Always thinking, always thinking. Ive recently had the following email conversation with TVOR…….TVOR - I was in bed this morning thinking about your project (I'm not loosing sleep you understand) and a couple of points came to mind.
TVOR - Why can't you re direct your carb, either forwards or backwards, if you go for the adaptor tube? It struck me that it would be a simple matter to weld two flange plates to the end of piece of tube (straight or bent) thus enabling you to direct the carb where you wanted. Remember that the float needs to be horizontal. On the TF the flat chamber is adjustable relative to the carb choke centre line. The looking forward position would give you more space for the filter but may destroy the line of the tank.
ME - I wondered about alternate positioning of carb….. and remembered your water hose fabrication for the TF which inspire the thought that maybe we could recreate a carb one too. Do you think there would be any detrimental effects to the running of the engine by making the pipe longer and potentially more contorted?
TVOR - Have you considered what is going to happen to the hand brake cables? I guess that you don't want to see them but this may difficult because of the angle they exit the brake backplates. I would expect the best you can hope for is that they run parallel to the rear axle attachment tubes. The Austin 1100 (we had one) had a problem because of the low floor and everything having to pass along the centre tunnel. They overcame the problem be the cable coming out of the backplate, running forward almost parallel to the side of the car for a short distance, then passing round a "bell crank" that took the cable across to the centre of the car (can't quite remember what happened here). I do remember that the crank bearing was in line with the water from the wheel and would cease up regularly making the handbrake useless. Once you knew it, it was OK so it could be a possible solution. Even better would be to run the covered cable as close to the backplate as possible terminating it on a bracket off the rearaxle loction tube.
ME - The vehicle was originally fitted with cables that pull round to a simple lever in the tunnel…. And ive seen conversions that use solid bars across the rear axle (thus keeping it neat and tidy) to a crank through to a lever (though im not sure exactly how that links - CHECK OUT THE SOLUTION IN THE PICTURE SHOWN HERE) of course we should also keep an open mind as to where we mount the handbrake lever… im sure it has to be within driver reach, but this driver will be able to reach anywhere around the rear axle – might even be able to get away with it mounted almost right on one of the brake drum backplates! ;-)
I will be getting some SVA / MOT guidelines shortly
BTW it appears a simple decision / conversion as to which side of the bell housing that you take the clutch lever out. – the shaft goes all the way through the bell housing.
2 comments:
With regard to changing the inlet manifold I really don't see this as a serious problem. I am sure that the performance will be affected but sincew you have reduced the eight by possibly as much as one half you will have till have plenty to frighten yourself. You will ned to set up the mixture to cope with the new configuration but the adjustment range available should cope. I say mock something up (cardboard and glue gun?) and lets havea go. We only need to make a couple of flanges, one for the carb and one for the original inlet manifold make a bit of tube and bob's your uncle. If you want me to have a go you know where I am.
The handbrake. I like the idea of rods across the back of the axle to keep it neat but with a cable from there to the handbrake lever. This would make it much easier to position the lever anywhere and avoid the restriction of limited to streight runs. Don't forget you need to get at the handbrake lever easily when you wish to part but more importantly when you make a hill start. Having to fiddle behind you at the moment you are about to move off does't sound a good idea to me.
It all sounds very interesting and technical. Squidge can manage a sensible comment for his age group being "vroom vroom". Me not so sensible would "oooh shiney things" do? Nah? Didn't think so but good luck on the project shall check on progress shortly.........
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