Morris Minor Owners Club

Just putting my engine back together, is the copper heater pipe in the correct place? This would mean that to replace the thermostat I would have to remove the pipe which involves taking off 2 head nuts! It does line up with the bottom hose but just does not look correct.

That is exactly how my 1098 engine looks. My 948 engine has the pipe running along the other side of the rocker cover.

Yes, you have it correct, daft as it seems. As Rocco, states, there is a different design that runs above the manifold. Even though I run 1098cc engines, I use the older pipe for exactly the reasons that you mention.

In my SII, the heater pipe runs from the bottom of the 'tall' radiator along the engine bay floor - completely out of the way of any cylinder head nuts etc.

Here is a picture of the heater pipe running above the exhaust manifold but mine does not have the cannister breather, so don't know if you would have a clearance issue.

It does clear the canister.

Bill_qaz wrote: ↑Wed Aug 21, 2024 12:34 pm Here is a picture of the heater pipe running above the exhaust manifold but mine does not have the cannister breather, so don't know if you would have a clearance issue.
20230622_155206.jpg

Much better system, why did they change it?

If you had long enough studs in the block, the pipe could sit on top of the head nuts and half nuts used to secure the pipe, removal then avoids disturbing any head nuts.

les wrote: ↑Wed Aug 21, 2024 7:20 pm If you had long enough studs in the block, the pipe could sit on top of the head nuts and half nuts used to secure the pipe, removal then avoids disturbing any head nuts.IMG_2054.jpeg

No that sounds like a good idea but it does not work. If the copper pipe is sitting on top of the stud nuts it makes it too short to join the rubber pipe at the water pump. I tried to do this thinking I was being clever.

Stephen

I wondered why I couldn’t fill the system with water !

les wrote: ↑Wed Aug 21, 2024 9:47 pm I wondered why I couldn’t fill the system with water !

I could just about get the copper pipe to meet the bottom rubber radiator hose but there wasn't enough copper pipe poking into the rubber hose. I thought it would be way too insecure. It would work with a specially made copper pipe or if the bottom hose had a longer projection. Perhaps not all bottom radiator hoses are the same and it will work with some of them.

Stephen

I called ESM a couple of weeks ago when I was trying to fit a new bottom hose because I was struggling to get the b*****d thing over the water pump. The diameter looked far too small, it wasn't even close.

The guy told me that they are all the same size. I persevered using some hot water and something my Dad had to stretch it a little bit. Then with some engine oil and a large dose of particularly nasty swearing at it, I finally slipped it on. My knuckles have only just lost the scabs.

rocco wrote: ↑Thu Aug 22, 2024 7:20 am Then with some engine oil and a large dose of particularly nasty swearing at it, I finally slipped it on.

Mmm. I'm ever mindful of a warning phrase that I read somewhere decades ago "oil has an instant and adverse effect on rubber"...

Myrtles Man wrote: ↑Thu Aug 22, 2024 9:22 am

rocco wrote: ↑Thu Aug 22, 2024 7:20 am Then with some engine oil and a large dose of particularly nasty swearing at it, I finally slipped it on.

Mmm. I'm ever mindful of a warning phrase that I read somewhere decades ago "oil has an instant and adverse effect on rubber"...

Yes it does. I use silicone grease on rubber. A big tin of silicone grease will last a lifetime. Can be used anywhere that red rubber grease is used. Red rubber grease is made from vegetable oils (Castor oil) and is not a petrochemical grease.

Stephen

les wrote: ↑Wed Aug 21, 2024 9:47 pm I wondered why I couldn’t fill the system with water !