Plumbing in heater and drilling head?
Turbo Mini Forums

Basically, how do i plumb my heater into the turbo engine?

I know that you are meant to drill the head to get the heater tap screwed in. Is it easy to drill out? But can you not just use the way that the metro had its heater? Did it not take it off the thermostat spacer? Or is that something else? This would be easier if it would work but would it affect cooling at all?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

drilling the head reffers to drilling the clutch end of the head at the front where older minis obtained the heater inlet, later minis, Mk6 i think, had heaters as per metros from the thermostat mounting area.

When i plumed mine, and other cars, heaters in i used the thermostat spacer as you describe which works well as long as the water level is topped up (very susceptable(sp) to low water levels). Extra plumbing maybe required if the car was the older type originally.

If you need to drill the head to obtain an inlet for the older style heater tap then open up the hole in the head. This can be done with a hand drill as it doesnt have to be that accurate. The mounting holes will also have to be chased out, i think they are ready tapped, but arnt used in the metro and get into a right state. I belive you'll need a 1/4unf tap to clean them out, but check first.

Edited by andeh on 21st Apr, 2007.

I've seen the future and tbh its Pie

Thanks very much. Think im just gonna use the spacer type. My mini was the 998 style which had the inline tap on the pipe for the heater but it came off the flywheel end of the engine. I take it this will work if i just plumb it in to the spacer instead of drilling the head.

Edited by hammoj28turbo on 21st Apr, 2007.

It will yes.

I'd take some water out of the number 4 end as it gets a bit hot otherwise. Even if you just return it to the collant system somewhere else it's better than nothing. For that reason plumbing the heater into the #4 end is good if your going to use it....

just a thought

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

Yep, i'd pumb it into no 4 end too, probably easier too.

the two holes are all ready tapped for the heater take off, ou just need to bung a drill through the head (13mm I think) and fish out any swarf with a magnet/vacum cleaner. A decent cordless drill will do it

Edited by Joe C on 21st Apr, 2007.

Fair enough. I have heard that its better to do it because of #4 getting hot. Will prob end up doing that to be safe.