Help with oil cooler history

[tomhawk]

Hello I know Shelbys but not much about Boss 302s and Cobra Jets. I have some very early Boss parts. A 69 oil cooler adapter and a Nov. 10 1968 stamped oil cooler. I have looked but cannot find a 69 oil cooler adapter. They all seem to be 70s. Seems like a pretty early date on the oil cooler. Also has the Ford oval stamp the 70s that I have seen do not. Could they be part of the Trans Am race program? Pics included.  Thanks for any info.

[Coralsnake]

November of 1968 would be after 1969 production vehicles were on the road.

[JohnB]

Some info here; https://www.428cobrajet.org/id-scj-oil-cooler-and-lines

[shelbydoug]

The adapter that I have is a '70 as well.

I don't see what the significant difference is in function between the two but if you have a '69 B2 you certainly want the C9ZE number.

I am not aware of anything from Ford for small blocks before the B2 C9 version at all.


There is a Shelby version originally made for the Cobra Team race cars that is just a solid aluminum casting with no relief spring in it. There is also a Shelby version for the FE's.

As with all Ford parts, just the change in the Engineering numbers indicates some type of a design change which I am not aware of a necessity for?

The C9 is gonna' cost you more to buy one, if you can find one and the D0ZE isn't cheap either.


Here is my '70 version. I think it uses different Aeroquip adapters (and they are stamped Aeroquip) then the '69 but I'd have to put them side by side to look for casting differences? I don't see any though other then the length of the fitting on the oil output line being longer on the '70 version.

I don't have my Boss Cooler any more but I think that those are all the same and the only differences are in the hose configurations and the mounting brackets?

[Special Ed]

Your adapter maybe for a factory P/S car with that long tube adapter . !969 boss 302 never used an oil cooler even thou they had 3;91 gears and oil cooler  hose holes stamped in the rad support and both horns on rh side like drag pack cars. The  early adapter had c9ze #s then doze overstamped added but same adapter and was only  used on 70 boss 302s with w-code 4;30 cars.

[shelbydoug]

I presume that the short FL-1A oil filter is what is supposed to be used with this adapter but I do not know that as a fact?

Can any of you verify the oil filter application?

[Special Ed]

fl-1 regular filter as it just points downward with adapter instead of side of block.

[6R07mi]

we used to use the 1/2 Qt larger FL-299, same by-pass pressure, nipple thread.
I seem to recall a Ford engineer told us same filter manufacturer back in the day and same filter element as FL-1A

just for your consideration.

jim p

[Special Ed]

fl 1a is a shorter filter came out in mid 70s and up .

[shelbydoug]

we used to use the 1/2 Qt larger FL-299, same by-pass pressure, nipple thread.
I seem to recall a Ford engineer told us same filter manufacturer back in the day and same filter element as FL-1A

just for your consideration.

jim p

That is a good recommendation but I'd need to verify that it doesn't hang too low.

It isn't just ground clearance there but there is the side tank for the T pan and the hoses to the cooler all in a very small area.

What set up were you running that filter with? I presume that you were using the B2 adapter pictures here?