Morris Minor Forum

In cold weather (when it can down to Zero F or minus 18 C) the Minor’s heating system is at best marginal. However you can make improvements so you really do get HEAT.

My first car was a 1957 Minor 1000 with the round heater that had a motor with a four blade fan in it. There was no fresh air to the heater from the outside. All the heater did was stir up the moist air in the car from the snow or moisture on the floor.
My mum had a 69 Mini 1000 that had a much better heater that really threw out heat. It was equipped with a fresh air tube to the grill and a heater with a twin squirrel cage motor that really pushed out air.

Ok so now I knew what had to be upgraded on my Minor to improve the heat:

I cut the large hole in the firewall and grill panel to accept the fresh air tube from the grill panel to the heater.

The heater from a 1970 Mini with the twin squirrel cages was used to replace the round one.

The door seals (which on a Minor don’t seal all that well) were replaced with ones from a Austin America 1100 / 1300 as they were a much better seal. More air tight.

Add some insulation under your carpets and if you are so inclined behind the rear side trim covers (which have arm rests). Try to insulate any place where the car will lose heat.

To keep the engine bay up to temperature I made a leatherette grill cover that went over the entire area of the front grill panel that would let air in to the radiator. Two open-able flaps were put in it so the cover could be open to cold air to keep the engine from getting too hot. You need to keep the engines heat up as it will be sucked away by the cold faster than it can make it. Basically the heater acts as the radiator to control the engine heat. If you are lucky enough to have installed a coolant temperature gauge you can monitor whether or not your engine is getting too hot and open a flap or two on the grille cover.

I also installed a SMITHS stick on heated rear window element to keep the rear window clear of condensation frost.

If you have installed a cigarette lighter power plug for accessories etc. You can use it to operate heated seat covers such as the ones from AMAZON.

To help the car to start easily in the morning, fit a block heater to the engine and plug it in overnight. You will be amazed at how warm the entire engine will be in the morning.

I found that these conversions made the car pleasant to drive on cold days.
Oh yea, if you also want traction, fill the trunk with bricks or some other heavy things. Minors spin wheels easily on snow and ice if you don’t. Good winter or all weather tires really help too.

If you have some tips that work for you we would love to hear them.
Stay warm,
Stephen

If you want your minor to start in cold temps put a geared starter in it. It will continue to crank as long as you turn the key and not get kicked out of engagement when the engine kicks.
Stephen

heat, you got a blanket of insulation on that car now....and, it did not cost you either...

the Morris truck I am building now....not sure of the heater in that beast...it is an aftermarket unit....I feel it is best at a defroster only....sadly my older cars like this are all fair weather toys.

---

I've seen better days but they have cost me more money..!

5 out of 5 people usually think the other 4 are idiots....

If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got.

Most effective heater I recall was in a '76 BMW 2002... Germans know how to heat and insulate cars. Worst A/C system I ever suffered with was in a Mercedes 280SE V8. Better off rolling the windows down. Only American car that I enjoyed all year around was a Lincoln Town Car. Excellent heat and A/C. Ditto to the suggestions of undercarpet and side panel insulation. Just beware soaking the padding.

---

Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?

Very good tips.
I am fitting a complete heater from a 1980 Mini in my 66 two door.its a straight swap and as you said the double fan gives a lot more air flow.and also sucks re cycled air. from inside the car

In the UK it does not get that cold compared with Canada but I fit a grille muff and a 88c thermostat as well.

If you are doing mostly main roads and not much traffic stop and go then you could also remove the fan, you need a temp gauge to monitor the engine temp. If it goes to high then crack open a quarter light and turn the heater in full blast!

I also have a carburettor heater I got from a old GPO van many years ago this works automatically when you start the car turning on at below 4c and stopping the carb icing, think this was a cold weather addition for places like Scandinavia and Canada, and some UK post office vans.

Cheers
Ken in the very damp and waterlogged Uk