Hello--
My '70 cooper s has an alternator, and an obvious place where the slam panel has been bent out of the way to let the alternator clear (though it wasn't necessary to do this). In Parnell's book, the section on UK MK2's states,

"Cars fitted with an alternator from new have a 4TR control box mounted in the top right-hand corner of the engine bay bulkhead."

My '70 has the 4TR, but it's on the right side on the inner fender. Was the placement of this box the same as on UK models, or did MK2's in Australia even come with alternators at all? Any idea on roughly when the switch was made from generator to alternator?

Thanks as always,
bmc

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Ben McCafferty
Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
1970 ex-police mk2 Cooper S

My 1969 MK II S was delivered new with an alternator. I'm not aware of any earlier Oz Minis having an alternator so I guess that was the change point.

Thanks. Where is your control box mounted?

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Ben McCafferty
Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
1970 ex-police mk2 Cooper S

My 70 Mk 2 S came with alternator from new and had the control box mounted where you describe.

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Steve

Australian Minis were fitted with Alternators From Around June 1969 onward,
( introduction of the Mk2 )
These Started with the 8tr Regulator, Towards the end they used a 4tr Regulator
The correct type of alternator is ilustrated on Page 242 of the Mini King Catolugue ( Half Plastic Cover ) The Regulator was fitted to The Inner Guard ( Fender ) on The Right hand Side of the Car

Following pics of faithfully restored MK II S engine bays from Minishow 2008 and Big Day Out 2007 show the location of the control box above the power brake booster. Thanks to the owners, whoever they are.

That would mean all alternatored cooper S's had 8TR's ??? because i know some Gt's had 8TR's. Or just that they ran out so had to use 4TR until got new load of 8TR??

Just curious

Brenton

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The 4TR superseded the 8TR. The plug is the same.

I think you can still buy a new 4TR, the Lucas p/no is NCB148.
I'm looking at the Lucas box...

Google NCB148.

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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.

Wow, those are beee-yoooo-teeee-ful! What is the red sticker on the rocker cover--doesn't look like the usual Morris sticker?

Thanks for all the replies. My '70 has the 4TR box, and the plastic cover on the alternator--I'm guessing, then, that it's probably correct/original.

tx,
bmc

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Ben McCafferty
Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
1970 ex-police mk2 Cooper S

I have seen Both 4TR And 8TR on the Mk2, However, When ever I ordered The part number for the 8TR, I almost always recieved the 4TR, So I am assuming that when a 8TR Failed it was Replaced With the 4TR, There are some 4TR units around That look the same But are not suitable for the Mini, The Part Number Doc Gave Is The correct one

As John said, be careful. A Jag XJ6 4TR one looks the same (has different p/no) but the pinout is different.

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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.

oh ok thanks John

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The BLMC Mini Parts Book (PUB 1056M) for the MK II Series makes no mention of an alternator, only a generator, so it's inaccurate.

The Clubman Parts Book (PUB 1052) shows the 15AC alternator (part # 62921207) and 4TR regulator (part # 37527).

Below are selected pages from the 1972 Lucas Australia Alternator Manual. The first image is from two adjacent pages so you need to mentally line them up. The lines marked 'A' are for the Mini range and show a year of 1968 for the alternator introduction and 4TR regulator. The 'C' lines are for the Clubman range which show a 15AC initially and then the 15ACR (with inbuilt regulator) for later models.

The only mention of 8TR regulator is for the MGB MK II.

I've left the images bigger than normal so they are readable.