mk1-forum.net

Hi

I thought I’d already asked this but can’t find it….. what do you use to protect your electrics…?

Keep out of the standing water
A rubber washing glove and a piece of plastic attached to the radiator above the oil cooler. There was a post on here about a piece of metal added to the back of the grille.
Not sure what the wading depth is for a Mini on 10" wheels but they did get through some serious standing water in period.

I’ve still got a can of Damp Start…

Biggest issue is cars coming in the opposite direction creating surf .. I’ve had minis that are immune to water and others that really don’t like it!

In that case I think the shield behind the grille is good plus as I said the "glove" - but don't leave it on too long as mine melted.

Most of the distributor bodies have holes in the back of them that need to be sealed up and also the opening where the vacuum advance can is fitted. I've used small grub screws with loctite in the holes (being careful they are fitted too deep) and RTV between the can and the body. Then between the cap and the body, I use a non-setting mastic or a silicon grease.

While water does obviously come in from the front, a fair bit to a lot also finds it's way in from under, it's this that finds it's way in through the back of the body.

The other thing I found on test was the quality & fit of the boots on the HT leads to the cap and keeping the cap and boots clean.

Seems to work;-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu0qGvVs9l8

and here the water was just on 500 mm deep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGi7IxZo8Ck

If you don't like the look of the later large plastic ignition shield which covers all the plug leads, spark plugs, etc, then I have always found this small black plastic splash shield that BL fitted behind the grille below the bonnet release, from around 1978 (on round nose Minis) works quite well to shield the distributor area.
It is secured with a couple of self-tapping screws and is moulded/shaped to clear the distributor cap.
They often went missing when garage mechanics lost/failed to refit them after a service or perhaps nicked them to fit to their own Minis!



SPLASH SHIELD- IGNITION '78-'87
Part No: BHM773
https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/splash- ... tion-78-87

I’ve made provision to fit the late Mini full front engine splash guard. Depends on how you want to use the car I guess. I like driving mine and don’t like the idea of being caught out with soaked ignition.

You've most likely got a Japanese spec injection car with air-con so there is no space for the shields already mentioned.

JDM spec SPI cars use a small flat piece of plastic that is held on with two clips to the underside of the bonnet closing part of the front panel. They are tiny, maybe 150mm x 120mm tops.

As long as you have decent fitting leads and cap you'll never have an issue without shield being fitted. I've never had a mini crap out in the wet as I keep the ignition system in good order.

Have done some very wet trips, like the Westland coast from Greymouth to Franz Joseph through the temperate rain forrests twice in torrential rain, and it absolutely buckets down there. Didn't miss a beat. Saying that none of the other 50 odd minis I was travelling at the time had any issues either.

Or fit Gordon's replica of the original MK1 one.

https://shop.catmint.biz/product/distri ... d-14a9229/

When used in conjunction with one of these, you will be sorted for most scenarios.

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search

Another problem with a grille shield is that as you're driving along, deflecting the rain sodden air to the sides, immediately behind the shield a vacuum is being formed. And guess what happens next............

Yep, nature doesn't like vacuums, so the rain sodden air that is passing the sides of the shield - and up from the underside - closes in and soaks the distributor. It's better than nothing but it ain't the answer.

For me, I carry a water displacement spray and a bit of that super absorbent rag. Works a treat

If I'm being honest, when I take any of my Minis out in the rain, I put a Morrisons bag over the front of the engine. It looks totally crap, but works a treat.

You smile Mark, but it's as good as anything. We used to say that where there's a will, there's a way and very often, there's usually an easy way

Unlike Spider I prefer not to block off the holes completely - to me the dizzy needs to be able to both breathe and drain. As long as you can keep the worst of it out from under the cap and drowning out the points, then you'll generally not have an issue.

I use silicone grease around the cap to dizzy join. I used to use spray on Ignition Sealer or Damp Start but it seems impossible to get now. Decent fitting leads are worthwhile - although water can't get into the dizzy here it keeps a good sound connection between lead and cap.

Never had a problem with Mothers Pride bag an Rocket WD40 liberally splashed all over!

Another item found at the back of the garage. Has anyone seen one of these full grille length perspex water shields before or know who produced them?

The late Donald Farr's method after travelling along very wet roads to a very wet Gaydon event.

A big bit of thin black plastic, about 45x45 cm. Tie wrap it to the engine or use the proper rocker cover brackets and and wedge it down the front. As long as it doesn't contact the cap or leads, it's good. Drilling holes in it and tie wrapping it around a couple of grille slats each side works fine.

I hate WD40 over everything.

They did do a rubber cover, but they are had to find nowadays

This is the BMC Australia authorised accessory ignition shield kit.

In my country Uruguay the hot climate makes it difficult to protect from water but we use the small plastic protector from the mk3