Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi,

I'm thinking of adding a temperature gauge to my 948 engine (1962), which never had one. I have a nice little gauge and sender left over from another project.

Is there a standard location in the 948 block for the sender (i.e. a hole with a plug in it)? I note that there is something like that just below the oil pressure switch (behind the distributor) but I am wary about unscrewing it without knowing what it is!

If there isn't a handy hole already, how are they usually installed? There's a blank plate on the back of the head where the heater hose would come off - I was thinking I could drill a hole in that (at least until I add a heater!).

Thanks for suggestions!

Don't be tempted to try and put your temp sender in behind the dizzy - the nut you can see is the oil pressure relief valve and nothing to do with the cooling system. 948 - and for that matter, 803 engines are not easy to fit a sender to as there are no tapped locations to use. Simplest fix is to source a thermostat housing with a temp sender tapped in - something like this: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=22385 If you look carefully at your next autojumble, you should be able to find one

Easiest by far is to use a section of bottom hose with the T outlet intended for the heater return. Use this as a top hose - shorten the T and fit the temp sender in so it partly protrudes in to the water flow. If it is an electrical gauge - you will need to run an earth wire to the sender.

I added a Temp Gauge to my 948cc engine, here is the post and with added pictures
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=46293

I have to admit after fitting it I would say a Oil Pressure Gauge is more usefull....

An oil pressure gauge is indeed the most useful gauge....followed by an ammeter. The engine soon lets you know if it is boiling......

Don't waste money on a special thermostat housing - I bought one for £1 and later sold it for nearly £30 to some poor misguided soul.

Buy a bottom hose for a 1098, cut it so it'll fit in place of the standard top hose and trim the heater take-off to fit the temp. sender, securing with a Jubilee clip. This is the system I used for my 803 and have never had any trouble.

Thanks for the suggestions! Glad I didn't undo the tempting bolt behind the distributor...

Yes - leave that nut alone.