetype]

Note that the A/C radiator (Condenser) fits in the same gap if you had A/C so you're guaranteed at least the same thickness of clearance which I can measure if you'd like.

[288gto]

Hi John,

If you wouldn't mind that would be great.
"Measure twice, fit your oil cooler once" as the old saying goes.

Simon

[Julian.P]

Simon your very welcome I'm glad it was of some help, I have loads of other various under bonnet pics let me know if you need any more.
All the best, Julian.

PS, send me a couple of pics of your conversion when compleat

[johnetype]

The A/C radiator is 45mm thick but it's spaced ahead of the water radiator so the front of it is 80mm ahead of the water radiator cooling fins and 65mm ahead of the side frames.

So, you've got at least 80mm of thickness available for an oil cooler if its ahead of the cooling fins on an original radiator, 65mm if you mount it in a way that its only ahead of the cooling radiator side frames.

Hope that helps,

John

[288gto]

John that's great thanks.

I'll post some pics up when it's all in situ.
Having spoken to Rob Beere I've ordered a 10 row oil cooler as apparently anything larger on a road car could potentially have a negative effect on cold air through the water radiator.
The XJ6 series 3 filter assembly has the advantage of having a built in stat that only opens once the oil is up to temperature.

Rob does a custom ducting and fitting kit that would mount under the rad but I'm not sure this would be practical on a road car with speed bumps etc.

Simon

[288gto]

Finally a few pics of the installation as promised. It wasn't the easiest of jobs with lots of trial and error getting the routing of the pipes to clear everything.Thanks again to everyone who helped.





Simon

[Julian.P]

Nice work there Simon you must be getting close to a run?

Julian.