Remove engine oil cooler w/o removing heat exchanger?

[plymouthcolt]

I need to replace the O-rings on the oil cooler. Bentley manual says to remove the right heat exchanger for better access to oil cooler bolts.

I do not want to mess with heat exchanger bolts (i.e. rusted nuts or breaking studs).

Has anyone removed their oil cooler without have to mess with the heat exchanger?

[JP911]

You could probably do it if you drop the engine out of the car.

[aj88cab]

I just did this last year and the heat exchanger stayed in place and was not a problem. You will need to disconnect the hose and remove the the heater valve if I recall correctly. And there might be some bottom side sheet metal that needs to be loosened too. I was also replacing the thermostat o-ring and had alot of the stuff on top (air-filter, AFM, and intake manifold) out too. I think you need to remove the top grey cover to get to the upper nuts (or a least to save some scraped knuckles). Might as well do the o-ring while your in there. See pics.




Good luck
Andrew

[john walker's workshop]

the o-rings rarely leak. better be sure before going to all that work. yes, you can lower the engine a bit so the top of the cooler clears the body. the gray fibreglass cover can be lifted up enough to get at the top nuts with a socket and extension, after removing most of the accessable 6mm bolts.

[zotman72]

I did it last year on my 72. It is possible, ease is dependant on the induction system you have on top. MFI posed no problem.
HTH

[plymouthcolt]

John, I did see oil leakage near the thermostat and oil pressure switch and breather, but the right side top is clean.



I guess there are crevices that would allow it to flow underneath down to the crankcase?










I'm going to remove the right intake runner and change the t-stat O-ring, breather cover gasket, and pressure switch. If I can avoid messing with that oil cooler it would be awesome.

Thank you John and everyone else for your feed back.

[buster73]

Did it on my 73 2.4 (with SSI heat exchangers) while the engine was out of the car. It is a bit tricky to get the lower nuts and washers back in, but not to difficult.