I would like to fit a temperature gauge?

[Dean]

I would like to fit a temperature gauge, but the technical section talks of a blanking plug which you remove, to screw in the sender. I don't have one of those.

Where else could I put the sender? My dad talked of hoses you can fit them to, but I can't find any reference to this within our supply network.

Thanks

[polo2k]

I have seen some electrical ones where the sender is a "bulb" on a wire, like a cooker stat but smaller. this is then slipped into the top hose before putting it onto the rad.

[PSL184]

Some Midgets had the sensor screwed into the thermostat housing. Have a look in the Moss catalogue....

[mike.perry]

The 1098/1275 heads have a blanking plug in the cylinder head below the thermostat. any smaller engine head will require a thermostat housing with a temp gauge fitting.
Someone will now tell me that a Mini head has a fitting?
Are you using a capillary or electric gauge? If you are using a Smiths electric gauge then you will probably need a voltage stabiliser

[//no.comment]

ive recently fitted a temp gauge into a 1098, as said above theres a blanking bolt just under the thermostat,
the +ve supply needs to be taken from a spare terminal on the voltage stabiliser behind the speedo
pretty easy job really, finding a place 2 put the gauge was my biggest headache i got a bracket simular to this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-HOLE-GAUGE-FLAT ... 51912c214d
And put it in along with a temp gauge and an ammeter, it looks pretty snazzy if i do say so myself!
The temperature sender i used was from a mini, got it for like £5 on ebay, the only problem is it seems to show my engine is running hot now! ignorance is bliss!

[Dean]

Cheers everyone. I've got the box standard MM/early series II dials Mike, fuel and oil pressure gauge. Would just feel more comfortable knowing what temperature the motor is running at. I guess I'm going to have to do some hunting for a thermostat housing off a midget.

[billlobban]

Try posting in the wanted section they are available

[mike.perry]

Try the usual parts suppliers. Birmingham MMC also deal with other classic cars so may have one. You will still need a voltage stabiliser off a 1098 speedo. Wiring it up is another job which I have not sorted yet as I am getting all or nothing on my gauge

[bmcecosse]

The later 998 Mini heads had the blanking plug. Many moons ago - I used a bottom hose - cut it to length for use as top hose -with the heater return stub in it - and fitted my temp sensor 'bulb' into that stub. It worked fine! But that was a capillary gauge (the only one to have IMO) - not an electric gauge. Obviously no return path through the rubber hose - although I suppose you could rig up an earthing wire easily enough!

[billlobban]

Wiring it up is another job which I have not sorted yet as I am getting all or nothing on my gauge

Mike have you checked that you have the correct temperature sender. Theory - the sender for the temperature light is 'go' or 'no go' in that the light comes on at a set temperature. The sender for the gauge is effectively a temperature variable resistance.

[mike.perry]

The engine is out of the MM at the moment so I can't check it but I may have a faulty stabiliser which I took off a spare speedo. I also have a problem with the MM fuel gauge not working. I put 12v across the terminals of my 1098 spare gauge and it registered full, tried the same on 3 MM fuel gauges and nothing.???????????

[mike.perry]

I checked in the local car accessory shop and was told that the TIM gauges work off 12v, so no stabiliser required and the senders are the same size as the Smiths units.

[Dean]

Cheers Guys.

Seems like I have another job to do.

[bmcecosse]

TIM Gauge ?? Settle for nothing less than a genuine Smiths.

[mike.perry]

I recall that you recommended only use capillary gauges.
If the Tim can be wired up in an early car without messing about with non original voltage stabilisers then it has my vote, besides it has a full circle dial.

[bmcecosse]

But it's not 'period' for the car!

[mmjosh]

i have got a smiths temperature guage and a smiths oil guage which i am going to fit to my morris one day

[bmcecosse]

Well done! These 'TIM' gauges look horrible in an old car - maybe ok in a 'modern' - the Mini lads seem to like them

[mike.perry]

I have the Smiths dual gauge in my Traveller which works fine. If I can get the Smiths temp. gauge in my Series MM to work properly it can stay

[Dean]

Looks like now I need to source a voltage stabiliser.

I guess our cars don't have them as standard then Mike? I see Bull Motif have second hand ones up for grabs.