19 replies to this topic

[Danny Mini 30]

Hi All,
Living in Edinburgh I am constantly sitting in creeping traffic, the heater hoses coming out of the matrix just above the clutch pedal are starting to drive me nuts. My foot keeps getting stuck between them and clutch, also a chance I could damage the plastic pipes too I suppose.

Has anyone tried making new heater holes on the left hand side and putting the matrix the other way around in the heater housing and rerouting the pipes? Is there a reason they need to be on the drivers side or is this just bad design? (perhaps people had smaller feet in 1989).

My heater matrix is the rectangular one with the inlet/outlet pipes close togeather at an angle to the main body of the matrix at the bottom right.

Any advice would be great. Did a search, found plenty about pipes under the bonnet and do I need a new matrix but nothing about modifying heater & matrix pipes.

Cheers )

[1984mini25]

I’ve never had a problem with the pipes that runs from the driver’s side inner wing to the heater behind the pedals.

If it keeps coming off the heater, you can use some of the clips that are used to hold the chrome window seals on the top of the doors on the part of the heater the hose attaches to.

Edited by 1984mini25, 21 November 2006 - 09:18 PM.

[Danny Mini 30]

I’ve never had a problem with the pipes that runs from the driver’s side inner wing to the heater behind the pedals.

If it keeps coming off the heater, you can use some of the clips that are used to hold the chrome window seals on the top of the doors on the part of the heater the hose attaches to.

Cheers 84, not the big air pipe tho, it's the two water pipes attaching to the matrix...

[1984mini25]

Ah got ya, have you tried new jubilee clips the strap type ones as apposed to the wire ones fitted as standard, think the size you want are 1/2".

[Danny Mini 30]

Ah got ya, have you tried new jubilee clips the strap type ones as apposed to the wire ones fitted as standard, think the size you want are 1/2".

) defo the actual pipes in the way lol

[Big_Adam]

could nab some cooper pipe and make some tight right angle bends to get it out the way,

say 1inch long section or less, solder onto a 90 degree bend then another bit of pipe.

might help.

[Danny Mini 30]

could nab some cooper pipe and make some tight right angle bends to get it out the way,

say 1inch long section or less, solder onto a 90 degree bend then another bit of pipe.

might help.

nice idea I like it!

[Big_Adam]

what I use for tight wc loops is a 90degree bit.

Can only find them in plastic tho, can't find a good brass one. Might want to try the local plumbing place 1st. see if they have any 90degree brass barbs. If not then make on out some copper pipe.

Don't know how it would react with some of the allows on the engine. Like the pump.

[Danny Mini 30]

I'll have a look tomorrow and see how much clearance I could get using a 90o turn, I'd still need some rubber pipe from plastic matrix inlet/outlet just to connect to the turn with the pipes going upward (around feet).

Really depend how far plastic pipes from matrix plus 90 turn stick out. I think maybe switching the holes over to the left hand side on heater body and having pipes exist on left is the only option, if it is possible....

[Big_Adam]

aye....hold on.

Seen somthing with heater pipes on the other side in mini mag.

*runs to mag pile*

bugger can't really see anything. looks like the heater pipes are on the other side so it can be done.

[Danny Mini 30]

aye....hold on.

Seen somthing with heater pipes on the other side in mini mag.

*runs to mag pile*

bugger can't really see anything. looks like the heater pipes are on the other side so it can be done.

nice one! good work adam, that'll be this weekends job then! Can't wait to have them moved, it'll remove the temptation to constantly apply a little pressure to the pedal all the time to aviod them, no doubt wearing release bearing!!

Cheers man


I'll post a pic after the weekend to let you see the end result!, Think i'll need to nab my mates good quality hole cutter especially for the job!!

Edited by Danny Mini 30, 21 November 2006 - 11:26 PM.

[Big_Adam]

well I also had a peek at my Haynes as there's an exploded view of a heater.

Looks to me the most you'll need are 2 holes in the other side of the heater housing. Then either route the pipe on the heater tap side differently or make another hole for it on the other side of the car.

[minimanclive]

The heater on Minis from some point in the 1990s has the pipes on the passenger side. I've got a 1992 Mini heater in my Mini (1972) I had to fit the pipes to go with it as they're 5/8" diameter instead of 1/2". I ran the pipes up through the holes that the brake and clutch would use if it were left hand drive.

[Clubby1275GT]

does anyone no what the big pipe from the drivers side wing to the heater actually does??
mine has never been there and i covered the hole with some cling film and an elastic band as my feet were freezing!! if i fix the pipe from the wing to heater what will it acheive?

[Big_Adam]

the pipe is a fresh air inlet for the heater.