Fitting temp gauge to 803

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Yo folks, I've bought a Smiths capillary temp gauge to fit to my 803 but can't find anywhere for the sender to screw straight in.

So, my q. is will it fit in the hole made for the block drain tap OR will I have to drill and tap the block?

Your suggestions please...

[David53]

You could perhaps try the heater pipe outlet unless your car already has a heater fitted.

[Pikey]

Try a later themostat housing from a metro perhaps. I know the later thermostat housing have tappings for the electric temp gauge, I suspect the capillary gauges will work in the same place?

Cheers

Steve

[bmcecosse]

Yes - just get the stat cover with sender take-off.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

I heard from another Minor owner that the 'stat housing would not accommodate the rather large probe of the capillary sensor.

However I've had an idea: see if it will fit in the hole for the cylinder block drain tap.

I'm going to try this in the near future...

[mike.perry]

There should be an adapter with an external screw thread on each end which screws into the sensor hole in the thermostat housing. The capillary sensor fits into the hole through the adapter and the nut on the sensor screws onto the thread on the adapter.

[bmcecosse]

It WILL fit in the thermostat cover designed for the job......... But in the past - I removed the top rad hose and fitted instead a section cut from a bottom hose - with the T piece take off designed for the heater return. Shorten this slightly so the probe will protrude into the water flow and put a Jub clip around to hold it in place. It works......

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Thanks - will keep my eyes peeled for the hose. Thing is, on ebay, whilst searching for the 'stat cover with the hole for the sender, the chap selling it wanted it for his Minor and temp. gauge sender but said it was 'too big' to fit in. Perhaps he was talking rot. Put me off forking out a tenner anyhow.

[bmcecosse]

Needs an adaptor. The hose is simple and works well.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Sounds like it. Just wondering which hose you're on about - I presume one from a 1000?

[bmcecosse]

One with a return T for the heater - so yes - bottom hose for a 1000.

[hammynz]

I am in the process of fitting the same gauge also to my 803cc monster! What I did is to purchase a thermostat cover from an early Mini ($NZ20, about 10 GBP) as these had an inlet for a temp gauge. Unfortunately the probe on the gauge is too long to fit in the threaded hole but I am having an extension fitting made that screws into the cover, then screw the probe fitting into that. It may cost a little more than the amended radiator hose idea but certainly will look very neat and tidy.
Rob Hammington, Hamilton, New Zealand

[bmcecosse]

Yes - that's the real answer, and yes it always needs an adapter - even if you had the cylinder head with the side tapping - it still needs an adapter.

[mike.perry]

There should be an adapter with an external screw thread on each end which screws into the sensor hole in the thermostat housing. The capillary sensor fits into the hole through the adapter and the nut on the sensor screws onto the thread on the adapter.

[frame][/frame]
The 948cc Spridgets had the thermostat housing with the sensor hole. Try Birmingham Morris Minor Centre and ask for the MG section