WANTED; alternator mounting bracket
Discussion
Thanks Mike appreciate you coming back to me. I am afraid it wuld have to be a purchase as I would seriously modify it! I did however spot that yours is already a little different than mine. On the early cars (mine is '88) TVR went a bit overboard and there is a fair bit of unnecessary metal on it. Difficult to be exactly sure from the angle of the photo but yours does look a little less 'over-engineered'. What year is yours?
What I am looking at is a serious mod which would make it easier to do tappets and to route some pipes. I think TVR decided to use the Granada auxiliary drive belt. That long belt was necessary because of the power steering layout. It is NOT necessary on the S. There is loads of space below the alternator, at least there is on the 2.8 and it looks similar on pics of the 2.9. If I dropped the alternator down I would be able to get the rocker cover off more easily AND get a better belt grip on the water pump. I can also build in a better piping run to the heater (I think!). Through my motor factor friend I can easily identify a shorter belt to match these pulleys.
If I can get hold of a bracket at the right price I will modify it and make drawings with a view to offering the arrangement to other S owners.
What I am looking at is a serious mod which would make it easier to do tappets and to route some pipes. I think TVR decided to use the Granada auxiliary drive belt. That long belt was necessary because of the power steering layout. It is NOT necessary on the S. There is loads of space below the alternator, at least there is on the 2.8 and it looks similar on pics of the 2.9. If I dropped the alternator down I would be able to get the rocker cover off more easily AND get a better belt grip on the water pump. I can also build in a better piping run to the heater (I think!). Through my motor factor friend I can easily identify a shorter belt to match these pulleys.
If I can get hold of a bracket at the right price I will modify it and make drawings with a view to offering the arrangement to other S owners.
Hi Mike, YHM. I am not sure there is that much difference at the front of the engine except (and it could be a big issue) I think the 2.9 might have sufficiently different cooling pipe runs to prevent the alternator dropping DOWN if the belt would then come too close to the pipe. You also have non standard manifolds which reduce clearance under the alternator. My plan, put simply, was to swing and cut the mounting to drop the alternator down and out, to clear the rocker cover and shorten the auxiliary belt.
Thanks Phillpot for the 2.9 bracket which I am afraid I used as a 'mock up' for dimensions before cutting my original 2.8 bracket. Note that the 2.8 and 2.9 brackets do differ in that the thick tube on the top on which the alternator pivots projects further forward on a 2.9. So the 2.9 bracket will mount on a 2.8 but the belt will be further forward and not in line with the water pump. There is an alternative double pulley for the water pump but I haven't checked to see if it would then line up on the outer pulley.
You are right Mike, that bracket you sold me helped me make a mock up then I modified my own. It is no more! Not sure if I posted pics of the finished article? If not then these are the modified bracket on a 2.8, allowing much easier access to the rocker box, a shorter belt with better angles and easier to adjust correctly. And, in my 'humble' opinion, much better looking than the original!
Hi Glen, I never did the drawings but I could do if someone wanted to modify their own. It isnt technically difficult to do with the right dimensions. For reasons you will understand I couldnt commit to actually making any at the moment, might be different in the spring. In any case it does mean modifying the owners original, there certainly doesnt seem to be a source of spares.
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.
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.
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