The bypass hose used on all A series motors (not A+) allows the water pump to circulate the water between the block and the head (so it all warms up evenly) from cold, until the thermostat opens.
<edit> It doesn't bypass the thermostat.
If you block it off, the pump will just sit there and cavitate...
Metros (and Rover Minis I think) have a sandwich plate under the thermostat housing with a hose on it, that performs the same function.
Noooo, I dunno where this hose goes to or from....
The time honoured way of replacing the bypass is either use a thermostat blanking sleeve (for competition) or drill a couple of 3mm holes in the thermostat body.
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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.
