Morris Minor Owners Club

I've put up photos of my fun changing the thermostat. I'm expecting trouble, cos I'm sure I did something naughty. Will see what you all say!

Anyway, heres the link: http://www.brosh.co.uk/Minor/thermostat.html

Doesn't look very naughty... You must be happy that none of the nuts/studs snapped, and the housing hadn't welded itself on!

Onne

Am pleased there were no major hiccups but suspect I should have been more... careful... around those nuts!

Not sure if its still overheating after all that - may still change the water pump just to be sure have covered all bases!

You could try fitting a temp gauge, that way you'll have a better idea if it's overheating or not without throwing time and money at various parts!

Well, thats a handy instruction site you have there Badfelafel ! Please put up more photo's (but don't have any breakdown's , so just do instruction picture gallery's !)

temp gauge ordered off ebay... the last one from ebay got lost in the post after I paid Better luck this time though!

the last one from ebay got lost in the post after I paid

Be aware that this is a common scam from not nice people on ebay.

use a paypal acc ount, then if goods do not arrive, you can make a claim with paypal, and if the seller does not respond within 10 days your money is returned to your paypal account

Sadly it was by cheque... but he has a proof of posting (sensible chap) and 100% feedback - so will give him the benefit of the doubt

aupickup wrote:use a paypal acc ount, then if goods do not arrive, you can make a claim with paypal, and if the seller does not respond within 10 days your money is returned to your paypal account

You'd think.. But it doesn't always work like that. In fact, it's a shocking and barely acceptable under UK regulation system, where the customer has very little actual protection (though to be fair sellers can be ripped off by Paypal too).

I experienced this first hand, when someone misrepresented the items actually up for auction, and I found out only after paying. 25 quid down the drain, as though Paypal went in my favour they couldn't/ wouldn't refund me as the seller had either closed their account or not got the money in there.

Paypals ethics and buyer protection aren't worth the electrons used to put them on the screen, IMO.

Still, things do go missing in the post, but as a temp gauge shouldn't cost 30 odd quid, RM should pay up and you should get a full refund from the seller

well i must admit that mr experiences with ebay have been very good, the odd items that did go missing have all ways been replaced with another.
i have had no problems with paypal either.

i know it can all go wrong
may be i have just been lucky

First time I've had a problem as a seller. It was cheap tho - only £4, so not the end of the world.

To make myself feel better, won this today - cost £8 with postage though:

Looks nice. I have got a Smiths magnolia faced water temperature gauge coming soon

aupickup wrote:well i must admit that mr experiences with ebay have been very good, the odd items that did go missing have all ways been replaced with another.
i have had no problems with paypal either.

i know it can all go wrong
may be i have just been lucky

You're usually OK as a buyer until you get a fraudulent or simply useless seller. Then you realise just how little Ebay/ Paypal really care so long as they've had their cash

I now try and stick to taking cash or POs for stuff I flog, and only buy after very carefully checking feedback, contact details, making sure the seller replies to my questions, etc. I know I'm going to get scuppered again sooner or later, but hopefully I'll avoid most of the scammers.

I'm lucky so far. I've had no problems at all.

We'll see how the latest one goes; I'm now the owner of a Ford type-9 gearbox...

Is there a difference between the Smiths and Jaeger temperature gauges? They look the same...! But do they work the same??

Both are a bi-metallic whatsit, so yes, they work the same

So you need stabilised voltage source (from the fuel gauge) - and a sensor in the head.

The thermostat cover was held on by nuts - on studs, not bolts. You were lucky to get it off so easily - then often need to be smashed because the alloy housing reacts with the steel studs - and just will not move. Good idea to smaer the studs with grease - and i usually run a drill down the housing holes too. You are looking into the cylinder head - not the block. I see you already have the temperature sensor all ready for your new gauge - sadly you also have the ghastly convoluted bypass hose between water pump and head - these are notoriously unreliable - will let you down just when you can least stand it. Best replaced with nice thickwall 'solid' type. Your boiling water would lose quite a bit in the pouring into the bowl - if the stat opened it's probably ok. Better to actually boil it up in a pan for a more realistic test. Wouldn't bother changing water pump unless it's leaking - it's the least likely cause of overheating. How did you know the engine was 'overheating' before - did you have a temp gauge on the car - or was it obviously boiling up as you drove along ?

We had much overheating fun - steam, blasting jets of steam / boiling water out, loss of power, that smell of steam... Hope thats all over now, but not sure how to tell without boiling it over again!

Whats the best way to connect to the little toggle bit on the temperature sender to a wire??

Enjoyed my first ever attempt at car DIY - glad there were no particular nasty surprises or impossible nuts!