Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
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- Mr Spigot
- Minor Fan
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Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
I am looking to fit a temperature gauge to my 918 MM engine and the obvious place to fit the sender is the plug for the heater tap on the cylinder head, as my car does not have a heater. Does anyone know what the thread size is and where I can get an adaptor? Is it the same size as the A Series ones?
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- Heater plug.jpg (80.25 KiB) Viewed 570 times
1960 2 door with 1275 Midget engine - WOI 577 - owned since 1990
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
Hi, it may seem obvious to you but I wouldn’t put it there.
- Mr Spigot
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2021 2:44 pm
- Location: East Sussex
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
Why not and what is your alternative?
1960 2 door with 1275 Midget engine - WOI 577 - owned since 1990
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
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- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1668
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 6:33 am
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
No particular reason other than measuring the temperature around, or at about, the highest point in the system. Alternatives might depend on what you have available as alternatives and possibly the type of transducer used.
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
I think you'll find that depending on which point you choose to fit the sensor at, you'll get a big variation in readings, as if you've got no heater, I presume you've got no water pump on your engine either. I suspect that the gauge will be useful in terms of indicating what's 'normal' rather than it running at a certain level if that makes sense. I can't think of anywhere else obvious to fit it and that point is high in the head, but I imagine the water flow will be really slow at the back of the head without it being pumped, so I suspect the reading will be quite high!
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- Minor Fan
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Re: Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
The heater connection is directly above cylinder 4 and as mentioned circulation (even pumped) is not the best there so could give an artificially high reading.
If you were brave you could drill and tap a sensor point in the neck prior to the thermostat (pumped) it’s a 1/2” BSP thread for period NOS but could be metric if you are using a modern aftermarket part.
Off topic but my pre series Morris Minor measures the temperature of the air in the air gap between the water and the filler AND it’s visible at all times from the drivers seat!
If you were brave you could drill and tap a sensor point in the neck prior to the thermostat (pumped) it’s a 1/2” BSP thread for period NOS but could be metric if you are using a modern aftermarket part.
Off topic but my pre series Morris Minor measures the temperature of the air in the air gap between the water and the filler AND it’s visible at all times from the drivers seat!
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- Minor Maniac
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Re: Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
You could always fit a temp gauge take off into the top hose using a kit of the type in the photo below.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226051860527 ... BM3Lu-yN9j
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395173389337 ... TH013MZPFT
Or even the types listed belowhttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226051860527 ... BM3Lu-yN9j
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395173389337 ... TH013MZPFT
- Mr Spigot
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2021 2:44 pm
- Location: East Sussex
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Sidevalve engine temperature gauge
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. I appreciate that the heater take-off plug is probably the hottest area of the coolant and will give a high reading, but the aim is to ensure a consistent reading, so any change would indicate a possible problem. I like the period take-off adaptor which would retain an element of authenticity, as the car is quite original and unmolested. I shall keep an eye out for one.
1960 2 door with 1275 Midget engine - WOI 577 - owned since 1990
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023