2.9 Alloy Rocker Covers (fitted at last!)

[TVR-Stu]

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!!!!!

[TVR-Stu]

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]

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. Stu

[TVR-Stu]

dutydog 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.

[TVR-Stu]

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.

[TVR-Stu]

Alan461 said:

Stu, are they fuel pipes wrapped in heat sheild on the near side? The ones on my S2 follow the vee back above the bellhousing and are secured to the top chassis rail.

Well spotted! The previous owner fitted a fuel cooler (looks exactly like a little oil cooler) and the pipes run down to that located at the front of the car. I nearly removed it when I did my front end chassis refurb but as the car runs so well with it I thought I may as well leave it in. I have put a stainless steel mesh in front of it to protect it, should in the unlikely event a stone manage to find its way towards it as I don't fancy fuel spraying backwards onto a hot engine/exhaust

Quick work on the chrome pipe by the way, much prefer the look.

Thanks, Mike for the picture of your stainless item too. Excellent job and on the to do list, although the chromed copper pipe may be easier.

[TVR-Stu]

Top Gear TVR said:

Did you manage to use the same belt or if not, whats the new spec?

Sorry, only just noticed your post. I did change my alternator belt to a 10 x 1200mm one. So it is longer with my alternator bracket mod but I can't speak for others that have just bent the angle of their brackets.
HTH, Stu.