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[Kevin Wood]

That alternator looks like it could happily power a small village. 

[Nick W]

That alternator looks like it could happily power a small village. 

Smaller and shorter than the stock Omega, and lower output at 80amp. That's more than it needs, but as it's off a Focus it's a common, cheap part that he had under the bench. We're trying to keep modified parts to a minimum. Regular service or consumable parts must always be standard.


Original MGB is a basic 35amp Lucas. The local specialist doesn't sell less than 45amp ones, which is what I bought for Deb's old 1300.

[Kevin Wood]

That alternator looks like it could happily power a small village. 

Smaller and shorter than the stock Omega, and lower output at 80amp. That's more than it needs, but as it's off a Focus it's a common, cheap part that he had under the bench. We're trying to keep modified parts to a minimum. Regular service or consumable parts must always be standard.


Original MGB is a basic 35amp Lucas. The local specialist doesn't sell less than 45amp ones, which is what I bought for Deb's old 1300.

Fair enough. Just looked quite large, probably because they're not normally sticking out of the front.

If it'll fit and it's cheap, then fine. There are probably more compact options, such as the little Denso ones fitted to some jap cars, but the price is kept high by all the kit car types chasing them.

[Marks DTM Calib]

That alternator looks like it could happily power a small village. 

Smaller and shorter than the stock Omega, and lower output at 80amp. That's more than it needs, but as it's off a Focus it's a common, cheap part that he had under the bench. We're trying to keep modified parts to a minimum. Regular service or consumable parts must always be standard.


Original MGB is a basic 35amp Lucas. The local specialist doesn't sell less than 45amp ones, which is what I bought for Deb's old 1300.

Check carefully the specs, many more modern alternators are not self contained and often need a LIN connection from the ECU to manage output volts

[Nick W]

That alternator looks like it could happily power a small village. 

Smaller and shorter than the stock Omega, and lower output at 80amp. That's more than it needs, but as it's off a Focus it's a common, cheap part that he had under the bench. We're trying to keep modified parts to a minimum. Regular service or consumable parts must always be standard.


Original MGB is a basic 35amp Lucas. The local specialist doesn't sell less than 45amp ones, which is what I bought for Deb's old 1300.

Check carefully the specs, many more modern alternators are not self contained and often need a LIN connection from the ECU to manage output volts

That's in hand.


We did look at the Denso units, but cost and the need to fit a wider pulley were issues. Small issues admittedly, and we would still have had to reverse mount it. The alternator in the pic already had the correct 6 rib pulley

[Nick W]

Some time ago, I painted some 16" steel Picasso wheels for a friend's Capri.


He's now got a VVC Metro, and because the car is a sleeper wants some steel wheels bigger than the stock 5x13s. So, he scrounged 5 unused 5.5x14" MGF spares from the specialist he works for occasionally. But they're black, and black wheels always look shit:





I cleaned, scotchbrited and wiped them over with thinners ready for paint:





A couple of coats of Aluminium Silver wheel paint(a stock wheel colour, RAL 9007) and some 2pack clear later:





The 'workshop':







All done with 200ml of the paint left over from the Capri wheels and a similar amount of clear, sprayed with a cheap HVLP touchup gun and my 30 year old compressor.

[Nick W]

After a change of plan, we've started on the exhaust headers:





they're not going out through the inner wings, but as block huggers so we can avoid cutting the car. The strap you can see bolted to the block is where the steering shaft runs, so we can do more of the work with the engine out of the car. This is fiddly enough as it is without making it harder still. The other side ought to be easier, as there's a much bigger gap between the oil filter and engine mount than between the starter and mount.

[henryd]

After a change of plan, we've started on the exhaust headers:





they're not going out through the inner wings, but as block huggers so we can avoid cutting the car. The strap you can see bolted to the block is where the steering shaft runs, so we can do more of the work with the engine out of the car. This is fiddly enough as it is without making it harder still. The other side ought to be easier, as there's a much bigger gap between the oil filter and engine mount than between the starter and mount.

Are you going to lag the pipes as it looks in the pic like its really close to the starter

[Andy H]

After a change of plan, we've started on the exhaust headers:





they're not going out through the inner wings, but as block huggers so we can avoid cutting the car. The strap you can see bolted to the block is where the steering shaft runs, so we can do more of the work with the engine out of the car. This is fiddly enough as it is without making it harder still. The other side ought to be easier, as there's a much bigger gap between the oil filter and engine mount than between the starter and mount.

That should keep the starter and solenoid nice and toasty.

Will there be space to extract the starter if it needs some TLC without pulling the manifold off?

[Nick W]

It is close to the starter. But there is nowhere else for the pipes to run: we can't bring them out any further because the steering shaft is in in the way and that runs next to the chassis rail.


We'll wrap the starter, and maybe add a heatshield to the end if we think it's necessary.


Lagging manifolds is ugly, expensive, rarely does anything useful and doesn't last long. So, no, we'll not be doing that.

[Nick W]

Got a bit more done yesterday:





and fitted:





and yes, I know I need more practice

[Andy B]

....

and yes, I know I need more practice

That's what TIG is all about ..... practice , practice & more practice  (and glasses/lens if you need them   )

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Handmade Wheeler tubular Omega V6 manifolds coming to an etsy shop near you 

I'm no expert but those manifolds look like things of beauty, very nice.

[Nick W]

Handmade Wheeler tubular Omega V6 manifolds coming to an etsy shop near you 

I'm no expert but those manifolds look like things of beauty, very nice.

You do not want to know how much time there is in these(this, as we haven't started the passenger side one yet), or the cost of the materials and consumables. The only reason to build headers like this for a road car is because there is no alternative. We won't make the systems, but fit off the shelf V8 ones.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Handmade Wheeler tubular Omega V6 manifolds coming to an etsy shop near you 

I'm no expert but those manifolds look like things of beauty, very nice.

You do not want to know how much time there is in these(this, as we haven't started the passenger side one yet), or the cost of the materials and consumables. The only reason to build headers like this for a road car is because there is no alternative. We won't make the systems, but fit off the shelf V8 ones.

Among my many crimes I have done acrylic/oil paintings. I did a commission for a friend once, and someone commented how much they liked my work, and said proudly "I'd pay fifty quid for that"...

If I charged minimum wage you don't get very many hours for that, and certainly not even close to how many hours it took me, research, trying out angles which work best, composition, getting the colour/light balance, standing back after hours and deciding you hate it, and it doesnt look 'right' and redoing almost all of it.... etc...

Please read my comment as being ironic, as I can well appreciate the vast time and skill involved in doing these, skill and time doesnt get valued enough sadly.