mk1-forum.net

Hi all,

I have dug out my heater for restoration over the weekend, to send the front plate and ears to mk1 for refinishing.
However, the ears don't quite look right.
I know that other BMC cars had similar looking ears, but mine appear to be an intentional dent/form on both sides. Any thoughts as to whether these are the correct heater ears, or do I need to source some replacements. If so, any idea what these may actually have been fitted to..

As always, any help appreciated.

Cheers

These are Mini.

nick rogers wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:55 am These are Mini.

Thanks Nick, that makes me feel better.
I know they aren't morris minor ears, as they are quite different, but I was surprised by the change in shape.
Most mini ears are smooth in this area, was this a change in tooling at some point, or have they been 'damaged' or 'adjusted' by an individual before my ownership?


Cheers,
Rich

It is funny how these are right in front of us, yet the moment you inspect the up close they look like a total bodge

Yep, the angle of the fresh air spout does not sit very well with the ears as the hose is pretty much squashed up against the ear.

Interesting to see the wire hose clip Andy, what year is that car ?

This car is Sept 64 and a very early hydro. I am using it as my reference car as it was parked up in the early 80s having done 33k, with all service records intact, so very little changed.

The heater is dropped but the pipes are original to the best of my knowledge, as are the clips etc.

Slightly off topic, but...
Should the RH ear have a special form? Mine had the sharp trim edge dig into fresh are duct, so I had to bend it out the way.
Should also be clear that both the ducting and the ears I have are repros.

Cheers, Paul.

AndyPen wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 12:59 pm This car is Sept 64 and a very early hydro. I am using it as my reference car as it was parked up in the early 80s having done 33k, with all service records intact, so very little changed. and should

The heater is dropped but the pipes are original to the best of my knowledge, as are the clips etc.

I have found this aluminium clip on several 997 Coopers and one is still attached to the heater hoses on my Cooper. Two differnt parts books I have show the clip as 2K6640 and described as Clip-Hose w/screen washer tube. I believe the description is incorrect and should refer to the heater hoses or at least the demister tube. No w/screen washer tubes are shown in the parts diagram just the heater parts.
The parts diagram shows the clip drawn next to the demister tube. I have only ever seen these clips on a few Australian assembled Coopers and they are used to join the 2 heater hoses together but some may include the demister tube as well if the clip is long enouigh.
These clips are stll available from one of the UK auto electrical supliers see: https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... ategory/65

Yes I bought some of those to compare and they are very close indeed. One of my clips off my S is is actually two, as one element is folded over to effectively extend it. I think it came off the drivers side so I'll need to check now.

Many of these ears get bent from what I've seen, and the repro ones need a bit of the lip where it screws on trimmed back or it protrudes into the air vent aperture - have discussed this with Fred.

According to the main man at Smiths Industries based at nearby Witney, he said that when Smiths Industries made the heaters as suppliers to BMC for a whole range of cars, most of the 'punch-and-bang' pressed parts were punched out by a few local firms including one along Radley Road industrial estate* and another big one called PSMW (pressed sheet metal work as opposed to Pressed Steel) in Swindon. So I suppose a lot of the components Smiths churned out had different manufacturers slight tooling variations
*run by a bloke called Don(?) Fathers who did a LOT of punch-and-bang one-offs for the Works/Comps and MG according to Terry Mitchell from MG - who luckily for me was a great mate of the main man from Smiths Industries!