6 replies to this topic

[bedfordbeagle]

Can anyone advise me?  I have noticed that the radiator bracket is broken by the thermostat. (See pic) It looks it has been like this for a long while.

 

 

 

The car is a '93 Cooper SPI.

 

Everything seems solid - the engine doesn't rock and the radiator is tight. Should I be worried? Should I fit a new bracket - although it looks different to anything available.

 

Any advice welcomed.

 

 

 

[Gremlin]

If it's solid theres no reason why you can't just leave it, although it will be putting twice the strain on the other side and will probably break very soon. Theres some fairly suspect things going on their^, top hose doesn't look quite the right one, and the heater pipes!

[bedfordbeagle]

You're right, the heater pipes are odd - see full pic below - I think the head is not original and has an outlet to the heater valve.  (unsure whether its a good or bad head - but the car drives well!) I assume the previous owner did not have the correct hose so improvised using the copper pipe (must have been a plumber!). The top hose does look odd but doesn't seem to be causing any problems - cooling and heating seem fine:)

 

 

[tiger99]

If you have access to any kind of welding, MIG, TIG, MMA (arc) or gas, just take the bracket off and get it welded. It may, or may not break again, but probably after some considerable mileage. It is thick metal, so an easy welding job. I did one in about 1969, and it then did another 100k miles or so without breaking again. Or, get a new or good used bracket, of course.

 

I have seen a few break like that, and I suspect that it is usually due to the rubber grommet having worn through, so the bolt is rattling in the hole. Worth renewing all the rubbers, top and bottom. However, there are various different brackets for a wide range of radiator and engine combinations, and sometimes the wrong bracket is used, and "adjusted" to fit, which may also result in eventual breakage.

 

If you do take the bracket off, please be sure to drain off some coolant first, just below the level of the thermostat, and loosen all three thermostat housing nuts or bolts, so that the housing and gasket are not assymetrically loaded. You will probably not need a new gasket afterwards, but best to have one handy, just in case.

[bedfordbeagle]

Thanks for that. Got to get some welding done before next mot so will add it to the 'list'. How could I establish wether it was the correct bracket or not??

[tiger99]

Try the Somerford Mini web site, going through the engine and cooling sections and looking at what bits you should have fitted. It will tell you which bracket you should have, and whether it is still available. You do seem to have an odd combination of bits, not neessarily anything to cause concern. Most Minis nowadays have been bodged to some extent by previous owners, especially if the correct parts are not immediately available. You may be able to see some signs of distress in the bracket, such as it having been bent in a vice to make it fit.

[bedfordbeagle]

Will do - thanks