Morris Minor Owners Club

This question has probably been asked before, but here it is again can some advise how I can fit a Smiths temperature gauge to a 948cc engine, there doesn't appear to be a blank on the cylinder head as on the 1098cc engine, any advice would be most appreciated.

The short answer is that its not easy - either change the head for a later one or remove head a drill for a sensor to be fitted. You may be able to find and run a probe that slots into the top hose if you want a quick and dirty fix though... Try Maplins but make sure it is matched to your gauge and don't forget the gauge will need 10 volts, not 12 volts if its an electrical gauge.

On my 948 engined A35 I simply changed the thermostat cover for one which had the tapping for a temperature sender.
I already had it in my spares box as removed from an old Mini years ago but I've seen them for sale on various companies web sites so still available new.

Mine has the tapping on the side but this is a similar type of thing that you might find on eBay or scrap yards-
http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=33054

Paul Humphries

There is another thermostat cover with a tapped boss on the other side of the thermostat. There is a picture of one in a recent post. http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... highlight=

jaekl wrote:There is another thermostat cover with a tapped boss on the other side of the thermostat. There is a picture of one in a recent post. http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... highlight=

That's what I've got.
Came off an early Mini - actually a Riley Elf.

Paul Humphries

got a few of them knocking about thermostat cover with a blank plug..capilary type is the better and most reliable gauge,if you can fint a midget one you'll have the oil preasure gauge built in quite handy...glyn

glyna2006 wrote:got a few of them knocking about thermostat cover with a blank plug..capilary type is the better and most reliable gauge,if you can fint a midget one you'll have the oil preasure gauge built in quite handy...glyn

I needed a reducer to fit such a dual oil/water capilary gauge.
The reducer used on an MGB is perfect and cheap to buy.

Paul Humphries

Way back in the past -I used a section cut off a bottom hose - as the top hose - and the sender bulb fitted nicely into the little leg normally used for the heater return. If you don't have a stat cover with take off - this will be the simplest solution!

Thanks for your replies back to the drawing board, why are things never as easy as they look.

The bottom hose idea is dead simple - although thinking about it - it won't work with an electric gauge unless you arrange an earth connection from sensor to engine.

Problem solved my garage mechanic had a spare head from a frogeye, he converted it to run on unleaded and she is running sweet as a nut and my newly installed temperature gauge is working just fine an expensive fix for a £8.50 gauge, but I console myself I should make my money back in about 5 years not having to buy additive...

No need to 'convert it to unleaded' - the heads last for many many years as they are - without additive.