oil cooler

[carmon52]

i'm new to beetles but i have a 69 bug with 70 engine. i'm sure my oil cooler is leaking.what is most likely to leak the seals or the cooler itself. how many seals sre on a cooler also where do you recomend people to buy beetle parts, thanks kenny

[Marc]

Hi Kenny. Although `69 and `70 engines are both "singleports" with their oil coolers inside the fan shroud, there's a subtle yet significant difference between them. `69 was the last year of the single-relief/small (~8mm) oil passage case, and `70 was the first with dual reliefs and large (~10mm) passages. The `69 used a cooler that was flat on the bottom while the `70 cooler sits slightly off of the case to make room for the later-style cooler seals. All replacement coolers available for years have been the `70 style, too, so odds are that's what you have but you could have a `69 cooler with "conversion" seals - you won't know until you get the shroud lifted up.
http://www.oldvolkshome.com/oilcool.htm
I refer you to this page just to save myself a lot of typing - but beware that they have the info regarding when you need spacer washers exactly backwards, they are only used when putting an early cooler on a late case.

I'd say that more often it's the seals, not the cooler, and with a dual-relief case cooler failures are even less likely (the second relief valve exists specifically to protect the cooler from overpressure).

As to where to buy parts, that sorta depends upon which parts. aircooled.net has an excellent reputation for customer service and John does his best to carry only the best quality parts still available.
There are many cheaper places, but if you buy based on price alone odds are you'll get Chinese-made parts these days. cip1.com is a popular outfit, but read the fine print - they sell two or three grades of some items. I recommend you solicit opinions here at the forums before committing to purchase anything mail-order.

[carmon52]

thank you i appreciated your reply. kenny

[Marc]

You're welcome. Please visit us at the Type 1 Forum, and feel free to IM me if you're shy...I can't always respond right away, but I'll do my best.