Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello,
I want to fit a water temperature gauge to my 948cc engine, so I need to fit a sensor to the cylinder head. I believe the 1098 engine has a position for one but not the 948. I am thinking in terms of somehow adapting or modifying the heater manual valve to accept a sensor, the water flow for the heater could be controlled by a manual valve somewhere in the heater hose.
I’m after ideas really, I wonder if anyone has come up with a scheme to overcome the problem. I know you can get those devices which can be fitted into the radiator hose but that would not be the optimal position. Thanks.

The 1098 heads are drilled and threaded for a water temperature sensor but the sensor is not original equipment in any Minor so there is a blanking plug in place if a sensor has not been fitted. A 948 head could be modified by being drilled and tapped.

Alternatively, there is a type of thermostat housing that can accept the temperature sender. viewtopic.php?t=71737

Stephen

This is a currently available thermostat housing which is tapped for a temp gauge transmitter:-
https://www.minispares.com/product/Clas ... 0catalogue
You will have to play around with the hose between the thermostat housing and the radiator but that is not insurmountable.
A further search has come up with a 12A408 thermostat housings with temp take off.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/201604257803
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/35439797455 ... 1506.m1851
Currently 1 AD is around 0.53 PS.
Personally I would be fitting a proper alloy take off adapter at the rear of the head. The rear of the head gets hottest so any indication of overheating will be shown where it is happening.

Here is a thermostat housing with temp take off:-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196185202482 ... SwtJhlfCXS

£40.
I purchased the aluminium connector, pictured below, but never used it, when fitting an electric water temp. gauge. Fits into the top radiator hose and connects the two cut pieces. It has a 1/8"NPT threaded hole to accept the sender. Could be useful, and far cheaper, where there is no provision for a sender.

As no one showed any interest in the the thermostat housing with temp take off in the link I posted above I decided to bid and won.
The housing has arrived and it is in very good condition with absolutely no corrosion and a genuine BMC part too.
So £40 well spent when compared with the Australian version.

Another housing with temp take off has just popped up on 'e' bay:-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204628271226 ... 1506.m1851