It ended in Tears

[scuff]

Evenings drive (at the legal speed limits of course ) coming off a roundabout, foot became very heavy and sank quickly to the floor with the pedal, then the lights on the dash lit up. Lost the alternator. Quick engine off and coast to a stop. Inspection showed that I had lost the main belt (again!!!) went to fit a new belt and found that the tensioning arm of the alternator was hanging loose. Shizen. Looks like the bolt has come loose, fallen out and the mounting bracket that is attached to the rose joint has come away from the engine. Phone the RAC. 3 1/2 hours later I finally get picked up. The RAC on hearing that there was only 100mm clearance at the front of the GTR sub contracted the pick up. They tell me the delay was due to the fact that most recovery companies did not want to deal with the GTR as it was too low. Strangely enough, the company that did come out, this was the first day on the road for their specially designed truck. Managed to get it loaded. Only had to remove the front side grills to allow the chains to be fitted. There is no tow points on the car (a word of warning).

Additionally when waiting for traffic to clear on the road (before the incident) I noticed that there was a metalic ralltle that stopped when I depressed the clutch. Could be the clutch race bearing? or possibly that the resonance of the loosening bracket was such that when I depressed the clutch it was enough to stop it as the engine changed revs slightly? Anyone else experienced this. I am doubtful of the bearing as is Tuxman as the car has only done 3000 miles. Any advice?

Lonely on a deserted road. Had to push it ot the street light.


Several hours later...I had managed to get the car to a lay by outside a pub in a village. Had an enjoyable few hours with the locals who were most hospitable. Was not a bad evening, despite a broken car.






Planning to fix alternator next week. Will keep you posted on the rattle.

Scuff

Edited by scuff on Wednesday 27th September 23:24

[GTRene]

gutted for you...
still the car looks nice!
hoop the car gets better soon!
GTRene

[andygtt]

I'd convert the car to serpentine belts.

[luckyp]

Hey Scuff,

Is it an AS engine? Did it have the transit bracket on from the back of the alternator to the upper forward n/s engine mount bolt?

I tried with and without this strap. Without, the alternator twists, alarmingly under rev, and could possibly cause a thrown belt at best and a broken alt bracket in the worst case. I have mine fitted now.

Pete

[scuff]

It is an AS engine and in answer to your question...I don't know at this point. I will find out Friday (if I have understood your statement) when I can take it to a garage round the corner and put it ontheir ramp to have a look. Will let you know over the weekend.

Any thoughts about the rattle?

S

[scuff]

For fear of starting GTwayne again. White.... enough said.

P.S. There is no "S" in White. Just in case...

Edited by scuff on Wednesday 27th September 23:06

[m3desmo]

Your'e probably quite safe tonight, Scuff. He's pre-occupied elsewhere with his beloved GTW!

[gtrclive]

I hate V Belts.. use to loose my GT40 Belt every time I did a Burn out.. Serpentine every time.....

[bluesatin]

Charles Dunn has had some stainless alternator brackets made up- i thnk a few others have had them fitted after parts of the standard have broken

[gtrclive]

Scuff, you know how I feel about non BLACK colour cars but you have my commisserations and I am sure this problem can be resolved.

[scuff]

I don't think that the alternator bracket is broken. the Alternator is still on the car and feels secure. the Tensioning bar (Left and Right threaded bar between two rose joints)is still in place but has come away from the engine. there feels to be an aluminium mounting bracket that connects to the engine, allowing the mounting of the tensioning bar. I am assuming that this is the bracket that connects the tensioning strap to the engine. It feels machined on all sides (I can not see it or quite reach to find where it has come from) with one curved machined side. There is also a machined recess on the mounting bracket for the strap that I assume fits to a male part (sticky out part) on the engine block. There is also a hole for the bolt. This leads me to think that the bolt has come out and as a result the Alternator could not hold the tension.

You have mentioned Serpentine Belts. What would be required to convert? Chamge the pulleys or just the belt? If it just the belt where can I get these from? How difficult to change the pulleys with the engine in situ?

Just had a quick look on the net...If you fitted Serpentine belts to a GTR did you fit a tensioner? Can you use the V belt pulleys for the Sepentine Belt?

S

Edited by scuff on Thursday 28th September 08:42

[crafty]

No, you cant use the same pulleys. The serpentine belt has mini ribs in it rather than a vee.

www.marchperf.com

[Graham-P]

I've just installed a set of serpentine pulleys from Summit, haven't started it yet though, waiting for a belt to arrive. I haven't got air/con so I'm running without a tensioner. I'm told that you need less tension for the serpentine belt than the V belt thus less chance of either a broken alt bracket or throwing a belt.
It cost me around 250 USD

Edited by Graham-P on Thursday 28th September 11:41

[steve_d]

When you go to fix it don't forget the missing bolt into the engine is imperial not metric.
Any garage that has been around some time is bound to have something suitable under the bench.

Steve

[scuff]

Thanks for the tip. Will make sure that they know this. I am very fortunate that the garage is in the village and only just around the corner. I think (thanks Tuxman) that it is likely to be a UNC thread.

[steve_d]

Whilst the more vocal amongst us would say that White is the second choice compared to Black I notice that your car is displaying (in the first 2 pics) that deep down it wants to be the correct colour YELLOW.

Steve

Edited by steve_d on Friday 29th September 06:50

[luckyp]

Scuff,

Just to mention this bracket on the back of the alternator again. It came when the engine was boxed from AS. I didn't for it first time around, but when idleing and reving the engine while stationary, I say at least a few mil of deflection on the altermator. The very nice looking billet bracket does not hold support the alt from twisting moments. Instalation of this rear bracket keeps the alt still and always in plane with the pulley.

Pete

[scuff]

Graham-P said:

I've just installed a set of serpentine pulleys from Summit, haven't started it yet though, waiting for a belt to arrive. I haven't got air/con so I'm running without a tensioner. I'm told that you need less tension for the serpentine belt than the V belt thus less chance of either a broken alt bracket or throwing a belt.
It cost me around 250 USD

Graham, Where did you obtain the pulleys and the belts from? Can you please let me know.

Thanks,
S

[Graham-P]

scuff said:

Graham-P said:

I've just installed a set of serpentine pulleys from Summit, haven't started it yet though, waiting for a belt to arrive. I haven't got air/con so I'm running without a tensioner. I'm told that you need less tension for the serpentine belt than the V belt thus less chance of either a broken alt bracket or throwing a belt.
It cost me around 250 USD

Graham, Where did you obtain the pulleys and the belts from? Can you please let me know.

Thanks,
S

Scuff,
I take it that this is as a result of a FMEA study and now you're going into a DMAIC phase?

I trawled through the Summit Racing web site looking for the correct set up but had too many choices so ended up calling them, they sent me a set of three pulleys (March), crank, water pump and alternator. If you have air/con then you'll need that pulley plus, I think, a tensioner pulley, Clive should be able to confirm this. Took about a week to arrive, I intended to obtain a belt from here but no one had the correct length (42inch)so I had to resort to Summit again.
I guess that you could get them from Real 'Steal' or Stateside Autos but I paid around USD250 (GBP140) in total, I doubt they would be cheaper though. Maybe try March's website www.marchperformance.com
Hope that helps.

Graham.

Edited by Graham-P on Friday 29th September 15:08

[polus]

I thought when reading the title you had stacked it but thankfully the beast lives on!

You're not having much luck with the belts on it

Good luck with sourcing some new ones that will hopefully do a better job (maybe even a tensioner that isnt in such an awkard position to adjust and check).

Edited by polus on Friday 29th September 15:29