As far as I can gather from all the MGA part's books the oil cooler was only fitted as standard to MGA's for North American markets. I guess the reasoning behind the decision being that the summer seasons in the USA were much warmer.
Since fitting the oil cooler to my MGA, thermostatic valve has only cut in once and that was during a very hot New Jersey summers day. So, was it really worth IT? I do not know as yet! But, by means of this WEB page I will let you know.
The oil cooler is mounted in from of the radiator and just behind the
front grill. When fitted as an accessory the cooler is bolted to
the splash pan just behind the front grill with four ¼” set screws.
Four ¼” spacers were inserted between the bottom of the oil cooler
and the splash pan, and held in place by the mounting screws. These
spacers will ensure that the metal base of the oil cooler does not rub
against the metal splash pan, and that water will not be trapped between
the oil cooler base and the splash pan causing it to rust.
Two 1¼” holes where cut in to the left hand radiator mounting plate to allow for the stainless steel covered oil pipes to pass through to the engine compartment.
The
two pipes where then connected to one side of an oil thermostatic valve.
The other side of the thermostatic valve being connected via a rubber hose
to the top of the oil filter.
A
second rubber hose connected to the oil pump outlet adjacent to the oil
pressure gauge flexible connecting pipe.
The oil cooler will only cool oil when the oil temperature exceeds normal working temperature. Flow of oil from the engine to the oil cooler is controlled by the thermostatic valve. The valve will close only when the oil temperature exceeds normal working temperature causing the oil to be pumped through the oil cooler.
Under normal running conditions it is unlikely that the oil will pass through the oil cooler. Instead the oil passes through the oil thermostatic valve back to the oil filter.
The job took the best part of a day from start to finish.
