Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi Everyone,
Busy at work through the Summer so not much has happened, body almost completely stripped and now figuring out various next moves....

So, while it was raining I though I would grab the only part at home in the garage, everything else being stored at my 'work' workshop, so the Smiths Heater got my attention.
I thought I would just give it a bit of a tidy up, and two hours later it's in bits!
Just thought I would share some pictures. The fan is soaking in evaporust which has worked really well on other bits and bobs.
The motor housing has the code FHM4322 and wjhat appears to be a date stamp of 5/63 I would appricate it if any could confirm this as it then represents a replacement part. Not an issue for me, just an interesting historical reference for my car.
Anyway, here's some pictures for your entertainment!
Stewart

I used to use Evaporust and it worked well but it is expensive. I then discovered Bilt Hamber Deox-C which works even better, is British and is cheaper! It works especially well hot at about 70 centigrade and best of all hot and in an ultrasonic cleaner.

I don't know about the round heater but the later Smiths heater also uses a motor with a code that starts FHM. It uses a sticker rather than paint.

This is the motor from a rectangular heater in my 1969 car


Stephen

I've never seen one with the flaps on the face here in the States. All have had a non-metallic face cover with a metal bracket used to attach the heater to the backside of the fascia. Was this version an option or is it from another vehicle and then adapted to the outside air shroud?

Stewart291TMM wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 9:45 pm
The motor housing has the code FHM4322 and wjhat appears to be a date stamp of 5/63 I would appricate it if any could confirm this as it then represents a replacement part. Not an issue for me, just an interesting historical reference for my car.

Stewart
If I remember correctly, you were going to get a Heritage Certificate for the car.
Was it a Standard or Deluxe spec?
Unless it was a Deluxe Spec, or the purchaser ordered a Heater as an factory fit accessory, then it wouldn't have had one originally.
I'm not even sure, if ordered as an 'accessory' to the Standard car, it might have been left for the dealer fit on receipt from the factory.


In fact, cancel that.....
Thinking about it, the factory fit heater didn't have the flaps, so that is an aftermarket Smiths heater fit.

Years ago, I had a 1956 splittie, standard specs so no heater. I saw an abandoned early Morris Minor in a field one day and, after examining it and finding it had a heater, I spoke to the farmer, removed the heater and fitted it to my car. I think I paid him £5......

geoberni wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 1:09 pm
Stewart
If I remember correctly, you were going to get a Heritage Certificate for the car.
Was it a Standard or Deluxe spec?
Unless it was a Deluxe Spec, or the purchaser ordered a Heater as an factory fit accessory, then it wouldn't have had one originally.
I'm not even sure, if ordered as an 'accessory' to the Standard car, it might have been left for the dealer fit on receipt from the factory.


In fact, cancel that.....
Thinking about it, the factory fit heater didn't have the flaps, so that is an aftermarket Smiths heater fit.
Factory heater.JPG

Yes I did get the certificate, I’ll check it tomorrow regardless, it’s at the office at work.

In other news, I’m very impressed with the fan after 24 hrs in the Evapo-rust, picture below.
Stewart

Stewart291TMM wrote: ↑Thu Sep 04, 2025 10:16 pm
Yes I did get the certificate, I’ll check it tomorrow regardless, it’s at the office at work.

In other news, I’m very impressed with the fan after 24 hrs in the Evapo-rust, picture below.
Stewart

Nice clean up.
Incidentally, where is the control rheostat mounted for the blower? The factory fit was on the front of the heater; yours clearly isn't.

My car has a Tudor aftermarket and the Rheostat is fitted into the dash. (if anyone is wondering about the Odometer, this was 2017,after I changed the Speedo for the original having a busted odometer when I brought him)
.

It was fitted below the dash, now removed in readiness for a full strip.

As an additional comment, I made up a home prepared version of EvapoRust using Citric acid and washing soda and it's worked a treat at a fraction of the cost!

Stewart