Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello,
I'm looking to have an information about engine temperature but don't want to fit a gauge (to be proacher of the origin). So i planned to use the green bulb of the speedo (black speedo). It was first used for the indicator but unused on my car.

Could someone say me how to do that? I've understood i have to buy a temperature gauge (understood how to fit a gauge) but how to fit a bulb alone?

Thank you

Hello Gluck,
do you mean that you want a temperature warning light?
If so you are going to have to find a suitable temperature sensor that switches at the set point you want. You may need to look at industrial switches to achieve what you want.

Alec

Or adapt a fan switch from a modern car (the type that switches a cooling fan into operation) as that is a temperature controlled switch which operates at roughly the right temperature. You might have to drill and tap the radiator header (top part) for the switch.

Wiring up is easy then. Live to the bulb, lead from the bulb to the temp switch and earth the temp switch if it's a two terminal type.

Hello Cam,
good thinking, maybe an adapter into the cylinder head water temperature sensor port may be esiest.

Alec

I'm looking to have an information about engine temperature but don't want to fit a gauge (to be proacher of the origin).

Dont forget that the guage was available when the Morris was a current car, just that it was an aftermarket extra.

Alec wrote:Hello Cam,
good thinking, maybe an adapter into the cylinder head water temperature sensor port may be esiest.

Alec

Hi Alec,

Yes, I thought about the exisiting 'port' for in the side of the head, but it's quite small, and if I remember (about 12 years ago when I had a mk1 Fiesta) the fan switch was quite a bit bigger which is why I suggested connecting it to the radiator header (as that's where it was on the Fiesta too).

But if it will fit, or an adapter can be found then even better!

I'd wondered how that would work... You just can't buy temperature gauges to match the gold-faced speedo... If I extended my existing bank of extra switches, I could fit a small red light to come on with any temperature abnormalities... Our Metro has a similar system, although it may well work differently. I think the gauge works off the sender, and then the warning light works off the gauge, but I'll see if I can find a wiring diagram somewhere...

Yes, I thought about the exisiting 'port'

I would have thought that the fan would be slightly lower temperature than the head so if you use a fan switch at the head it may be permanantly on?

It is possible to mount the temperature gauge under the dash in a little plastic holder, that way you don't have to cut holes in the dash, or block up one of the glove boxes. The temperature gauge will tell you a lot more than the warning ligh (with the warning light you will never know if the switch or wiring has failed as the bulb shouldn't come on anyway)

Kevin wrote: Dont forget that the guage was available when the Morris was a current car, just that it was an aftermarket extra.

So if i good understand, it was an option. Right?
Could you show me pictures how it has to be fitted?

Has anyone got any pics or info on the oem gauges, styles, fittings, engine tap points?

I don't think they were fitted by Morris.

The gauges that people tend to fit are the chrome ringed Smiths ones (as fitted as standard to the Mini 1000s). You can see the gauges in this picture of my dashboard:

Has anyone got any pics or info on the oem gauges, styles, fittings,

I did say they were an aftermarket extra, and the Smiths ones are correct for the Moggie (fitted to all Mini`s) if you need an older look you will have to find an older Lucas, Cav or Jaeger guage

You can get cream-faced ones (Holden sell 'em for a small fortune, and very nice they look too... ) but as for the gold-faced ones...

Trawl through the Classic Car Accessories section on eBay and you're bound to find some possibles for the later cars.

You can get cream-faced ones (Holden sell 'em for a small fortune, and very nice they look too... ) but as for the gold-faced ones...

Sounds like they fit inside a powder compact or something

looks like my bank manager is going to be warm this christmas