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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Trying to find the humor in thermostats

Not long ago I rebuilt a broken rear spring, and got my midget on the road for the first time since early summer. And while it was great to be out and about again, I was reminded that the car was still overheating after even a brief run at cruising speed. This had developed over the last year or two, and with our fall car show coming up, this seemed like a good time to tackle it.

So first I ran some cooling system flush solution through, checked the water pump (it looked like new inside), and while I was messing around I pulled the radiator to flush it separately and see if I could see any blockage. You can't see many of the tubes through the lower left hose fitting (1500 crossflow), but I noted that several of them had bits of grit in them that the flushes had missed.

So I decided to spring for a new radiator, and ordered one from Victoria British. (Moss showed them as N/A.) The new rad got here this afternoon, looks great, and fit perfectly. So this evening I went about putting everything back together, and in the interest of being thorough, took the thermostat in the house to test it using the pan of water method.

It's a 180° stat, and lo and behold, the water temp got up to around 210° before it decided to open. How we laughed. I've got a sneaking suspicion I just rebuilt my cooling system because the thermostat was faulty.

So anyway, I ran out and got a new stat and everything's back together and done except for refilling the system and testing it. A new rad sure can't hurt anything, but I sure wish I'd checked the thermostat first...

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Sometimes Gryf, it's the small stuff sent to drive us crazy that is the worst.

However, look at it this way, sooner or later you would have had to do that job on your car's cooling system so now you won't need to next year!
Clive Reddin

Right, Clive, I'm being philosophical about it and enjoying a bit of chuckle. I'd been suspicious about my cooling system for a long time, and now it's been inspected and thoroughly flushed along with the heater core, there's the new thermostat, and a squeaky clean new rad. Things are good.

Now if it STILL overheats, I may not be so sanguine. And naturally I haven't mentioned to the Mrs. that maybe that $200 radiator might not have been necessary. (Just kidding there. The old rad was partly original, having been recored over ten years ago, so changing it out still made good sense. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway.)

:-)

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

You cant go wrong with a new rad, it would uave eventully needed pulling, and look at it this way...you got a spare just incase you hit that city deer

Im sure your using new hoses and clamps also.... Remember to re-tighten them after 200 miles as they like to leak, esp the new


And remember to leave the rad cap off for 1/2 hour with it idleing after you add the coolent so all the trapped air pockets can work themselfes out

Did you test the new stat 1st before installing .....its worth it....might want to look into getting a bottle of water wetter

Congrats on the new rad.... I hope we both get to make it there this year

Btw.... Did you see we are no longer all piled into the same group, cb , rb and bugeyes each have there class now... That will be cool

Prop
Prop

Gryf

I think we have all done something like that one time or another. As Prop says, no harm done except to your bank account.

Chris
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

I bought a new 1400 Oselli engine because the dizzy cap had cracked once (a long time ago now).
Dave
Dave Brown

I bought a new house because the bottom fell out of the cutlery drawer, but doesn't one thing always lead to another...........
Matt1275Bucks

I am sorry but i still keep thinking how I would justify a big expense when I have not checked the cheap things first......

Must have someting to do with being a cheap dutch man.

Though there is no bigger joy than opening a bonnet and seeing shiny new parts
Onno Könemann

"Though there is no bigger joy than opening a bonnet and seeing shiny new parts"


Yes there is....

Fold the roof, start the engine and take of with no particular destination!!
Alex G Matla

Just to wrap this up, I had the car out for a good run yesterday morning; the temp needle rose to mid-range and appeared welded there for the duration. Success!

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

This thread was discussed between 08/09/2011 and 11/09/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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