Read my posts? They know what we want, a 1½" inlet to 1¼" outlet, and they have even given it a part number - WN0073.

Good find, but that one is £69 so I don't see where much will be shaved off from that.

Wouldn't be impossible to get some machined up, but I'd think you need to get a drawing made and get it fab'd in the far east for any real savings.

Anyone know any Thai machine shops? :D

I just thought he was a lot closer to home for most people and may do us a better discount? I spent ages looking for remote thermostats however most things were coming up as the PRT for mgf's etc

If you can buy the thermostat on it's own, then it shouldn't be to difficult to turn a housing for it on a centre lathe, the housing would need a recess for the thermo and maybe some sort of grubscrew to pin it in place, plus the aforementioned bypass hole.. :). But it's very do-able.. :D
...

In line stat
 

I don't understand the talk of a housing without a by-pass pipe. THERE IS
NO BY-PASS IN THE HOUSING WHICH I USED. The only by pass hole is in the Chevvy stat, it is extremely small but it is there. No further by pass has proved necessary. I also stated several times that there was no part number for the housing with different sized pipe fittings, you just had to mention it in your order. Mintee has now posted that there is now a part number for this configuration. WN0073

That is correct, I emailed Don with
He replied
For those that are bothering to read my posts don't forget to pay attention to the exchange rate as currently (or for my purchase) Paypal gave me Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 1.55276 USD (the bank rate on XE was close to $1.59 to a £ when I ordered) Clearly if anyone want to resell these it will be worth getting some if the exchange rate rises - at $1.70/$1.80 this would be a pretty reasonable buy but could get very expensive if it falls.

I'd like to thank wuzerk for finding this and doing all the hard work. It looks a great solution for me as I'd rather pay a bit more for the thermostat and housing that is easy to fit than struggle with the hassle of jacking up the engine and fitting the Rover unit and am glad I'll get it done before winter sets in! :D

In-line
 

Thanks Mintee, there has been so much discussion about the low running temperature of the Diesels and the ridiculously involved procedure needed to change the original thermostat that i thought I would give it a go as, if it didn't work out, it only required a new top hose to revert to the original
system. It has been successful on both counts so, unless the original stat sticks in the closed position the problems have been solved.

Hi all,

I found this housing from a BMW that might be able to be modified to fit.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-318-75-82-...item1c136a0877

I dont know the inlet and outlet sizes so might have to take a trip to the scap yard to find one.

Those are only 80deg C
But Thanks for looking:o

Hi there are other housingings on fleabay from different makes that could be made to fit.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-TD5...item1e5323b7c8

I was looking at the K-series one myself but wasn't sure about the bypass. I guess this could be just blanked off?

Rich

There may exist an inline stat that we could bolt two "same side" halves together to make one that would work? :cool:

**I notice you cut the main heater hose to insert the in line stat, so why do you call for two diff sizes on the unit you intend to insert? Does the original hose reduce in diameter?
...

£40-45 should do it.
I think the OP photos in the first post pretty much ARE the Howto!!
All I would add to it, is syphon the header tank contents out before you start (lower it first into the space below by removing qty 1x 8mm bolt)

When you're done put the OAT coolant back in.
That way hardly a drop will be spilt.





I'll order a few in James but not many as they are not offering ANY discount for a bulk order !

Hose
 

James, yes I pointed out that the diesel top hose tapers downwards in diameter from the engine block to the 90 degree bend. When I did the mod
I had to file the raised lip from the 1 1/2" hose fitting at the radiator end in order to get the pipe on. Hence my recommendation of the 1 1/4" outlet.

Cheers Jules, to save you having to lay out the purchase price in advance I will happily pay up front? Paypal? Cheque? P/Order.. ??

Cheers Wuzerk, you have come up with an excellent modification. My congratulations. Well done sir!! :bowdown:
...

Pics
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/K-Tun...Q5fCarQ5fParts
This is another supplier of what looks like the identical housing, useful because the pics show the parts but it is more expensive from these people.

Hello Thomas - sorry for late reply, yes its something we could do for
you. What I will do is make a one off price and then a price for 10
off for a group buy.

I'l llet you know ASAP the costings

Regards

John


Sounds reasonable so will be interesting to see what the prices are! I shall keep everyone posted:}

count me in if you can wangle a sensible reduction my wife will start complaining of cold toes in the ZT before long!!

Im hoping my wife does complain of cold toes so that I dont hear "more money spent on the car when it dosent need it!"

Thought I'd check my temperature using the dash display trick today before getting the in-line stat fitted. (Still waiting for delivery mind you)

I know it is running cool, has been since I got the car, the guage rarely rises above the first mark on the dial and never gets to the middle. Anyway, started the car and it was reading '15', probably ambient temperature (amazing for Novermber) drove a couple of miles and had to stop to pick something up. The needle had moved just out of the blue 'O' and the temp read 51.

I was a couple of minuets (no more than 5) and it had dropped to 49 when I set off again. It reached the usual 'first mark on the gauge' after another 2 or 3 miles and this read '63' (I presume these figures are centigrade?).

This was pretty much the temperature for the whole journey, it drops slightly when cruising on a light throttle and rises when driving up a hill but only 2 or 3 degrees either way. I did get it to rise to 71 while waiting interminably at some temporary 3-way roadwork lights. But as soon as I moved off the temp came back to 63.

I'll do the same check on the way back later tonight see what it says when it might be a bit colder out there. I imagine I'll mostly see 63.

(I really need to change that stat - no wonder the heater was so cold last year! :D)

I think your stat is stuck permanently open.

Answer from specalist components
 

Hello Thomas - ok I'll give you the pricing based on 10 off as 1 off
would be quite painful for you. Based on 10 off the price for a
bespoke Rover 75 fitment unit would be £43.20 +vat - total £50.76.

Regards

John

What do we think guys? I will buy one so thats another nine? do we have another nine needing a thermostat housing? :D

I`ll take one that`s 8 left :D

ok guys the price does seem pretty reasonable dosent it? He didnt mention postage but I cant imagine it being much to post, I also emailed him there just to confirm that the thermostat itself is included but even if its not it wouldnt cost much for a bog standard thermostat.

Reading this it seems the 1 1/4 outlet is not available. If this will actually fit in a lathe, why not see if someone can find a tame person with a lathe - it would be the work of minutes to machine it down to the correct size if it is alloy?

I think I worked that one out all on my own! ;)

Hi Thomas
I may be interested but first we need confirmation that there is a 88 - 90 deg thermostat in that size or the housing may need to be modified to fit another thermostat. My only other slight concern is that that thermostat looks small, I have no idea how critical flow rate is and how this may affect the water pump e.t.c through extra load, especially considering most of us plan to leave the other thermostat in place also. Sorry to be a bit negative.

Tim

Eh? The thermostat housing is available with a 1½" inlet to 1¼" outlet and they have even given it a part number - WN0073.

I don't know why I bother. :(

Hi Tim your not being negative its best to find out these things before we all rush out to order and find that they are not suitable.As soon as there is a reply about the thermostats I will let everyone know

I saw mostly 62, but I was on a dual carriageway most of the way back.

Strangely (I thought) after being parked for at least 6 hours the coolant was still at @25 when I started the engine! (@15c ambient)

Mintee
I think the solution from the states is ideal but for me at around £90 when you have paid duty on it its just too expensive for me.;)

Eh? wuzerk was the person who found the US supplier and by quoting him it reads as if HarryM1BYT seems to think there is no 1¼" outlet available from them. There is and Meziere now know this and can supply. If HarryM1BYT is thinking about the housing Thomas1983 has unearthed then he's quoted the wrong post hasn't he?

If the Specialist Components one needs extra machining you'll be up to the cost of the Meziere one soon enough - but I doubt that is what is being offered - but I think you'll need to find a +90º stat for it before anyone starts cutting metal!

Either way it looks as if the onerous task of replacing the original stat might be negated and it was the cost of that (£180 for Jules and probably about the same from my local garage and way too much hassle to do in the drive in November for me!)

Mintee I was merely explaining why I personally am not considering it and possibly others too, you are totally correct I shouldn't have quoted what you had said because it was not in relation to your comments to Thomas1983 (naughty me!)

Assuming the ones from Specialist Components are now specials machined from scratch (unless they have invented a way to add material) unless they grow/change massively I can't see the price would go up much but you probably know best.

Certainly need a Stat then.
The ultimate "laboratory test" is done in top gear at 50MPH on an open road (if you have one in your neck of the woods!)
You can borrow our Welsh roads if you like :cool:

88/89 Deg should be seen on the dash (regardless of outside temp)

I hope they can stick to their price as a solution for probably around £65 (£50 + shipping £5? + a suitable thermostat £5? + Thomas1983 packing them all individually and sending them on to you another £5?) will save you about the best part of £15 or so over what I paid (with 2 thermostats remember).

Mind you I'd have 'saved' £5.37 on the change in the exchange rate between last Friday and if I had bought today. (Paypal currency calc here - need to be logged into Paypal to use it). So you would have saved around a tenner. Still 'too expensive'? :shrug:

(Not knocking Thomas1983's idea, as a local supplier would be ideal. I'm just not convinced that it will really end up as that much of a saving TBH.)

I've known this since last year. I put it off last winter, didn't bother in the summer, but really need to do it for this winter! I want a warmer heater. (The wife getting a Volvo with a little furnace in spurred me on too!)
Given that most of the time I was looking at it, it read 63 I reckon that it might have been 63. :D
I will do a similar test when I get it fitted!

Sounds like a good price. If it includes a ~90deg stat, I'm in. If the mini is a standard 2" stat, I'm sure we could find one.

Would be even better if somene local to them could be the 'broker' and then use cheap postage to get them shipped out to us.

Cheers,
Rich

You should easily be able to get a 88ºC thermostat for a Rover Mini.

Might be good enough?

Thermostat
 

The Chevrolet 'stat which i have used is rated at 90.5C which is an improvement. It costs less than eight dollars and has 54mm stamped on it which refers to the overall diameter.
TIM, I realise that, for some,this mod may be too expensive but, whichever way you look at it, it is cheaper than paying for the original to be replaced and, once done, changing a stat will be extremely easy.

And 54mm is only fractionally over 2".

I wonder if thermostats are made to a common standard sizes? I'd guess that it's easier for a manufacturer to buy one that is suitable from a parts supplier than design your own.....

Is mine in need of an immediate change do you think, it runs at a constant 75 degrees?

Maybe it's trying to tell you something.... :wink2:

Yeah, I'd agree about having it changed, as mine's averaging 74.5 degC.

Another reply
 

Hi Thomas - that is a fully assembled stat with 88°C stat in it.

Regards

John


It sounds good to me but we still need more members for a minimum order

Certainly be interested Thomas.

Stubs

me as well,do we have a difinitive price for this set up ///////anyone:shrug:

yep here you go

Add me to the list. Definitely want one of these.

you can add me if you haven't already

Would postage to Ireland be much extra? If not, I'm up for one as well if there is still one available.

Thanks Thomas please add me for one

regards
John

Yes please, put me down for a one for my CDTi :bowdown:. It's done 98k and i'm pretty sure the thermostat is on the way out (heater very poor).

Hi,you can put me down for one.thanks

I would like one also:}

ok gents we have 9 people if I have counted correctly!

I will email him and ask how much for postage and if he can post to ireland at a reasonable rate for Sof007.

Im not sure if he will take payment and address details from everyone or if I will need to compile a list and payment and send him it with the full amount but im hoping he would deal with everyone individually once he has made ten so that people are dealing directly with him and payment direct to him.

However we still need one more person! Jules would you be interested or would you prefer to see how we get on first?

ok mamasboy makes ten ! I must learn to type faster ! ok I shall ask him to make ten up and then we can arrange payment either seperately or as one and get the cost for postage to everyone!

Stubie just realised that you were a possible, are you a definite now?

I was just adding up the number and thought we had made 10, good stuff.

Stubs

I have emailed him asking for the postage costs and if Ireland would be extra? I also asked him if he would add a link to his website so it was just a case of us ordering straight off that and once he has the ten orders he would get everything moving? I think that would be easiest as then anyone waiting to see how we got on first could order direct.

Hi, I am interested and in Ireland.

Hi Peela ok I will see what he says regarding postage first and let you know? I cant see him being over exorberant with the postage cost anyway!

wohooo I useualy miss out on a good deal..... I've got a brand new genuine stat sitting in the cupboard waiting for me to man up and take the plunge - now I dont have to:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

Yes I am a definite.


Stubs

Thomas sorry only just seen this.
I'll order Qty 10 (see if you can get a further discount spread amongst the members!!)
Please advise how payment should be made?

Regards
Jules

Thomas would you be so kind as to put me down for one please, If it's not too late to join in that is. I run at around 63~66 constantly.
Thank you. Steve.

Not fitted yet but it seemed to take longer (distance) to warm up this morning when the air temp was @5c. Still got to a best of 63 though.

Confusion rules
 

Dear Thomas

I'm a little confused, but here goes:

1) You have found another supplier in Norfolk - specialist components - who can supply the housing plus 90 stat, 1.5 in, 1.25 out to fit the 75.

2) The cost is £50.56 - postage to be determined - for minimum order of 10

3) 10 members have indicated they want one, plus Jules also wants 10, making 20 in total.

4) The US company wont give a bulk discount. Their price is $112 landed in UK, plus import duty to be paid. So specialists components wins on price.

5) You are going to order next week when we get a postage quote.

If the above is correct then I would like one too. Apologies if I've got it wrong

Phil

I fitted a new thermostat from Jules in September because mine only got to 82. It now gets to 88/89 and the heater is a lot warmer. But in cold weather the car can take a while to get to temp. I use the obd all the time and monitor the engine temp and outside temp. In - Temps the car is a pain to warm up as i work 12 hour nights and often have to de ice. My journey to work is on 70mph motorway. if i go to work on the back roads( country villages) in _ temps the car does not get to temp in the 12 mile journey to work.

I think you have something else wrong but what I can't think!! Our diesel warms up quite quick I live off Laceby road in Grimsby quite near the college and work in Louth and it is near enough up to the middle mark on the dash not long after I hit toll bar roundabout it does have a fbh but having said that it doesn't operate unless temp is below approx 5c and the stat is a bit out as it will only get to 83 max.

thomas

can I just clarify i presume that the stat you are organising doesn't have a bypass on it like the one on the website as it will be redundant in our application??

Hi Phil

1-they are 1 1/4" so should fit no bother ps 88 degree stat

2-cost is £50.76. plus postage which is to be determined

3- we seem to be over twenty now!

4 yes they do seem to win on price!

5 I shall let you all know the postage costs when I get a reply (probably tomorrow) and I have asked him to set up a link on his website so everyone can order direct from him but if no im sure we can work something out.

If you still want one let me know!

Thomas

Hi again yes I asked for no bypass to be fitted!

Thomas please put me down for one.

Cheers

Tim P.S. any idea what the thermostat is / from?

Norfolk so good old Great Britain !

Sorry I mean't from what car / application, just thinking about getting replacement stats. Also just reading your reply to Phil will these be 1 1/2" inlet and 1 1/4" outlet?

They were 1 1/4 inlet and outlet does anyone think that will be much of a problem ? they arent made yet so could probably ask for them to be changed? didnt think that small amount would matter much with a couple of good Jubilee clips? not sure what the thermostat is from but they do a lot of mini stuff so probably from those

Wuzerk or Mintee are probably best placed to answer that.

well I will await everyones opinions and take it from there after all we have plenty of interest and I cant imagine it being a problem to change the spec slightly when plenty of people are ready to do an order! :}

Well as production is about to begin it would make sense to order the correct sizes innit? :shrug:
...

Housing sizes
 

I can only advise from my fitting experience. The 1 1/2" on the INLET side
was tight but very solid once inserted. The 1 1/2" OUTLET was too tight and I had to file the raised ridge from the hose fitting to insert it. I also had to remove the pipe from the radiator in order to fit the pipe to the stat housing which is why I would recommend a 1 1/4" outlet. I have a new top hose and measuring that shows that 1 1/4" is rather small for the Inlet side. If you look at my pics of the installation you will see that the Inlet look ok but the outlet near the bend is a bit stretched.
EDIT you can't see the outlet, I will post another pic.

Ok guys shall ask for a slight modification as you guys say may as well get it spot on before we commit!

Have dropped them a wee email asking them for a slight modification so that it is our exact spec but I dont see the alteration being a problem as they seem very helpful.

As ever I shall let you guys know!

I was quite surprised to read that Ian V's does not get to operating temperature in 12 miles too.

How far is it from 'quite near the college to toll bar roundabout'?

pic
 

Here is the pic showing that the 1 1/2" OUTLET is a bit too tight.
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9243/stat2j.jpg
Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Oh I see that now thats a great pic to makes things nice and obvious ! anyway I have asked to be amended as per your dimensions so will see what reply I get tomorrow but as I said I dont think it will be a problem.:}

Sizes
 

That's the trouble being the first to try it! I might end up buying one of your modified ones in order to feel more confident that the pipe is not too stressed!
MINTEE, in the cold weather the engine struggles to even reach 88C (heater on etc) and the fact that the temperature guage reaches a Quarter to nine is meaningless as that equates to anywhere between about 76C and well over a 100C.

Wait, you mean that pipe is already there, and all were doing is cuttnig a bit out, and slipping this new one in? That DOES sound easy!

Easy
 

JAKG, It is,it was,and it is amazing that it took so long for someone to try it!

Oh, in which case put me down for one!

never thought about it but it would be up to temp within 5 miles I think but I have to qualify it that ours never gets to more than 82/3 so it depends how you measure it if waiting for 88 it could be a long time coming!!

Remember the middle mark on the dash is only 75. In normal weather i can get to 75 in 3 miles. Then a Quick run down the A 180 at 75 MPH on speedo ( 70) to the Shell Garage. The car is now up to 89. In very cold icy weather it takes a lot longer to get to 89 . If i use A roads on my way home with mostly 40mph speed limits i never get to 89 on the way to work.

Is this the case with your new thermostat? (Mind you with mine barely getting about the low 60's anything would be an improvement!)
I think, from reading the comments on here, the original thermostats are still operating but they just open too soon.
This seems to tally with what wuzerk observes. Perhaps there is a difference between the thermostat operating temp and the where the sensor is that measures the running temp of the car?

Thomas, can you put me down for one of these too. My car runs around 80C, so I think this will make a difference hopefully.

Many thanks

Al

If anyone else is thinking of ordering the thermostat housing from Meziere Enterprises they send via USPS Priority Mail International (which says 6-10 working days delivery) this is fine for tracking in the USA - mine was sent the day I paid for it (29th October) and was rather belatedly flown out of LA at 8:17pm on 3rd November but what happened next was a mystery.

Turns out if you put the USPS number into the Parcel Force website and tick 'Incoming international parcel?' you get the parcel number for the UK! :}

Mine apparently arrived today (8th November) and is awaiting customs clearance - which suggests to me that Parcel Farce have been sitting on it since Friday (as I doubt the plane was stacked over Heathrow all weekend :mad:) but it does say it is an 'Express 48' service. We'll see. They have till Friday to meet the USPS delivery estimate.

New stat
 

MINTEE, my running temperature with the in line 'stat added is between
86C and 93C once it has had time to reach these dizzy heights! The time taken for the warm air to make life comfortable is much less than before but the time taken to reach 'proper' readings is still slow. The new 90.5C
thermostat has only opened 3 times since I did the mod which proves that the diesels struggle to exceed the 88C standard temperature in the cold weather. The only further measure I can think of to improve matters would be to shield the engine block from the incoming cold air to see if it helps. I mean a shield between the engine block and the radiator not in front of the radiator. The temperature sensor is fitted underneath the
inlet manifold between two of the ports.

Have added you to ther list!

Now they have came back to me today and told me that altering the sizes is not a problem, however they havent actually mentioned the postage so i think he has missed an email from me !

I shall contact them again and ask the question!

Hi Thomas stick me on the list aswell please i take it is a bit above 10 now , have a new stat. in a box but my mechanic pal has been fighting the temptation to fit it for over a year now. Hopefully this should meet with his approval cheers Tam.

Ok People

Specalist components will set up a payment link on their website or send me their paypal details, we will all pay individually as I thought this would save any of the sending funds to me or whatever then worrying about your money! then once he has ten payments he will make the thermostat housings, so as soon as he has done that i shall let everyone know.

he did reply stating that postage was not a problem and Ireland was absolutely fine however he did not quote a price? I dont think it will be too expensive but I have asked for clarification.

Good to hear. Thanks for all the research.

Hi Thomas

Could you put me down for one as well (I am also in Ireland). Mine struggles to reach 70c since the nct/mot instructor revved the **** of it endlessly :( Thanks for all the effort you have put into this as well.

sof007 - I think I may have seen you driving along Thomas Haynes Rd in Newcastle a while ago, or parked up in Tudor Lawn? Don't see many Zt's around Galway. I've seen another green one around in the last few years, and that's about it.

Edit: I don't think I've noticed this anywhere else in the thread, but is the thermostat going to be big enough to keep up with the volume of flow from the waterpump? I'm not an engineer, and no nothing about what I am taking about here, but from a common sense point of view mini engines are much smaller. Could this potentially be an issue, or is a mini thermostat going to let as much coolant flow through as a standard one (or a Chevy one)?

I don't think that will be an issue any coolant not flowing through the thermostat will circulate around the main engine and the heater matrix any restriction would only be of flow through the radiator and we all know the diesels are pretty difficult to boil

Don't kid yourself please!!
Several members diesels "boiled" (one on the way here for a new cooling fan!) in traffic jams on the very few hot days we had last summer.

Yes the mini Stat does have a smaller orifice seating diameter to the OEM type.
Only time will tell and a 25 deg plus ambient temp day to see whether there will be enough flow.

Perhaps one of our Italian or Spanish members would care to try one while it is still 22 deg over there?

point taken but i do think that any restriction will be insufficient to cause a serious issue at least so long as your fan is working

Boiled
 

JULES, surely the answer as to why some diesels boiled is that 'they were on the way to have a fan fitted' i.e. in those hot temperatures they would normally have had the air con on with the fan whirring away?

I mentioned restricted flow a few posts ago. With restricted flow it will put more load on the water pump (which will obviously continues to rotate at the speeds it has always done) which will certainly shorten the life of its bearing(s), maybe by a negligable amount? This in turn will but extra load on the auxilary belt and it pulleys and the engine will have to work harder to drive it all, but to what degree?
When it comes to sufficient flow to cool the engine to me the flow will remain the same around the block (again the water pump is still spinning at the same speed) so the coolant simply speeds up through the new restriction (thermostat) which is what puts the extra load on the water pump?

well who knows but i can't see it being a big deal there will be other similar restrictions such as the original stat at the other end of the radiator what about the back pressure on the pump when the stat is closed? it must be spec'd up to meet that

By how much?

Heh. Highly likely.

I first noticed my fan was on the way out because the temperature went far higher than normal for my knackered thermostat gauge. I turned the air con off and it dropped immediately. When I checked later I fund the fan had stopped coming on with the air con (it had when I bought the car. :() Solution? Keep an eye on the temp on air con, it's fine on fast moving roads. Not good in traffic. So I turn it off in traffic and open the window. Probably good for fuel consumption too! :D

Good point. It must take a fair bit to push the coolant through the radiator matrix as well. How big are the coolant channels in the engine block anyway? Probably smaller diameter than the top hose? Possibly similar to the mini stat diameter when open?:shrug:

Edit: For the price and ease of fitting it's definitely worth a punt for me anyway, especially since I sweated my way through the whole of last summer with no fan at all, and no problems apart from cabin temp. Just make sure you've got a fan as well I guess.

I also think it is worth a punt for the money and considering it never gets that hot here anyway I don't see overheating being a major issue just because of this mod.

Samuelle, you certainly could have seen my driving around there. I think there may be another similar car living along there too though. What colour is yours?

Flow
 

I have a, now unwanted. Original thermostat so I removed it from its housing and the diameter of the flow hole is 36mm. The Chevvy flow hole is 28mm. Someone else will have to measure the Mini size if you think it is important. I personally don't but the proof will only arrive next summer.

Thanks for the measurements Wuzerk.
That's quite a reduction if a mathematician on here wants to work out the reduced area and hence water volume that will be the result.

Pie r squared x radius minus niuouiedsk ffn534%%%% :o

Where's TC when you need him?!

Do they open the same amount?

Close enough to 60% of the area. 3.24cm diameter circle has an area of 10.17cm and 2.8cm an area of 6.15.

But water doesn't flow through the valve but around it. So I don't think the volume of liquid it passes is directly related to the diameter. Is it?

Edit - just a thought, doesn't the system work better if the water flows through the rad slowly and moves more quickly through the engine? Therefore if the flow rate is directly related to the size of the BMW/Rover thermostat, might it be related to its position on the block?

I think this might be a red herring.

If you looked at the whole cooling system then it certainly will not have a constant cross sectional area but will vary along its entire length from the small channels in the block to the large diameter hoses etc.

The pumped flow rate will be constant in the system but the flow velocity will change as per the orifice size traversed.

Its pointless trying to compare against the existing thermostat as we are not replacing that with this new one (unless your taking the old one out). You could compare against the cross section of hose it is ‘replacing’ which is about 32 to 38mm OD (funnily enough the ID will probably be 36mm ID somewhere along the taper).

Point is the system was designed (to an average duty cycle) with all the existing ‘flow restrictions’ in place (Rad, OEM thermostat, heater matrix, FBH, reduced size hoses e.t.c), which would give a certain load on the water pump we are ADDING to that but by what percentage is anyone guess. However this load will vary considerably anyway depending on climate, type of journey, how the car is driven (revs, temp, e.t.c) so I wouldn't worry.
As Phil says assuming the volume flow rate remains constant (which I think it will) I don’t think we thermally have an issue either.

Flow
 

MINTEE, I don't know the amount of opening because once you remove the original stat from its housing it no longer opens! The centre spindle merely rises from the wax cylinder. The stat only opens when the centre spindle is IN the housing so that it cannot rise meaniing that the valve plate is pushed downwards instead. There is only one way to find out if the inline system is adequate in hot weather and we have to wait for that. If you are worried then I will tell you the results but you will have a long wait! I hope that the running temperature will be around the 90-95C mark

I'm no engineer, but here's my thoughts on it. I agree that comparing area differences is unlikely to lead to anything meaningful. The idea has got this far by trial and error (usually the way all the best ideas develop) and I can't see any obvious pitfalls because of a difference in valve diameter. The actual annular difference is around 565mm2, which sounds a lot but there seems to be no design parameter that says the stat has to be 36mm across. The coolant flow rate though the orifice varies with differential hydraulic pressure (pump speed basically). Nobody knows what transfer rates are best for this engine. Indeed, it's demonstrably arguable that with the standard stat lets far too much coolant through anyway. You have to run with the idea of increasing the running temperature without compromising safety and not get bogged down in technicalities that nobody understands. If these Chevvy stats turned out to be as unreliable as the OEM one, there could be grounds for concern, but there isn't (thus far). On the assumption that this unit will continue to open at the standard temp range year on year, I see nothing to worry about. I think there could be long term issues leaving the original unit in place, but these thoughts are way down the line and may never happen. My 10p.

TC

Assuming that the in-line housing will seal without the stat in place we could always take the stat out during the summer months would only be a 5 minute job.

Summer
 

As i have said before, if any problems develop the easiest solution is to undo two hose clips,remove the whole housing and replace with a piece
of stainless pipe. I am carrying that in my boot.

Ok chaps ready to order
 

Hi Thomas - the paypal route sounds ideal. Postage costs will be £3.50
for UK and £4.50 for Ireland - recorded mail. What I suggest we do is
get the paypal route going then once we have approx 10 orders in get
the batch made - we'll probably make 30 in total if people are going
to order more than 1 each. Lead time will be within 4 weeks from when
we kick the order off.

Payapl is easy simply use our email address, then have the members put
their full delivery address in the comments box - including "Rover 75
Stat" and its as easy as that - don't forget to add the postage costs
to the stat costs!

Regards

John

And here is there email address:
[email protected]

I'm not worried in the slightest.

The only thing that is bothering me at the moment is the appalling service we get from the idiots at Parcel Farce. My thermostat is apparently STILL at the 'International Hub' where at 03:04 this morning they posted 'Received from Customs - charges to be paid'

Why they can't list the reference number for the customs charge (because it is different to the tracking number - of course) so I can get on with it I don't know. A truly dire business.

Thanks Thomas thats great, just to confirm before I order the total is £54.26 incl del to uk?

Yep adds up to me!

Cost
 

THOMAS, brilliant, now that is a result!

Its not over until the fat lady sings mate! :D:getmecoat:

Made my payment, who else? Come on lets get 10 paid for tonight and we can have a warm winter:D

You might get yours before Parcel Farce deliver mine. :mad:

LOL I had a funny feeling this would happen! poor guy will come in tomorrow to have 25 odd payments at least and lots of demand for thermostat housings!:D:getmecoat:

If I ran a small fabricating shop I'd be happy to get a £1250 order in mid November.

yeah he certanily cant complain can he !

Did we sort out the outlet size, as Wuzerk stated that the 1 1/2" was too tight for the flanged hose going to the rad, is he going to be making this smaller?


Stubs

yes he is making it 1 1/2" inlet and 1 1/4 inch outlet

dont suppose you could convince him to throw in the jubilee clips as well:D

I could ask but I doubt it to be honest!

you never know, cant cost that much if he bought a load! I actually have a band-it tool and ties, basically metal cable ties. They are used on CV boots etc! Anyone local to either Hastings or Stevenage are welcome to meet up and use it.

I have paid for mine.

Oh soon to have toasty feet.

Stubs

Hi Thomas1983 I have expressed a desire for one of these inline thermostats what is the situation on obtaining one,are we waiting for a bulk order to be placed or do we purchase them independantly??:shrug:

Need to do it individually, easier option for all.

See post 270

Stubs

Here you go all you need is here !

Thomas

Just a line to say thanks for your work on this. Hope to see you at another Scottish Rover Rally.

Stubs

Hey Stubie

you dont need to thank me at all, I just thought it was a better option than getting from America and its hopefully keeping another small business alive in good old Great Britain!

PS hope to bump into you again at the next rally!

bravo that chap, now to sell my rover stat:}

Just paid my £54.26... Yipee no more running at 66 degrees...

Thanks for all the research and time spent by all who have contributed to finding a replacement stat for us, and also for trialling it on their cars first.:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

Waiting eagerly now :D

Regards.....Steve..

Just paid my £54.26...
Thanks for all the research and time spent by all who have contributed to finding a replacement stat for us, and also for trialling it on their cars first.:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

Waiting eagerly now :D


Thank you Thomas and every one else:}

Just paid my-£54.26
Hopefully i can lash the proper stat. into the back of the cupboard now and leave it there cheers Thomas and may catch up with you at Loch Lomond :bowdown:

Could be the Xmas pressie you ever had Steve:D

Ok, just sent my payment..

Beside the stat, what else do I need? Someone mentioned some Jubilee clips - any particular size?

I can see where the stat is *meant* to go, logic says I just cut it open, slide it in and clip it together... but what about airlock etc?

Never messed around with coolant before :/

:wot:

I haven't messed with coolant before either. Not too scared to have a go but a picture from one of the more experienced among you would definitely go along way towards giving me a bit of confidence!!

Oh and my £55.26 is sent too.

Hi Jack
The M47 block self bleeds very well compared to the 1.8!
With header cap off after about 5 mins warm up you will see a little jet of water (mixed with air bubbles) spurting into the cap area from the small bleed tube that comes from top of rad.

As more air is bled out the jet gets more solid.
Recheck the level at least 3 times within a day or 2 after the work is complete and monitor temp on the OBD.

And please note the correct level chaps.
More towards the bottom of the fins not the top of them (as a lot of owners think!)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_CloltyGrcac/S6...2/P1050836.JPG

So basically cut the tube, put the stat in, clip it in.

Idle for 5 minutes, and then take it for a tentative drive and it should do it all itself? Wow the car is clever!

Guessing I need to clamp the tubes as well during the process?