25 replies to this topic

[Darthteddy]

**update** Car is actually a Morris Mini Deluxe, not an 850 as I posted originally**

 

 

Hello,

 

Ive tried searching, but the search function on this forum is very lacking. I just purchased my first Mini yesterday. Its a 1967 Morris mini deluxe from Australia. On to the issue. 

 

Got the car running today. New spark plugs and fuel treatment with a tank of gas and it started up. Not running very good, but enough to take it around the block. Or so I thought. I got about a mile down the road, and the temp started to climb. Pulled over just in time for the radiator to start dumping coolant all over. Granted, its 90*f outside, but something isn't right. 

 

My radiator seems to be in good shape on the outside. Im debating if its worth cleaning out, or just replacing. I pulled what I thought was the thermostat housing, only to find no thermostat underneath. Is this standard on 850s? Also, the hose going from the thermostat housing has some kind of restrictor in it. 

 

My questions are

 

Should the upper radiator hose have the restrictor in it?

 

Is the 850 engine supposed to have a thermostat?

 

What is a most cost effective radiator to replace the stock one?

 

My car is not equipped with a heater, is this factory as well?

 

Forgive me for my novice questions, trying to find exact answers regarding the morris have been proving to be quite tricky. 

 

Thanks

Edited by Darthteddy, 14 August 2015 - 09:47 PM.

[Darthteddy]

Upon further review it seems I actually have a Morris Mini Deluxe, not an 850. Not sure if that changes things and which parts to order. 

[62S]

Should the upper radiator hose have the restrictor in it?

No, if you mean the top hose - from radiator to thermostat housing.

Is the 850 engine supposed to have a thermostat?

Yes, or a blanking sleeve. No thermostat or sleeve means the water doesn't circulate properly.

My car is not equipped with a heater, is this factory as well?

Not necessarily, it depends what market the car was built for.

There could be a number of reasons for the overheating. Flushing the system would be a start if the car has been standing a while, also check the timing and fuel mixture.

[timmy850]

There is an Australian mini forum if you want to find out more about your car:

http://www.ausmini.c...orums/index.php

[Spider]

There shouldn't be a restrictor in the Thermostat or top hose, maybe post up a photo so we can see.

 

I'd suggest flushing the radiator and block as a mater of course, but before spending too much time chancing what may not be a problem, best work out if there is an engine problem causing over heating or if in fact the cooling system is choked up. If there's an engine fault, it won't matter what you do with the cooling system, it will always overheat.

 

The 67 Aust made Mini Deluxe was never fitted with a factor heater, however, there was a dealer option for a fresh air heater (they used the same one in the Mini-matics). These fitted up in the engine bay, above the clutch housing and had a 'flap' to turn 'on' or 'off' the air flow through them. The coolant constantly flowed through. They have no fan and rely on the car moving forward to 'blow' coff coff warm air in to the cabin. I wouldn't bother with one of these unless you're looking for originality. The later heaters were considerably better, there were a few different types, they fitted inside the cabin and had a fan in them.

 

My first introduction the the Mini World was through a Mini Deluxe my dad had (I am in Aust).

 

So, before you start lashing out funds for bits you may not need, find the cause.

 

 

 

There is an Australian mini forum if you want to find out more about your car:

http://www.ausmini.c...orums/index.php

 

Plenty of good and unobusive help on this forum!

[Darthteddy]

Thanks for all the quick help. Here is a picture of the restrictor in the upper hose.



Seemed a little strange to be in there, especially with no thermostat.

Here is where im more concerned about. This is under the thermostat housing. Is this really how the engine mount is supposed to look. It seems extremely restrictive.

[johnR]

Has the thermostat rusted away leaving part under the housing and the rest has gone up the hose and stuck there? Just a thought.
JohnR

[Blatherskite]

 
My car is not equipped with a heater, is this factory as well

My 1968 Deluxe Traveller wasn't supplied with a cabin heater as standard. Way back in the day, people were tougher...

[Darthteddy]

It looks like someone made an extra heavy duty engine steady bar And in the process removed the tstat. I think I will try removing the bracket and putting in what I believe to be the oem configuration.

[Spider]

Many thanks for the photo!  A picture does tell a thousand words and this one doesn't fail.

 

OK, looks to me like someone has pour LOTs of something like STOP LEAK in to the cooling system and that's your likely suspect here, and in any case, will have to be cleaned out. I'd suggest having the radiator professionally done and for that matter, the block too if you can get the car to a cooling specialist. I doubt even CLR would help there.

 

There is presently no thermostat fitted, that's just GUNK!

 

It also appears from the little I can see that it is not the original engine and may in fact be from a later car, these had complete power units imported from the UK. A bit of a give away is the head stud / nut and the appearance of the small bit of the block I can see, though this is far from conclusive. If it is the original engine, it's had a bit of work done, the head has been off at some point, the water pump is not original (but I wouldn't expect to find an original on there after all this time!), the fan has been changed out for a later one. The head I suspect is the original Deluxe one, but again, I'm not 100% certain of that.

 

Hard to tell for sure, but the radiator does appear to be the original, these were the same as the Cooper S ones and were a very good high quality radiator, you won't get anything like the quality of that today. I'd be inclined to say if it's serviceable, hang on to it. I see that the top radiator steady has one of it's ears broken off too.

 

The engine steady is not standard on this model and I suspect (again) that while originally it would have had a 3 Synchro, remote change style gearbox, it now has a Rod Shift box, consistent with the later import (to Aust) UK Power Units.

[Stiggytoo]

Is it just me or is that fan belt fitted the wrong way round? (with the 'teeth' facing outwards)

[Spider]

Is it just me or is that fan belt fitted the wrong way round? (with the 'teeth' facing outwards)

 

Nah, that's just how the Dayco Brand Fan belts are these days.

[Darthteddy]

I didnt realize I hadnt uploaded the pictures to this thread. I am still trying to figure out exactly whats fitted to my car, so any information you can give me will be fantastic. 

 

I already ordered a new thermostat housing, thermostat, upper Radiator bracket upper and lower hoses, water pump. bypass hose, and radiator cap just in case. Figured it wouldnt hurt. My plan it to have the radiator flushed, then modify the old hoses to be able to flush the block as best I can without taking it out, then replace the hoses. Im going to remove the engine brace so that I can put a thermostat back into it. Then later on I will order a regular style one if need be. Here are some more pictures. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Spider]

Basically a nice car!  Little bit of a bitsa in there, nothing to be alarmed about though. I am fairly sure now I see that that the engine is of UK origins, it has an alternator (which isn't a bad thing at all) and a Speedo Binnacle from a Mini K I suspect. The suspension has been converted over to Dry, the Hydro is nice, but given where you are I don't know if you've any service agents nearby if you ever needed to have it pumped up (or the like), so I'd say being on Dry is a good thing, and it's really a good suspension system in itself. I can see from the Body Plate that it was indeed originally a Mini Deluxe (as you've said). It appears to have the original (to the Deluxe) HS2 Carb, though the UK engine would have had a HS4. When you get the cooling issues sorted, it might be a good idea to just check what needle is in the carb.

 

Be interested to see a photo, underneath and from the back of the engine, so we can see what sort of gearbox you have. For now, I'd suggest leaving that additional engine steady in place until we see your gearbox. The original Remote Shift Gear box, used the Remote as an engine steady, if it's been swapped over to the later Rod Shift, you'll need that added engine steady.

 

In regards to having the cooling jacket of the block and head cleaned, a cooling specialist should be able to do this for you, with the engine in car, it may not end up 100% but will be a shed load better than it is now.

 

Just as a general heads up when looking for some bits and this is a general guide, not specific, but when looking in the UK, most of what is listed in the UK as MKI stuff will be OK for your Mini, however some things, like Tail lamp Lenses (if original), anything other than hinges to do with the doors, floor pans (hopefully you won't need these!) and a few other bits and pieces are Aust unique.

 

I can see a label of some sort on the Bonnet Closing Panel, just in front of the Alternator, could I trouble you for a photo of that?

[Darthteddy]

 

Heres the front plate. How can I be sure if the engines been swapped? I looked for a vin on it but didnt see one. Ill get pictures from underneath in a few.