16 replies to this topic

[sherly]

Righty - I've got to the stage of fitting out my engine bay with all the cooling hoses and radiator and I'm after some information to help me proceed.

I've bought a Mk1 metro rad (with the inlet and outlet on the same end) and I plan to have a metro header tank and associated hoses, all cut down to suit.

After playing with all the above at the weekend it's clear that everything will fit but I'd like to see how other people have done this before I go chopping things about.

So - anyone got any advice or more importantly PHOTOS of previous installations! I've trawled for a while using the search but not found what I'm after.

Also I have one issue with fitting it all - the top hose looks like it's going to be a really awkward shape - see image below. I realise the rad needs to sit further forward under the slam panel but it still looks like the top hose will be an awkward shape. Any ideas on what hose is best to use here (custom hose/chopped down metro hose)? I really want to see what people have used in the past to get round this problem...........



Cheers,
Mart

[mini_mission]

this is mine, however i have used a mk2 metrot rad- think it was made between '82 and 89

hope its of some help

have you tried using the thermostat housing of a side mounted rad mini? might lessen the angle a bit?

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[jayare]

I also used the Mk2 rad as it was thinner. The thermostat housing is a MPi one, the top hose off the rad is a 1275 SPi one and the curved hose is off some obscure classic - I have the part number scrawled on my parent's garage wall! My bottom hose is done almost exactly the same as yours, but I have a take-off welded into the metal part of it to go up to the bottom outlet of the header tank. Here's a pic:


JR

[sherly]

A couple of cracking engine bay pics cheers guys. Mine will look that clean when complete (the bits in the photographs are "scrapyard fresh" )

It does lead me to one question though - has anyone actually used a Mk1 Metro rad or have I just gone and bought the wrong type to fit to a mini?

@ mini_mission - I have thought of using a different thermostat housing as the metro one does seem to be cranked over more than a std mini one. Problem I have is that I need a take off for the expansion bottle. I guess this is something I could have tig-welded on and machined up though......

@ jayare - The thermostat housing on your car looks promising - especially if turned through 120deg as it would put the outlet stub further across (towards the passenger side of the car) and pointing at the front of the car (and it has the expansion tank stub too)

Anyone else got any ideas?

[Ethel]

Mini & Metro hoses are different bores

1.3 Maestro/ Montego might suit you also

I have a spare, brand new, MPI injection stat housing.


don't bother with tig

http://www.theminifo...hl=clever ethel

[sherly]

@ Ethel - that durafix stuff looks great! Have to get some and have a play......

Any chance you (or anyone for that matter) could bung me a couple of quick measurements from the MPI housing - see image below - and if it looks like it'll fit d'ya fancy selling it?

[Turbo Nick]

we used the metro rad with the outlets at the same side in my mates car, can;t get a pic at the minute as we've stripped it all down for a rebuild though.

all we did was drill the holes on the stat housing out slightly and turned the housing round so that the outlet pointed straight at the passenger wing then used 2 90 degree samco bends with a joiner inbetween as a top hose. Our rads are mounted low down onto the subframe though as we have intercoolers under the slam but it shouldn't make any difference.

[mini_mission]

@ mini_mission - I have thought of using a different thermostat housing as the metro one does seem to be cranked over more than a std mini one. Problem I have is that I need a take off for the expansion bottle. I guess this is something I could have tig-welded on and machined up though......

personally i would use the rad i got- it save a lot a hassle and besides they are not expensive- i picked mine up (for new) for 30 quid on the 'bay. use an mpi thermo housing and bobs ur uncle

[jayare]

Don't think you can turn the thermostat housing as the stud holes aren't at exactly 120 degrees to each other. I'm with mini_mission on using the later rad - I got a new one (my spare) from an autojumble for a tenner! One thing to bear in mind with the MPi housing is that on the MPi it is held on with bolts which have a 7/16" head as opposed to the 1/2" headed bolts normally used. You can't use the MPi bolts as they are too long - they have a sandwich plate under the thermostat housing - so I cut a slot in one bolt head & used a screwdriver to tighten it - you can just make it out in the photo! Make sure to lubricate with copper grease if you ever want to be able to get it out again!

JR

[sherly]

Right - looks like I have a couple of options then. I've sourced an MPI 'stat housing (cheers Ethel!) and I reckon that I can fit it in the standard orientation and then connect two samco u-bends to create an s-shaped bend. The misalignment will be taken out once I've trimmed the front panels to allow the rad to sit further forward. Hopefully I'll be able to use socket cap head bolts to get around the problem of the change from 1/2" to 7/16" fixings too.



I'm also going to the scrappy on Sat to get a Mk2 metro rad as well just in case the above doesn't pan out.

[Ethel]

I think you'll go for modding the elbow so you can turn it when you have a chance to match it up to your car. If you're joining hoses a trip to your local plumbers merchants will get you some 28mm copper pipe joints, shame I didn't think earlier, I've plenty of 28mm pipe kicking about.

[Turbo Nick]

Don't think you can turn the thermostat housing as the stud holes aren't at exactly 120 degrees to each other.

just managed to find a pic of it from when we were mid install so the rest of it looks like a state...

[sherly]

cheers bud666 - looks like I have another option open to me.

@ Ethel - Looking at the MPI 'stat drilled out and rotated thru 120deg (is it possible?) it puts it in a great position for using the standard metro hose cut down slightly or a combination of samco 90deg bend and straight hose.......



Oh the joys of not being able to get to my car until the weekends and having to try and second-guess everything.......

[sherly]

Just to add some closure to this question (for those searching who may come up against the same issues in the future).

Metro radiator has been mounted with custom brackets holding the rubber top-hat bushes - the top hose issue was solved by using an MPI thermostat housing (cheers ethel ) rotated thru 120deg (with the holes drilled out slightly larger). This puts the stub in the right position to use a standard metro top rad hose (slightly trimmed down). The only slightly bodgy bit of this is that the metro hose is a larger dia than the stub pipe but this difference doesn't seem to cause any issues when the hose clamp is tightened up.



The MPI 'stat housing needed some socket cap head screws to hold it down because it's impossible to fit a standard 1/2" AF nut onto a stud in one of the positions due to the shape of the 'stat casting (MPI bolts are 7/16"AF and longer to accomodate the spacer plate so are no good.)



Rad sits a little close to the dizzy (about 15-20mm clearance) but the bodywork could be cut more to allow the rad to sit further forward if need be. I havent bothered as I will be upgrading to megajolt after the car is MOTd.

Mart

Edited by sherly, 30 November 2007 - 01:31 PM.

[Willy_sa]

Hey

Bringing up an old topic but I am doing the same at the moment, just with a Mk1 golf radiator. Just want to check, you say the metro hose is bigger? Is it 30mm diameter hoses?

Did you do the megajolt conversion cause I also don't have allot of space for a fan?

Thanks