Engine Bay Trim

burner1 · October 08, 2011, 11:33:23 AM

So I don't divert the other topic, this is some of the stuff I am doing to clean up the engine bay. I have already posted photos of the water tank:

BlownMGB-V8 · October 09, 2011, 09:56:23 AM

Nice touches Gary, it's going to be a sharp car when you're done with it.

JB

burner1 · October 09, 2011, 10:30:10 AM

Thanks Jim, I thought I was done with it.

BlownMGB-V8 · October 09, 2011, 11:36:37 AM

Nah, that never happens.

JB

pspeaks · October 09, 2011, 12:35:53 PM

That's a fact Jim, I've had my GT for 30 years and I think my "to do" list is longer now than it was then. They keep inventing new stuff my baby just has to have and you can't let its birthday go by without getting it something, then there's Christmas!

deltadave · October 09, 2011, 03:35:35 PM

cool stuff, it never ends!

MG four six eight · October 10, 2011, 05:04:40 PM

Quote
"That's a fact Jim, I've had my GT for 30 years and I think my "to do" list is longer now than it was then."

LOL Oh so true!

Bill

cgill · October 12, 2011, 01:46:42 PM

That windshield washer reservoir is a piece of art.

burner1 · October 12, 2011, 02:23:38 PM

Thank You Chris. Seemed like a natural to the hole in the firewall.

burner1 · October 31, 2011, 02:16:36 PM

Very business with work so I am slow getting this car back together. Changing form FI to Carb and cleaning up the engine bay and wiring feels like I am starting over in some respects. Finally got the aluminum shelf and tank polished and finished. The tank access through a hole in the back using a klunk for washer pickup. The pedal box sand blasted and powdercoated:

I got the engine back in. Since I am changing it from FI to carb I needed a different tophat so I cut a new one down and welded it back up:

Been making several new parts which we laser cut. such as bell housing cover and a bracket for the alternator:

I have also been under the dash sorting out and cleaning up wires. Details I did a poor job of the first time. Going to build a bracket to hold the coil on the shelf. Going to pull carpet and lay down noise/heat pad.

Gary

BlownMGB-V8 · November 01, 2011, 08:39:45 AM

Looks like good progress Gary. I like your frame rail covers, never thought much of the way they made those rails and that's a pretty slick remedy. As mentioned, that tank is pure art work.

JB

burner1 · November 01, 2011, 11:28:09 AM

Thanks Jim,

What do you think of the alternator bracket support? I never had the front support like I should have but never had a problem. I figure it was a matter of time before I would have a problem without a front support but after looking at it I decided to make the plate which supports the spacer from the back side instead. It does allow for one less bracket on the front. I guess time will tell.

rficalora · November 01, 2011, 06:48:06 PM

Your slide on the alternator to adjust belt tension looks reasonably stout. I bet the combination of the reinforced bracket & that are plenty to keep it running true.

burner1 · November 01, 2011, 06:52:57 PM

I ran without the support for 3000+ miles. I figured I would eventually have to address it. It was on my list. This is better then it was so I kind of think it will be good. It is one less bracket on the front.

BlownMGB-V8 · November 01, 2011, 08:13:37 PM

I think it will be fine. With the poly-v belt you could get by with a little less belt tension which helps. Although the attachment bolts on the bracket are in a less than ideal configuration, the base is stout enough and the SHCS will help resist deflection so I think it will hold up. Is that powder coat? Looks good.

JB

burner1 · November 01, 2011, 09:18:18 PM

Yea, I finally got around to using the kiln (originally modified for heat treating metal) but works great as a powdercoat oven. Fast climb easy to hold temp and top loads. You probably remember it but I built a circuit using a type K thermocouple to set climb rate, peak temp, holding time..... I have been coating about anything I can get my hands on that will fit int he kiln:

BlownMGB-V8 · November 02, 2011, 08:28:32 AM

Very nice. I've seen ceramic kilns that looked like that. I spent some time thinking about stacking firebricks to make a gas fired kiln before I got my oven, but any high temp stuff I do is mostly small enough to use a torch.

On your alternator mount... I just noticed, does the SHCS go through the tube and into the head? If so that makes a huge difference.

JB

burner1 · November 02, 2011, 09:01:07 AM

Yes it goes all the way to the head.

There are 2 other nice things about kilns. One is non automated kilns are cheap. This one is a small-mid size kiln. Ceramics are such a labor intensive craft that the industry is in a nose dive right now. The wife goes to a ceramic show in Dayton each year. It was one of the largest anywhere nearby. It has 10% of the booths it did 10 years ago.

Used ceramic stuff is cheap and non-automated kilns I have seen rottenly go on craigslist for around $100.

Like I said I love the top load to. Plus being over kill heat wise you can do higher temp coatings easily too.

bsa_m21 · November 03, 2011, 01:40:25 PM

I need a bigger garage............. Can't fit everything I want, er I mean need.

M.

cgill · November 03, 2011, 03:07:23 PM

What clutch M/C are you using Gary?

burner1 · November 03, 2011, 04:30:09 PM

I think it;s Willwood 5/8. I'll look at it tonight.

Here is a coil bracket I made which is going on the left shelf:

cgill · November 03, 2011, 05:06:30 PM

Thanks Gary. That coil holder is a work of art.

Maybe you should start producing small runs of your parts and give them to your good friends on this site!

burner1 · November 03, 2011, 05:42:34 PM

I just checked and it is the 5/8.

Well I am mulling over product. They have to be things I can make with quality yet make it worth while spending my time on. If there are not of quality there is no use trying to sell them. If they are not proffitable it only takes away form what we do otherwise in the laser shop.

I would also have to be able to support the product. Some times I make a part for my car but I don't entirely know what model or year specifically the parts might fit.

Here are some things I have been cutting to check fitment:

Here is the coil on the deck:

mgb260 · November 03, 2011, 07:53:25 PM

Gary, Excellent work! You are going to have to do another thread on fine tuning the Holley 390. I am a little dissapointed though, I thought I had you convinced to do something a little more exotic. LOL. Hey, You could still mount that dual Rochester set up on the 4 barrel base later on!

burner1 · November 03, 2011, 08:06:17 PM

I really really thought about it but time is overtaking me. I have been totally redesigning the Pantera front to back. When I pulled this car apart I needed to get it back together and now it's been more then 6 months and I am still fiddling with it. My Ford 8n is blowing smoke and I need to re-build it this winter (mowing tractor). It's been waiting all summer to get the MG done.

It's was a decision made based on time.