WANTED; alternator mounting bracket
Discussion
glenrobbo said:
Bumped for Steve greyhulk. 
Richard,
Did you get round to doing the drawings, and would you be prepared to make the modified brackets for other S1 owners?
sorry guys only just saw this, thanks Glen. Richard id be interested in getting mine modified at some point next year i can totally wait until your ready of course, ill be ordering some custom rocker covers from 'jrcast' but until then i have another project im thinking about doing (when i get my 'S' back that is Richard,
Did you get round to doing the drawings, and would you be prepared to make the modified brackets for other S1 owners?
Edited by glenrobbo on Sunday 22 November 10:34
) ..custom 'Escort Mk4 ('86-'90)' rear lights, clear, smoked versions
Thats fine Steven, if you are OK to wait a bit I would be very happy to help for a couple of beers when we meet.
Glen is right, there is a significant difference in one crucial aspect between the 2.8 and 2.9 brackets, the linear displacement of the crank pulley is different.
The 2.9 bracket I got off Philpott a long time ago was cut and used to prove angles before I cut up my own as no 2.8 spare brackets were available. So I will need your bracket in the new year.
You will have one advantage over me, experience has shown that, while the bracket is a great improvement (it not only clears an alloy rocker box but gives much easier access to the rocker box mounting bolts), there is s further 'tweek' I have seen which would improve access to the front spark plug as well.
One small word of warning. 'My' bracket assumes the original swirl pot and coolant piping positions are retained, if you plan to make any changes there it could effect the alternator location.
I would totally agree with Glen on one further point. Use stainless socket head screws to hold down the rocker boxes and be very gentle with them, the threads in the heads are easily damaged. I have 6 heads here and every one has a stripped thread! Overcompressing the gasket causes leaks.
Glen is right, there is a significant difference in one crucial aspect between the 2.8 and 2.9 brackets, the linear displacement of the crank pulley is different.
The 2.9 bracket I got off Philpott a long time ago was cut and used to prove angles before I cut up my own as no 2.8 spare brackets were available. So I will need your bracket in the new year.
You will have one advantage over me, experience has shown that, while the bracket is a great improvement (it not only clears an alloy rocker box but gives much easier access to the rocker box mounting bolts), there is s further 'tweek' I have seen which would improve access to the front spark plug as well.
One small word of warning. 'My' bracket assumes the original swirl pot and coolant piping positions are retained, if you plan to make any changes there it could effect the alternator location.
I would totally agree with Glen on one further point. Use stainless socket head screws to hold down the rocker boxes and be very gentle with them, the threads in the heads are easily damaged. I have 6 heads here and every one has a stripped thread! Overcompressing the gasket causes leaks.
greymrj said:
be very gentle with them, the threads in the heads are easily damaged. I have 6 heads here and every one has a stripped thread!
that surprises me!Can understand threads being stripped in the alluminium inlet manifiold (just repaired one on my car) but you'd have to be a bit heavy handed to strip threads in the iron heads?
maybe that's what you get trying to use a torque wrench on little bolts instead of "feel"
Cheers Rich, treat you to steak & a few beers. Yeah im in no rush, ordered a few bits to tidy up around the engine bay & just got myself some new gaz gold shocks (at a bargain price) so ill ease off on the spending till next year 
oh & yes my swirl pot/coolant piping is all in its original place i havent rerouted anything there. Ive taken note of the 'stainless socket head screws' that Glen mentioned, i take it the ones 'jrcast' send out with the rocker covers wouldn't be those
oh & yes my swirl pot/coolant piping is all in its original place i havent rerouted anything there. Ive taken note of the 'stainless socket head screws' that Glen mentioned, i take it the ones 'jrcast' send out with the rocker covers wouldn't be those
That sounds good to me Steven!
Mike, totally agree with you re 'feel'. I suspect the problem arises more from people cross threading bolts because they are awkward to get at. Even with a 1/4 drive there isnt that much room for the socket and of course the socket covers the bolt head so slight misalignment is harder to see. Once the cast head is cross threaded there isnt much you can do and the damaged thread pulls out. I am pretty sure we would agree that using a socket key in something like a screwdriver attachment rather than a ratchet is the way to 'feel' them in until they are almost fully in, then nip them up.
Totally agree it applies to the alloy threads on the inner side of the rocker covers at least as much if not more.
Mike, totally agree with you re 'feel'. I suspect the problem arises more from people cross threading bolts because they are awkward to get at. Even with a 1/4 drive there isnt that much room for the socket and of course the socket covers the bolt head so slight misalignment is harder to see. Once the cast head is cross threaded there isnt much you can do and the damaged thread pulls out. I am pretty sure we would agree that using a socket key in something like a screwdriver attachment rather than a ratchet is the way to 'feel' them in until they are almost fully in, then nip them up.
Totally agree it applies to the alloy threads on the inner side of the rocker covers at least as much if not more.
greymrj said:
I have 6 heads here and every one has a stripped thread!
Have you come across these, unlike a "Helicoil" that requires the associated tap with these you just drill out and re-tap a standard larger size (space permitting).Had some where I used to work, been trying to find them since, every search for "thread repair" just throws up Helicoils, but finally found this Ebay listing. Says they're stainless but from the manufacturers Website picture is a carbon steel insert?
Every day is a schoolday Mike. Even at my age! Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff