Can somebody tell me what this connector is for please? its located about 20cm down from the fuse box just above the brake booster.

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Jenk.

Its the plug for an external regulator. These were used on cars from 69 til 72(?..ish) when the alternators had their regulator fitted to the inner wing.

Many cars had their alternators replaced over time with later internally regulated models.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Thanks Mick, as far as I know my car is circa 65-67?

So an external regulator would have been connected to it, and because an alternator was fitted the external reg is no longer required??

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Jenk.

The external regulator was just a component that was quickly designed into the gubbins of alternators in a couple of years, so a later alternator won't need it at all.

On your 65-67, it would have had a generator fitted which has a completely different and very large regulator fitted in about the same spot.

It may be that your car had an upgrade to an alternator back in the day, and this included the wiring loom portion as well.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Or a previous owner upgraded to alternator? Thanks again.

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Jenk.

Thats what I was thinking. Odd that they would also include the loom though, unless the car was stripped down. The front loom includes the dash and lights etc so is a bit of trouble to remove. You can alter the generator loom to do the same job although it looks a little bodge.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Hang on now you've confused me! I was suggesting the car was originally fitted with generator... therefore an external regulator was also fitted, then some time later somebody upgraded to an alternator which has an internal regulator... hence why I'm left with a connector on the original loom?? I'm not sure what you mean by "Odd that they would also include the loom though" if it was already there from original?? am i just missing something?

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Jenk.

The sequence would be more like
1. came from factory with generator, matching external regulator and matching bit of loom.
2. a PO upgraded to an alternator with a matching external regulator (but different to the one from the generator) and matching bit of loom (but different from the original one tha matched the generator).
3. A PO (maybe the same one, maybe a different one) changed to an alternator with internal regulator but did not remove the old bit of loom that connected to the alternaotr external regulator.

What alternator is in there now?

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

As Mick has said above.

The external regulators for the generators and external regulator alternators are like chalk and cheese. They shared the same position, but were otherwise completely different in wiring, connection and number of wires. So there's a few steps which included a replacement front loom between the factory and now.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

All `mk2' cars Cooper S, Mini K, van and Mini Matic got an alternator, and external regulator, with that connector.

If you have a later alternator, it's not used. Usually, it's just left there, as on yours and mine.
Note however, the brown/yellow wire on it still goes to the IND terminal on most later Lucas alternators.
The green/brown wire of similar length is not used (it regulated the alternator's field current).

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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 was of the opinion my car is circa 65-67 which makes it a mark 1 but I'm always finding stuff out that makes me think twice!

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Jenk.

Number 3 is what I'm going with

The alternator in it now has a connector socket in the back of it but no connector attached, however there is a loom which has about 3 wires that connects to a threaded terminal post, other than this I couldnt tell you what alternator is in it.

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Jenk.

Jenk - an earlier post that might be of interest - viewtopic.php?f=5&t=82659

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Thanks Winnabey

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Jenk.