Jump to content

quick (novice) question - narrow belt conversion / front apron


Recommended Posts

Hello again all !

 

I have some further time on my hands whilst the refurbished damper that doesn't work is sent back and replaced with one that does, adding yet more time to the already significant labour costs getting the previously rusted up spring bolts out !

 

In the box of stuff yet to be fitted is the new alternator and narrow pulley kit.

 

Does the front apron need to come off to fit the pulley kit - my man at the garage believes it does?

 

If it does, is this a time consuming thing? If it is I am thinking that there are other things like taking out and flushing the rad that might as well be done at the sale time !

 

I am hoping this will be a long summer !

 

yours expectantly

 

(ps, if the apron does have to come off, what else should i be doing (getting done) at the same time???

 

(don't say R&P conversion as I've used up the budget for 2014 !)

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

sadly when i joined the register last year, I never u/s the potential future significance of the technicalities CD and paid no attention to where i might have filed it !

Link to post
Share on other sites

I think you probably could manage to change the water pump pulley, & crank pully / fan etc with apron on, but it will be difficult, and will undoubtedly result in many grazed knuckles ! & possibly damage to the rad.

I had my apron off (if you see what I mean) a couple of weeks ago to fix a rad leak. it was not as difficult as I had feared. two people are required though to lift it clear.

 

Bob.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Technicians CD? Is that one of the CD's I got when I joined. [Mental note to investigate further]

Yup, one had video of men having fun in fields in TR's, the other apparently is full of useful stuff. I fear I may have 'recycled' both

Link to post
Share on other sites

I think you probably could manage to change the water pump pulley, & crank pully / fan etc with apron on, but it will be difficult, and will undoubtedly result in many grazed knuckles ! & possibly damage to the rad.

I had my apron off (if you see what I mean) a couple of weeks ago to fix a rad leak. it was not as difficult as I had feared. two people are required though to lift it clear.

 

Bob.

Replacing the items with the apron on, can cause havoc to the radiator: it's easily perforated when you're working on the belt. First, I would suggest that you stick a piece of hardboard or a thin layer of triplex behind the radiator with the help of duct tape. Furthermore, it's very easy to damage the filler neck of the radiator, causing a crack in one of the corners... causing a leak - which case you still have to remove the apron.

 

My advise: remove the apron! Indeed it will take some time to remove it, but apart from the job itself, it's pretty straightforward and not difficult. Before you set off to remove it, I would suggest that you douse the the bolts & captive nuts in liberal amounts of Plusgas to make sure you'll be able to remove them without shearing the bolts.

 

Menno

Edited by Menno van Rij 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Replacing the items with the apron on, can cause havoc to the radiator: it's easily perforated when you're working on the belt. First, I would suggest that you stick a piece of hardboard or a thin layer of triplex behind the radiator with the help of duct tape. Furthermore, it's very easy to damage the filler neck of the radiator, causing a crack in one of the corners... causing a leak - which case you still have to remove the apron.

 

My advise: remove the apron! Indeed it will take some time to remove it, but apart from the job itself, it's pretty straightforward and not difficult. Before you set off to remove it, I would suggest that you douse the the bolts & captive nuts in liberal amounts of Plusgas to make sure you'll be able to remove them without shearing the bolts.

 

Menno

Oh, if only the bolts did shear. The usual fiasco involves the nut turning in the cage. You can get some long pointy nosed Vise-Grips in the gap through the headlamp fitting holes to grip the cages if needs be, in a couple of places.

Take the head lamps and grille out and squirt copious amounts of PlusGas or some other freeing oil at all the cage nuts a day or so before you start.

Worst case is hacksaw down the apron the wing gap.....

Cheers

Peter W

Link to post
Share on other sites

 

 

Take the head lamps and grille out and squirt copious amounts of PlusGas or some other freeing oil at all the cage nuts a day or so before you start.

 

Indeed. Good to point out how to do it.

 

M.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I replaced all my body bolts with stainless. A small cost for the confidence that they will come apart easily in the future.

 

Rgds Ian

 

PS Westfield fasteners sell boxes of 200 1/4" UNF for about £25

Edited by Ian Vincent
Link to post
Share on other sites

Good idea, but did you also change the captive nuts with stainless?

 

My bolts were new plated ones fitted on rebuild last year - so all came out easily.

I do fit them with grease on threads which helps.

 

Bob.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh, if only the bolts did shear. The usual fiasco involves the nut turning in the cage. You can get some long pointy nosed Vise-Grips in the gap through the headlamp fitting holes to grip the cages if needs be, in a couple of places.

Take the head lamps and grille out and squirt copious amounts of PlusGas or some other freeing oil at all the cage nuts a day or so before you start.

Worst case is hacksaw down the apron the wing gap.....

Cheers

Peter W

Unless your trying to do it on a 2 or 3 where the headlamp pods are further back and you cant get to the captive adjacent to the bottom of them.

Stuart.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Austin,

Just because the bits are there doesn't mean you got to fit them!!!!. I think you may have problems getting the fan extension piece bolt out without the radiator off. Save yourself lots and lots of cash, fit a new uprated dynamo that fits without any modifications at all, does the same as an alternator and looks more original. Water pump can be done without any major headaches. Leaky crankshaft oil seal ? Live with it and and put it on the listy

The more you faff around with addons, the longer it takes to get the next thing you find sorted and you'll never finish. get the dynamo and fit it, lubricate the captives for the winter doesn't take that long to get at them.

YOU WILL END UP HATING THE CAR IF YOU KEEP FINDING SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. They are a money pit but don't need to be if you plan ahead and don't get sidetracked.

If it runs and will pass mot ( do what is necessary to make it so}, get it on the road as there is always the winter and just use it. You will learn so much about your car and what you really want the change. Talk to others when you have the car there and then perhaps make a list of things that you want to change and prioritise them and budget.

Hi output water pumps, rack and pinion, etc etc are nice. IMHO if you want those sort of things get a TR4/ 4A, side screen cars are a lifetime apart and primitive so embrace that!!

 

best regards

Rod

Link to post
Share on other sites

...I fear I may have 'recycled' both

Austin, where old TRs are concerned, NEVER thow ANYTHING away! No matter how broken or worn out or useless something appears to be, one is almost certain to want it at some later date for one thing or another.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Please familiarise yourself with our Terms and Conditions. By using this site, you agree to the following: Terms of Use.