I have a spare temp gauge I was looking to hook up. For three reasons; 1) so I can get a number, 2) as backup and 3) so I can distract myself into a pole.

Buuut, I can't find an easy prefab online deliver to my home version. I have a 76 clubby and there is not a rear facing thermostat housing for sale with a temp sender hole that I can find. Not super keen on alloy welding a nut on if I can at all avoid it.

Has anyone placed a temp sender in the thermostat housing for the later rear-facing version before? Any other options for a second temp sender location?

I toyed with the idea of spinning a forward facing unit (with sender hole) around to face the rear. I would need to make up ~10mm spacers so the radiator support bracket doesn't foul (prob need new bolts). And, would have to see what radiator hose would fit too.

Should I bin the thought altogether?


Cheers for any advice

IMO you could easily drill and tap a thread in the back end of the head, below the heater hose connection.
I will take some measurements and advise position tomorrow.

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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.

i`ve seen people open up the bolt holes in the early type thermostat housing (the one with the sender hole in it) & use it in the fashion that you suggest, & yes just a little muck around with the rad braket & the hose & BOb`s your aunty

the bolt pattern isn`t concentric,,, as in it`s not the same all round different ways,,, it will need the holes opened up a bit to fit the wrong way , as you want it to, not hard tho

i don`t see a problem if you`re that keen

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

I've also seen temp gauges that go into the heater outlet of the cylinder head. Basically instead of a blanking plate, or a pipe for a heater hose it has a fitting welded on for the temp gauge to screw into.

I have a temp sender in the rear facing thermostat housing. It is an EFI engine temp sensor that has a parallel thread and copper washer to seal. I drilled and tapped through the flat face that is meant for the air pump bracket. To get a seal I filed the flat cast face down flatter.

I had to drill off centre so that the sensor didn't clash with the thermostat. I can post pics if you need.

M

Sorry, double post. Fat fingers on the wife's iPad

Found a pic of this on a forum...
Might be of interest.
They have used a 'sandwich spacer' on an injected motor and cut the take-off for the heated manifold off, welded on a section of aluminium tube on, and tapped that out to take the fitting as required.

Here is mine.

Cheers for all the help and pics! I like options. Might look into the drill and tap flat front of the thermo cover idea first.

Bit shouldn't it be beneath the thermostat?

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Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.

Once the thermostat starts to open it won't matter.

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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.

I use one of these. I actually use two, one for water, and the other for oil.

I slip the water gauge's probe underneath the top hose where it sits above the thermostat. Dip the probe in epoxy first to give it an extra seal, clean the epoxy off the tip.... Its good for -50 to +150 range, and uses a single watch battery which lasts a year. $20 each from Jaycar.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.as ... rm=KEYWORD

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Matt says....

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"Show me the Mini!"

yeah this is the std A+ metro spacer,,, you can simply tap a thread into the spout & Bob`s your Aunty & i`d suspect that is the same type housing-spacer that willy has shown above

edit-> & thanks for posting the pic Mick nice to catch up again mate, it`s literally been years, see you next time i`m doin the Mt Stromlo DH thing

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Re other options/locations -

1. I've tried the block drain plug hole (down the back of the block) - was easy with an adaptor (VDO sendor), but a waste of time.

2. About to try Dave Rosenthal's suggestion of the bottom of the radiator, where the drain plug is.

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Steve