2.9 Alloy Rocker Covers (fitted at last!)
Discussion
Well I've finally got around to fitting the alloy rocker covers that I began polishing last year. (Doing the first was almost theraputic but the second seemed to take ages).
These jobs are never straight forward but as I was refurbishing the whole front end with new bushes, paint and powder coating I thought I might as well persevere.
As you can see from the pictures I had a welder adjust the angle of the alternator bracket to accommodate the higher profile of the alloy rocker and then had it powder coated with the wishbones, swirl pot etc....I have had to increase the alternator belt size to 10 X 1200 and make a more satisfactory coil bracket but thats about it.
Fitted some of Barkychocs' TVR resin badges as the finishing touch and I'm really happy with the results. I'm sure to a lot of you its not worth the hassle but I like the polished alloy look and as I was doing everthing else I thought in for a penny in for a pound.
I wish there were fewer pipes crossing the covers though so the badges are more easily seen.
Incidently Ian Macleod (macL) managed to fit his alloy rocker covers more easily by elongating the top bracket to engine fixing bolt hole, tilting the bracket away from the cover and bending the 'arm' that bolts near the manifold sufficiently to not require any cutting. If only I'd thought of that!!!!!
These jobs are never straight forward but as I was refurbishing the whole front end with new bushes, paint and powder coating I thought I might as well persevere.
As you can see from the pictures I had a welder adjust the angle of the alternator bracket to accommodate the higher profile of the alloy rocker and then had it powder coated with the wishbones, swirl pot etc....I have had to increase the alternator belt size to 10 X 1200 and make a more satisfactory coil bracket but thats about it.
Fitted some of Barkychocs' TVR resin badges as the finishing touch and I'm really happy with the results. I'm sure to a lot of you its not worth the hassle but I like the polished alloy look and as I was doing everthing else I thought in for a penny in for a pound.
I wish there were fewer pipes crossing the covers though so the badges are more easily seen.
Incidently Ian Macleod (macL) managed to fit his alloy rocker covers more easily by elongating the top bracket to engine fixing bolt hole, tilting the bracket away from the cover and bending the 'arm' that bolts near the manifold sufficiently to not require any cutting. If only I'd thought of that!!!!!
I like that !!!
Wiz said:
Whats the coil off Stu?
As far as I know its a Magneti Marelli type coil used on some Sierra models and probably others but I stand to be corrected. Its an ugly brute and I imagine was tucked away on a bulkhead somewhere but TVR in there wisdom manufactured a bracket (a mish mash of angle brackets it looks like) and slapped it on the plenum.TVR-Stu said:
Wiz said:
Whats the coil off Stu?
As far as I know its a Magneti Marelli type coil used on some Sierra models and probably others but I stand to be corrected. Its an ugly brute and I imagine was tucked away on a bulkhead somewhere but TVR in there wisdom manufactured a bracket (a mish mash of angle brackets it looks like) and slapped it on the plenum.If you want to change to a standard-type coil, you also have to change the leads and the distributor cap - both the coil and the cap have male terminals, not the more common female.
Good pics of engines by the way - and the alloy covers do look good in there...
That looks absolutely brilliant!
I'm currently trying to fit some alloy rocker covers on my S2 also! The steel ones have always been a bit leaky.
I came to a similar conclusion with the alternator bracket after grinding various bits off my spare one. - Either weld an extra bit in or cut a piece out to give enough clearance.
I haven't taken the plunge yet though, still trying to work out dimensions etc. How much did you cut out? Do you have any measurements? It would save me soooooo much time and hassle if you have any of this info.
Cheers
Tom
I'm currently trying to fit some alloy rocker covers on my S2 also! The steel ones have always been a bit leaky.
I came to a similar conclusion with the alternator bracket after grinding various bits off my spare one. - Either weld an extra bit in or cut a piece out to give enough clearance.
I haven't taken the plunge yet though, still trying to work out dimensions etc. How much did you cut out? Do you have any measurements? It would save me soooooo much time and hassle if you have any of this info.
Cheers
Tom
grumpytvr said:
I haven't taken the plunge yet though, still trying to work out dimensions etc.How much did you cut out? Do you have any measurements? It would save me soooooo much time and hassle if you have any of this info.
As its all back on the car now its difficult to measure. What I did and would suggest you try is to make up a simple cardboard template and make a wedge shaped cut with scissors and just have a try adjusting/pivoting the angle. Remember it dosen't have to be exact as you have adjustment on the alternator, so as long as you have clearance over the rocker cover it'll be fine. Hope that helps. Studutydog said:
Hi There could you tell me where you got your alloy rocker covers from?
I have been after a pair of those for ages and ages.
Hi, got these from good old e-bay, they do come up from time to time. They were used on a number of cars but usually have a scabby grey appearance and a Ford logo cast into the top. You just have to grind/file of the logo, spend days and days with the wet and dry getting covered in black alloy residue (wear gloves) and a few hours with various polishing mops and a set of Chris' (Barkychoc) resin TVR badges and voila! Job done. It takes a lot of effort but you get out what you put in, in my opinion anyway.I have been after a pair of those for ages and ages.
Hi Stu,
From your above comments I've been able to modify the alternator bracket with the slot idea.
This enabled fitting the new rocker covers with enough clearance for the alternator.
With regard to having fewer pipes, I borrowed Top Gear TVR's swirlpot combo idea to remove the expansion pipe.
The heater pipes were reversed to enable the top hose to run in copper between the plenum and rocker, having shifted the coil to the bulkhead. Not keen on the copper self colour so I'll paint or plate it.
Without the photos and info this would have been much more daunting, cheers all.
From your above comments I've been able to modify the alternator bracket with the slot idea.
This enabled fitting the new rocker covers with enough clearance for the alternator.
With regard to having fewer pipes, I borrowed Top Gear TVR's swirlpot combo idea to remove the expansion pipe.
The heater pipes were reversed to enable the top hose to run in copper between the plenum and rocker, having shifted the coil to the bulkhead. Not keen on the copper self colour so I'll paint or plate it.
Without the photos and info this would have been much more daunting, cheers all.
Alan, nice work. 
I'm planning on doing something about that rubber hose too, it spoils the look of the rocker cover. Your solution is so much cleaner (less cluttered) looking but I agree the copper colour is not ideal. Mike 'Phillpot' has done a great job of tidying up the pipe work and I think he's used some stainless tubing.
You never know he might be along for a gratuitous 'bling' picture in a minute.
I'm planning on doing something about that rubber hose too, it spoils the look of the rocker cover. Your solution is so much cleaner (less cluttered) looking but I agree the copper colour is not ideal. Mike 'Phillpot' has done a great job of tidying up the pipe work and I think he's used some stainless tubing.
You never know he might be along for a gratuitous 'bling' picture in a minute.
..... 
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