1978 Pickup, giving her some love...

[Richard1]

Yep, that would be another way to solve it, make a new hole.

[94touring]

Yeah suppose to go through the hole to the right technically.

[Jims5543]

Does this mean I will never win a car show?

[94touring]

Probably aren't even British screws holding it up.  Rubish.

[Jims5543]

Bah, filled up tank still registers 1/2 on the gauge.

I will dig into this when I have time, of course, of course now the gauge is suspicious.

[94touring]

Hmm.  Ground the wire off the tank and see if the gauge pegs full.

[Jims5543]

Will not have time until Mid week, I will give that a try.

[94touring]

You have an electric pod too right?   Not the old school center 3 gauge pod?   I can't remember if the newer style has a voltage stabilizer like the old ones.  Mine was wired wrong and wouldn't register, and my temp gauge pegged full.  Once I got the wires sorted everything worked.  The newer ones just have a circuit board style sheet of paper behind it. 

[Richard1]

I had problems with the gauge on my Corvair. Soldered and checked the float, checked wires, finally bought a new sender from a car that used the same resistance and modified it to fit (shortening and bending takeup and float). Still would not work right. Then I started on the gauge. Found that there was corrosion and wear on the needle bearing, causing it to stick and bounce. Replaced with two used ones that had their own problems. Finally a NOS gauge showed up on ebay and I grabbed it. Problem solved.

[Jims5543]

I mended the condenser (JB weld) over the weekend and set out today to try to find a new dryer since the system has been sitting open for a couple of months in a high humidity climate.

No joy so far, any suggestions on where to source one is appreciated.

I tried Autozone and they were useless.

I was thinking of stopping into a AC specialist shop and see if they may be able to match up a dryer.

I looked all over this one for some ID numbers or anything and there is just a worn out sticker that is illegible on the bottom.


I am also happy to report, I checked my oil today and for the first time since owning the car the oil is finally staying clean for more than 1K miles. It is actually clear and has almost 1K miles on it.

So I finally have the engine cleaned back out inside.


I have not tackled the gas gauge yet, I am leaving on a road trip Wednesday so I spent the weekend mostly on the E30 going over everything.

[94touring]

Probably an ac shop.  I don't suppose you looked through minispares to see if they have anything?

[MPlayle]

Post the question over on Mini Mania's forum and ask for a response from the user "MadDog".  His name is Angel Ruiz and he used to work for an A/C wholesale parts supplier.  He was also the parts source for the owner of that pickup that installed the A/C.

Dan could also post for you over on the Mini Owners of Texas forum site.  It may take a few days for getting a reply in either forum - I don't know how actively Angel watches those forums anymore.

[Jims5543]

Thanks for the tip Mike, I will log in there if my plan A does not work.


I purchased 3 different dryers for a total cost of $60 off of amazon. All 3 are similar in appearance to the one I have here.

It is a start, I am hoping to get lucky and have one fit. If not, well, it was worth a try.

I saw a post on there where a guy is selling a complete Ac setup for $800. I am going to ask if he could be kind enough to look over his dryer and see if he has some ID numbers. He said his kit was a 1995 vintage.

It sucks this car has no records on it. As mentioned earlier I am remedying that.

Sent an email to the last poster.

http://www.minimania.com/msgThread/111056/1/1/A-C_System_For_Sale

[Jims5543]

One of the 3 dryers fits perfectly.

This one if anyone needs it.
http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Conditioning-RD1149C-Auto-Part/dp/B001C9U1D4

The Part# was RD1149C

The threads for the pressure switch as well as the hoses were all perfect and the size was exact to the one that I took out.

I see ice cold AC coming my way this weekend.

Next up, cooling system and figuring out that gas gauge.

My temp gauge runs in the 1/2 area and will creep up to 3/4 if I am in traffic in high ambient temps. Not sure if that is good or not.

[94touring]

Do you have an aluminum radiator?  Did you see the one I bought today?  I've been putting them in the minis I build and they work great.  50mm core and very affordable. 

[Jims5543]

Ordering a water pump vs. Dan:

Is there a bypass???????????????????

Just look at the back of the water pump he says....


Just look at the back of the head he says....

I am reaching in places I cannot fit my face with my phone here.






So I did what Jim does, I ordered two, one with a bypass one without, when I tear it down I will decide which one works. $35 is less annoying to me than not having the truck. I need it next Friday.

[94touring]

Lol good luck.  You have a lot of belts to deal with too.  I just ran across info on an electric pump that saves 4hp dyno proven and an electric fan conversion that cuts noise and saves fuel.  Now I want to do that. 

[MiniDave]

The bypass hose goes from the top of the water pump into the bottom of the head, I think only the later FI cars didn't have it.

This is a pic of a pump with the bypass.....it's the short tube sticking up on the lower hose connection.



Be sure to install the hose on the head before you install the pump, you pretty much can't get the hose on once the pump is installed.

[Willie_B]

I think only the later FI cars didn't have it.

My engine is a mid 80's MG Metro and it does not have the bypass.

[Jims5543]

While the ambient temps here are in the mid 80's the power of the sun and then parking a hot car in the garage = 96 degree garage temps....

You can assume that was my motivation to get my A/C installed. Needless to say, it is back in. I will vacuum and charge it in the morning.

Woo hoo!

Oh and I think my antifreeze leak is just overflow. No more leaking.    ;D

[Jims5543]

Good news bad news...

Good news, the repaired condenser holds pressure, I pulled a nice vacuum and it stayed rock solid for 15 minutes, then precharged with oil then started charging, had the AC on engine running (more on that later) and then waited for the system pressure to come up so the compressor would kick on. It never did, so I checked the fan on the back of the condenser and it was not on either.

Started running a test light around and no power past the pressure switch.  Nothing at the compressor and nothing on the fan.  So I need to either look for a new pressure switch or chase around why there is no power system wide.


Back to the car running, when installing the condenser, I knocked the cap loose on the dizzy and did not notice. The car fired right up and ran... rough and there was a knocking... I am looking around for this knock then see the cap flopping around. I stood there mesmerized for a second wondering how the hell the car was even running.

I put the cap back on and she is still running rough, so I start making sure all the wires are on good and get shocked from #1 and #4 both when I touch the boot. Not good, these wires are new, this should not be happening. Gonna look for some better quality wires for it.  Wondering if a set of Honda wires might fit. I might go to Autozone and buy a cheap set to see if they will work, if so then buy some Nology wires for it.

I also tore up the cap so new cap and rotor are needed. I need to check on 7ent and see what cap and rotor the 123 uses.

Also, just damn, with the condenser back in, life just sucks under the hood. Wondering if I should just suck it up and not have AC.  Although it would be really nice to have this summer.

[94touring]

With it running pull a plug wire one at a time from each plug and see if any make a difference in how it runs.  How messed up is the cap and rotor?

[Jims5543]

With it running pull a plug wire one at a time from each plug and see if any make a difference in how it runs.  How messed up is the cap and rotor?

Not bad, the car runs fine now, I took it for a spin and it runs like it always did. BUT, finding out my wires are arching was not:

A. Fun - it hurt

2. Concerning since this means I am bleeding spark.

Just going to order up a new cap and rotor for my next attempt at getting AC.  ;D

The wires are bothering me though, so I am going to figure out something with them.

[94touring]

Yeah I dunno.  I've been shocked before but seems like I had a plug pulled when it happened. 

Any fuses to check on that ac power issue?

[Jims5543]