14 replies to this topic

[olly33]

Hi all,I have a thermostat housing with a 10mm hole drilled in it, too originally accept a vacuum switch/unit,even tho i do not know what the vacuum would do attached here?

I wanted to know, is it possible to fit if available in this 10mm hole,a temp sender,as i want to wire in a separate smiths temperature gauge.

Thanks Olly.

[nicklouse]

Not the best place as I guess it will be the wrong side of the thermostat.

[Fast Ivan]

unless you use an mpi thermostat housing maybe? with the sandwich plate?

[Cerberus]

I'd imagine it's the same as on mine, it connects up the vacuum lines from the carbon canister to the carb.

 

So it only burns off the stuff in the carbon canister when the engine is warmed up, and the thermostat opens, hot water then gets to this thermostatic valve, which allows the vacuum to work and sucks the fumes from carbon canister into carb and burns it off.

[firstforward]

You mean one of these?

 

http://www.twinkam.c...&aid=SC215.001

[Spider]

Not the best place as I guess it will be the wrong side of the thermostat.

 

I agree, but if that's the only place you have, it's better than none.

 

 

The early 997 Coopers (and some other A Series Engines) were fitted with these;

 

http://minisport.com...th-temp-adaptor

Edited by Moke Spider, 22 February 2015 - 10:02 PM.

[olly33]

Hi, This is the one i have.http://www.minispare...px|Back to shop
Would it be possible?

[slidehammer]

I think the temperature sender position on the head as standard is a far better bet, giving a far more accurate indication of what is happening on the engine. If you want more engine information you are better off fitting a oil temperature gauge, as oil take a lot more time to warm to working temperature than you would expect. 

[dklawson]

All of the above arguments about the t-stat location relative to the sending unit are valid but you could still get some useful information from a sensor mounted in the t-stat housing.

 

All that said, you are very unlikely to find a 10mm Smiths sending unit that is compatible with your temperature gauge.  The standard Smiths sending unit is threaded 5/8 UNF with a tapered seat for sealing.  While you could tap your thermostat housing for larger threads, I'll bet it would be less expensive to buy a new t-stat housing than the 5/8" tap.

[nicklouse]

And then there is the length of the temp sensor bulb.

[olly33]

So, if i was to use the original temp hole in the head,would i need the correct smiths branded temp sensor, or will the stock one work ok with the smiths gauge?

Cheers all for the info so far.

[dklawson]

So, if i was to use the original temp hole in the head,would i need the correct smiths branded temp sensor, or will the stock one work ok with the smiths gauge?

Cheers all for the info so far.

 

I don't understand what you are asking.  

 

The "stock one" (temperature sending unit) should be a Smiths part unless you have the later Nippon Seiki gauges.  If that is the case, you will need whatever sender is normally used with them.  For the cylinder head, the normal size would be 5/8 UNF.  The 10mm item you said was a vacuum/temperature switch.  A switch is not the same as a temperature sending unit and could not be used with a gauge.

[olly33]

So, if i was to use the original temp hole in the head,would i need the correct smiths branded temp sensor, or will the stock one work ok with the smiths gauge?
Cheers all for the info so far.

 
I don't understand what you are asking.  
 
The "stock one" (temperature sending unit) should be a Smiths part unless you have the later Nippon Seiki gauges.  If that is the case, you will need whatever sender is normally used with them.  For the cylinder head, the normal size would be 5/8 UNF.  The 10mm item you said was a vacuum/temperature switch.  A switch is not the same as a temperature sending unit and could not be used with a gauge.

Hi,I have the nippon clocks as standard, but was going to bypass the built in nippon temp gauge, and use the smiths gauge instead, as i think it will be more accurate.
I know the vacuum switch is not a temp sender, i was just wondering if that hole could of been used for a additional temp sender!
Hope this explains it better.Cheers

[dklawson]

As I mentioned, the 10mm hole is not sized for common Smiths temperature sending units.  You may get some information on alternate senders by contacting the tech support people at Caerbont (the current owners of the Smiths name and makers of current Smiths gauges).  On the other hand, the 10mm tapped hole may be suitable for some non-Smiths aftermarket temperature gauges.  You will just have to shop around to see which ones may come with a 10mm sending unit.

 

You mentioned making this change to increase the accuracy of the temperature measurement.  For accuracy I would not suggest an electrical temperature gauge.  Consider buying a mechanical temperature gauge (with capillary tube).  Select one whose needle moves through 270 degrees of angular sweep, not the common 90 degree sweep of most 52mm Smiths gauges.  The 270 degree sweep gauge gives much higher resolution when you are trying to read the needle position.  

 

The expansion bulb of the mechanical gauge will screw right into the tapped port on the cylinder head.  However, on some head castings you need to use the spacer/adapter to keep the expansion bulb from "bottoming out" (as Nicklouse mentioned above).  The adapter is readily available from most Mini parts suppliers as are some of the mechanical gauges.  

(Gauge and adapter links below).

 

270 angular degree sweep mechanical gauge at Mini Spares

 

Alternate... traditional "dual" gauge with oil pressure and temperature.  180 degrees of needle sweep.

 

Adapter/Spacer at Mini Spares.

Edited by dklawson, 23 February 2015 - 01:03 PM.

[olly33]

Hi, Thanks i will look into it.