20 replies to this topic

[crock]

Using a Minispares inlet manifold for the HIF 44 carb on a 1380cc engine. The manifold has the tubes for water heating.The car is currently set up with the heater valve located on the head, but that could be changed if necessary.

 

1. My understanding is that most people in England do not utilize water heating for the manifold. Is this accurate?

2. If water heating is considered necessary my understanding is that the manifold is plumbed in parallel with the heater core, is that correct?

3. Is there some sort of restrictor that is supposed to be used when plumbed in parallel? 

[KTS]

the 'normal' setup would be with the manifold and heater matrix in series (from cylinder head outlet through manifold and on to heater)

 

if you don't want/need manifold heating (..i'm guessing not in CA..) then just don't plumb the manifold in to the heater circuit

 

if bypassing the heater matrix (i,e, cylinder head outlet direct to w/pump inlet), then yes, some form of restrictor would be needed to balance flow against the thermostat & radiator

[nicklouse]

Never used it, not needed or desirable.

[Spider]

I'm in Australia and use it, we have a similar climate to California or perhaps a bit hotter.

It will reduce power slightly but I doubt you'd even notice it. It does make it idle much smoother and improve low end power as well as aiding with fuel economy.

[Ethel]

Where ever you are, sucking air through a venturi & vaporising fuel is going to do a fair bit that Boyle's Law malarkey.

 

It's a more sophisticated alternative to  heating with the exhaust manifold. I'd be happy to do it just because it looks neater. There can't be any downside if you can turn it off along with the heater.

[Rubbershorts]

I've spent hours stood staring at my engine bay trying to make sense of this. No matter how I tried to route it, it looked a tangled dogs dinner. I have both pipes coming from the bulkhead, so slightly different. If you come up with a tidy solution I'd be very interested in a picture of the results.

[nicklouse]

I've spent hours stood staring at my engine bay trying to make sense of this. No matter how I tried to route it, it looked a tangled dogs dinner. I have both pipes coming from the bulkhead, so slightly different. If you come up with a tidy solution I'd be very interested in a picture of the results.

The original from the metro had metal pipes running across the back of the head as well.

[Spider]

I've spent hours stood staring at my engine bay trying to make sense of this. No matter how I tried to route it, it looked a tangled dogs dinner. I have both pipes coming from the bulkhead, so slightly different. If you come up with a tidy solution I'd be very interested in a picture of the results.

 

I don't know if the later UK Minis lend themselves to it, but (I think ?) the early UK cars and all Australian produced cars, the heater hoses went through the bulkhead where the master cylinders would be fitted for the opposite hand drive (ie, for RHD cars, the hoses were routed through the LH end of the bulkhead, where the master cylinders would be fitted if it were LHD). Particularly when using the heated manifold and the lower hose with the heater take off, it does make for a neat-ish install.

[mab01uk]

This is how Rover connected it on the early 1990-91 Coopers with carbs.

 

Somerford sell all the hoses, hover over the hoses 81, 82, 83 and 62 in interactive diagram in the link below for details, part numbers and prices or you can buy them all as a kit (No.58 in diagram) :-

https://www.somerfor...d-hoses-1959-92

 

 

Edited by mab01uk, 08 May 2025 - 09:31 PM.

[crock]

What do they say part # 83 is in the diagram? Is that the restrictor?

[timmy850]

What do they say part # 83 is in the diagram? Is that the restrictor?

It’s just a 5/8” hose connector
https://www.somerfor...58-int-diameter

[Rubbershorts]

Sorry for semi- hijacking Crocks post but maybe some of this info will be off use to them. The picture is my engine bay, with the pipes exiting the bulkhead on the same side. The crude scribbling was my attempt to plot a route for the piping. When I actually came round to trying it, I just couldn't get it all to fit in a satisfactory way. Detailed pictures of similar successful set ups would have been helpful but I couldn't find any. Daz.

Attached Files

•  instasize_250509064458.jpg   41.17K   2 downloads

[mab01uk]

For info: the later 1990's Mini heater hoses (5/8" dia) passed through two large rubber grommets in the bulkhead on the RH side (see photo below) rather than using the unused master cylinder holes (1/2" hoses) as in earlier Minis. (The heater hoses can slightly get in the way when retro-fitting the early oval centre speedo dash to a later Mini).

 

Edited by mab01uk, 09 May 2025 - 08:30 AM.

[PeterG]

I converted my 92 SPI to HIF44 with MG Metro inlet manifold, and an MPI head. All hoses 5/8". I connected the manifold from the old heater port that I drilled out on the MPI head, connected up per the Somerford diagram above.

 

I found that with this arrangement the heater stopped working more than mildly warm. The manifold circuit was running in parallel with the heater circuit but with no resistance  and robbed flow from the heater. I inserted  an aftermarket 5/8" heater  control valve in the manifold line set to approximately 75% closed, 25% open. The heater now worked very well. The return flow from the manifold was the same as the inlet showing that not much heatsinking was taking place but still heating the manifold.

 

If the heater is connected in series with the inlet manifold there will only be flow when the heater is on. Heater off = no flow to the manifold.

[crock]

Did the 1960's and 1970's single carbureted Mini's come with water heated manifolds?