My current Mini has the basic stamped metal mid-eighties Mayfair grille. It has a blank plate about 8" x 8" right in front of the dizzy, but tight to the back of the grille, so it does not interfere with anything. I added grille buttons to make life easier.
The day I took possession of the car in Toronto, I got to the end of the blok before it started to rain. ( The dizzy installed was a tired one from a 998 stuck on a 1275 MG Metro high compression lump.) Before I had gone about 1/2 mile the rain was torrential, complete with potential for hydroplaning. Not the best way to start a 250 mile trip, and I expected the worst. But it purred right along with nary a hiccup. I have never had wet ignition problems with this car. Maybe that's all one really needs. I'm not crazy about the idea of a plastic sheet or panel zip-tied onto the motor.

I would use one...having never driven through those Prairie Thunderstorm conditions...Black Clouds stretching low across the horizon, torrential rain & violent winds.  Though not sure it would address the windblown rain water & spray thrown up by nearby vehicles.  Water was everywhere at once.

Popping the dizzy cap and spraying all, including wiring at the coil, with WD 40 got us going again.

So again would a shield behind the grill accomplish the same thing?????????

My first Mini came with a side-exit dizzy cap and rubber covers for both the dizzy and the coil. They seemed to be better at holding water in than keeping it out. I had the greatest problem with winter road spray - well salted slush and fine mist. The weather would be mild enough t off.o activate the salt but cold enough the wee 850 couldn't make enough heat under the bonnet to steam it off

I guess it would help if I put a message in. I have one of those rubber distributor caps and coil cover. It's on eBay I think I was asking 20 bucks. I believe it's brand new or close to it

onetim.. be glad to post you dissy shield for FREE.. you pay the postage.. need your address.. later bc.. ps. email me off LINE.. [email protected]    Pss I never use the shield as they tend to make the minis overheat here  in the SUMMER..  this shield seems to restrict the air flow..

Thanks for all the tips, I like the plastic sheeting idea as I carry the electrical tape, and SiliKroil (like WD) plus it's easy to fold up and bring along. I do all I can to avoid rain, but the farther you go the more likely it is. In the one storm I did get caught in I was following a real top down Porsche Continental, they seemed to take in stride, Just life.

Well since I live in Oregon rain is a good thing, but.  This is new to me, Mini owner for 18 months.  I don't plan on drivin in the rain but, can I just put a permanent shield behind the grill away from my oil cooler??

//www.minimania.com/part/BHM1675/Austin-Mini-Distributor-Splash-Shield-Water-Guard

minis in the 80 and 90s have a plastic shield about 2 foot by 2 foot that attached to the head and then snaps under the dissy..   I must have a dozen of them if you need one..   later bc  ps.. maybe someone can post a photo of this plastic shield..

Returning from mini meet in Rockford, I must have run into the same thunderstorm and parked under the same overpass as Rick to address an ignition miss.  A piece of cardboard zip-tied to the engine side of the grill to protect the distributor did the trick.  The '67 Copper S that I drove everyday in Washington state never wetted out, side entry dist cap and all.  Go figure.

Another Great  HAVE in the tool box, just in case is a spray of good ole WD40.    Get some misses in moist weather = pop cap= couple sprays = will motor right on.  Water Displacer 40 works a treat!.    Extra points if you find and carry  the little travel 'mini sized' Cans.

There used to be kits that contained a rubber-ized cover for the Dizzy and the coil.  I have used them on several of my cars over the years, but I don't believe I have ever had to drive in the kind of rain that Hunter describes.  I have also heard and seen folks using ribber gloves to cover coil and distributor.


When I lived in the UK I once hit a major dip in the road that was filled with a foot of water and it flooded the car since the shifter boot wasn't fastened down.  The car continued to run until I reached the next village, where it quit at a stop sign. I got out, took the distributor cap off and poured out a cup of water.  I dried it out as best I could, put the cap back on, and it fired up and I drove the hour to home....

I would at least carry the plastic shield to install in violent rain/wind events like we faced in 2014 on the way to Mid-Ohio for the Can Am Mini Challenge Race and later on I 71 in Ohio when headed for Indianapolis.  We did NOT have a shield.

Yes, WD40 repelled water and got us going again both times.

'Bagged' the dizzy after Winnipeg drown out & 'bottled' the coil after the Interstate drown out.

Hid under an overpass when running into yet a violent Prairie Thunderstorm on the way north to Rockford, Illinois.  Motor ticked over smoothly.

Sounds like your set-up is handling it just fine....motor on....if it aint broke.........

A temporary piece of plastic to fit in front of the distributor and a can of WD 40 (water displacement) to spray over the wires and cap if needed.

Hello, Planning on taking some longer trips with the cooper this year, I expect to get caught in the rain. So far I have only had 1 downpour for a short time and distance, and the engine did not miss a beat. Right now I am just using a good set of wires, and some dielectric grease at the connections. I am concerned about running in hours of rain. I have seen the rubber coil boots, and mud flaps covering everything on newer minis, I have also used wire dryer with good results years ago, but I don't want mess up the detailing of the engine, or the look.  Thinking about carrying a temporary mud rain flap I can zip tie or wire on as needed. Suggestions?