Gday all - I am toying with the idea of removing the shitty plastic fan from Henry and installing a Davies Craig thermo fan in the "puller" position on the wheel side of the radiator. Is this a viable mod or am I just pulling the pud this end?

I have seen them on minis before and coupled with the thermo switch, worked well in them. However am I just a paranoid git and therefore just pull my head in and crawl back under my fave rock...

Ta in advance - see you all at the Canberra S & S(hmmmm - up for beers Kev? - hang over optional!!)

Hooroo

Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

You are in Canberra - you don't need a fan

This mint little rocketship (photo courtesy PTR1275 on BMC Day) has heaps of engine room now, no annoying messy shroud, and a very neat thermo fan under the fender

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Lol - last summer we hit 42 degs C and the old mini got a wee bit bothered. Winter is the complete opposite and has to install some perspex in the grille to stop air coming in.

I am also wondering, would I put a 10 inch or a 12 inch in there(I am currently running a AYG 2000 Morris 1100 radiator...) so I am thinking a 12 inch and reverse the blades.

Any advice welcomed - I am also about to get the thermo controller this afternoon...

Hooroo

Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

I'd go with the larger one - should be plenty of room under there?
Can't remember what size that car ran.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

That picture shows exactly how my car is setup.

Mine is a stock 998 with 1.75" SU and extractors. I leave the fan switched off - I literally don't need it where I live (Dubbo - not enough traffic) although I do plug it in when I go to Sydney.

Highest temp I've seen is 200F and it sits on 180 (where my thermostat opens) on the highway. Brilliant mod, it opens the engine bay up and is so much easier to work on....

Thanks all - Fat, you may call me silly but I think the roads from Canberra to Dubbo via Wellington are among the best you can drive in a mini. I think another expedition up that way with the ACT MCC is a go and when we do, would be great to hook up. The club did it a couple of years ago and had a fat time(pardon the pun!!)

Thanks again - I am looking at the 10 inch thermo vice the 12 as the 12 inch is just a little too tight IMHO. The 10 inch fits just right and I will get the thermo switch later on.

Again thanks again - this will allow me to do the timing chain a helluva lot easier.

Hooroo

Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

I grabbed a thermo from the wreckers, it was off a Ford Telstar I think, cost me $5 and was the perfect size. The shroud was a squeeze fit between the sides of the radiator - hard to explain, but there are no screws required!!!

CPOCSM, I'll have to get off my butt and join one of these clubs, tho I'm unlicensed until February My points tally finally caught up with me...

Forgot to add, with the thermo on in traffic, the temp sits on 140F - it keeps the motor too cold!!!! I'll organise a fan thermostat one of these days...

Sad to hear about your license Fat - all will be gooders in Feb06 when you get it back again. I will canvass the Mini Club here and see if there is some interest in a dubbo run for the week-end. The last one was over a long week-end so may have to do the same. The club had to stay at Wellington though as the accommodation was booked out in Dubbo(Zoo dedication...) . However I will push it with the club members - it is a 4-5 hour drive up there but all accounts from people who attended was a great week-end. Might be a wee bit out of the local area for the ACT MCC however I am sure the NSW MCC will be glad to have you...there are a few mini persons in your area so you could start a Central plains chapter...possibilities are endless...

Well - take care - going to part with $200 dollars for the thermo and switch...will let you all know how I go...

Hooroo

Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

What fans are you boys talking about (ie from which cars)? I'm trying to figure out the best setup right now and Idealy would like it all to fit between the rad and the bars.

I would put it outside the bars and make a duct to cover it.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

As stated above, I got mine from a wrecker - just took my radiator along and found the best match. I have cut the bars in the shroud on the body, but left the box section alone, made some brackets and bolted the rad to that. It looks just like the pic above.

nice..I Like

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

So is the radiator still mounted on the lower engine mount bracket? Or 'floating'...

No it is now bolted to the bodywork - mine actually hangs from two brackets one u shaped on the inner guard near the headlight, the other to the triangulation on the buklhead. It uses the standard mini locations on the rad itself.

What about rubbing? If you look how the rad is constructed, top and bottom tanks are soldered to the core. Then two mounting strips are soldered down the sides. These are much wider than the cor and tanks themselves, and I have designed my brackest so the sides of the rad mounting brackets are hard up against the opening in the inner guard. There is no chance of it rubbing through to the core or end tanks.

What about vibration? In my experience these oldstyle brass rads can cop a fair amount of abuse. Certainly I don't think it is subject to anymore vibration than in the factory position!!!