Can You Use '74/Later Oil Cooler hard Lines on a '73?

[J-P]

Wondering if due to scarcity (and expense) of '73 oil cooler hard lines, if '74 and later hard lines and trombone would be an easy fit on a '73?

Any experience here? Any mods necessary? Would it look okay, or be funky?

TIA.

[Chuck Miller]

JP,

The simple answer is yes.......

The fittings on the '72 and later coolers are BIG and the same....

However,

The first and obvious difference is that '74 and later hard lines place the thermostat just in front of the rear tire ... they had at least 3 different placements for the thing from '69 to '73 and finally got it 'right' in '74.

The other thing I've just learned is that some of the later trombone coolers require a different or no intermediate attachment between the cooler and the hard lines.

I am running a '72 radiator type big fitting cooler, with '72/'73 stubby hoses, and late lines..... Not stock but I feel the best of both worlds....

Hope this helps,
Cheers

[Richard]

I agree with Chuck. It's not well known, but '73S cars came both with and without oil coolers. It was an option, unlike the '69-72S cars which included a front oil cooler as part of the S option. My '73S was a lightly optioned coupe and had no front oil cooler. I was planning on racing it so right after I got it many years ago I installed the complete front oil cooling system from an SC, including front loop oil cooler, thermostat, and lines. It fit perfectly and also did a nice job of cooling. I was planning on putting a radiator type cooler in later but I found the loop cooler did the job on my stock '73 2.4S MFI motor, during many years of on track racing, so I've never changed it out for a radiator type cooler.

Good luck, I think you'll find that an SC style front cooler arrangement including the location of the thermostat will work fine on your car. If you have a modified big displacement motor you will want to add a radiator...but everything will fit fine from the SC set up.

R.

[orange911]

For MY 72, could you use the same SC lines to the rear without the thermostat, and then plumb to the oil console/thermostat?

[edmayo]

A 72 is a unique problem since one line has to go into the bottom of the tank. We have used Elephant Racing to supply a specially bent line to aim towards the tank bottom and then make a short connector line to the tank. The other line to the thermostat we make using salvaged old fittings, new bulk hose and a crimper to duplicate the factory lines. I suggest working with Chuck at Elephant, he will be a tremendous help. The Elephant lines are a finned bare brass line, once painted flat black they will look like original lines, other than very close inspection.

[J-P]

Everybody, thank you for the responses. Sounds like the '74-'83 lines and coolers will work just fine.

Cheers.