Morris Minor Owners Club

David
Glad to see that you are out and about ,with your good lady, enjoying the sunshine.
I'd double check the top hose jubilee clips for soundness.The one nearest the block needs
removing and re-positioning, in the same orientation as the other hose i.e screw at the top, pointing towards the front of the engine bay.
That way you can "nip up " the jubilee clip easily,5 seconds rather than a contortionist act for 5 minutes.
It's not a Concours thing but practical,if you want to whizz around the vehicle checking everything is done up tight, quickly.
Running a Classic vehicle, you will soon start to appreciate the "losening effect" of pot holes and the dreaded speed humps.

The spray pattern, end of coil + 2/3rds of the rocker cover, suggests the leak is high up and the air movement from the fan
is spreading it around.A drip from the hose would dribble down the thermostat housing onto the casting for the dynamo bracket.
Now the engine is getting a good run.... things expand !! Anti freeze in the water will seek out the smallest gap ( much easier than water alone ).
Whatever it is...it isn't major, spotted in time, well done.It's Alice just letting you know she needs lots of TLC..hope your wife isn't the jealous type !!

Bob

Brilliant Forensic analysis there Bob. I'm going to renew that jubilee clip for a screwdriver one in that case, they're tough little engines, but I wouldn't want to put it through that again, overheating can ruin a good lump. I'll change the oil too, its getting a bit black and mucky now she's had a couple of good runs. As you say Bob, she needs lots of TLC.[frame][/frame]

Not that our slight emergency spoilt our nice day out, My wife Jane took this in the pub carpark that we stopped at for lunch.[frame][/frame]

Todays drive was preceded by an engine oil change, and a new jubilee clip to replace the old one on the top hose. Here at the zenith of my drive, Bramber castle carpark, I did a radiator and coolant check, much to the amusment of the castle visitors.[frame][/frame]

what I found was that the new jubilee clip and surrounding hose dry as a bone, but evidence of water leaking from the water pump gasket joint, that has to be the problem. This time I had bottles of water with me, so no "cap in hand" to the Rector of Bramber church. As I replenished the top of the radiator with fresh cold water, a nice old lady came over for a chat about Classic cars and how fantstic they sound. This time, at no point did Alice overheat, I'm on top of the problem now and I know where I'm at.[frame][/frame]

Sunday morning, perfect sunny day, ideal for working in the deep dark shadows of my garage, anyway, Ive to fix the coolant leak between the water pump and the block, remove the old dynamo and replace it with my brand new ESM alternator. Step one, drain and remove the radiator, then unbolt the water pump and investigate reason for the leak.[frame][/frame]

The internal side of the water pump gives unmistakable witness marks, the right hand side of the pump is where I suspected the leak to be, and here's the evidence.[frame][/frame]

narrowing it down to this, my mistake, I though this was a locating stud, but on closer inspection it does have threads, its been wound in so much its short. simple fix wound out, nut fitted, new gasket with sealant and that should fix the leak.[frame][/frame]

next is the clean up of the rusty water and then I can consider how to fit the Alternator, note the rusty water that has flushed down the side of the engine block, and the small dynamo bracket, the alternator is much shorter than the dynamo so a longer bracket is needed, supplied with the conversion kit.[frame][/frame]

here is a comparison between the old and new fitted bracket. The instructions suggest re siting the ignition coil to the inner front wing, I didn't like that idea, it looks wrong somehow.
[frame][/frame]

Once I bolted on the alternator and made sure there was only an inch deflection movement in the belt, I decided to find a new use for the old dynamo bracket, so I can seat the coil just above the alternator, without actually touching it, as the alternator is fatter and shorter than the original dynamo, it cant sit on top of it. But it kinda maintains the original position, in a way.[frame][/frame]

my only worry about fitting the alternator, and it was 90% dead easy, was this single brown/yellow wire, the wiring diagram supplied with the alternator suggested is was to the ignition warning light, so I plugged it up like this.The brown green and thick brown yellow are simply disconnected, so I taped them up with electrical tape and tucked them away.[frame][/frame]

It all started and worked brilliantly, the ignition warning light came on for a brief moment when I started the engine, then went out, the alternator seems to be re charging the battery really well. So I went for a short spin around Worthing seafront to test it all worked ok.[frame][/frame]

the leak seems to have been stopped in it's tracks, the alternator is working better than expected, everythings appears neat and tidy, Tommorows drive to ESM will show up any faults, it'll be the farthest she's been so far.
[frame][/frame]

Excellent David, looks very smart!

Thanks, I'm even more pleased with it now as Alice is in possession of her wide wheels, all five.[frame][/frame]

looks much better with those wheel arches filled[frame][/frame]

the spare wheel mount is the original one that was on the relic three years ago, it's been modified by the farmer who owned it before, with a hinge and flap for a padlock, ok it's not an authentic BMC part but at least it's part of the vehicles actual working life history.[frame][/frame]

Another well done mate!

David
You're knocking off the items on your " snagging list " at break neck speed !! The professionals would be struggling to make such a good job of things.
Have you had time to stop and think where you acquired these skills from ? On second thoughts, just carry on enjoying the vehicle, your avid followers can metaphorically "taste " every moment of your excitement , pleasure and enjoyment.You've earned it.
Bob