Shorrock / timing cover tech...

[Dr S]

So I’ve got my custom manifolds for the shorrock from maniflow. Took and age but I have an Lcb and an inlet manifold and no tactical dents.

I’ve got the charger mounted and the bonnet closes

So I’m looking at nipping up the two lower spacer bolts that go onto the timing cover and the plate behind it. The top one is stripped. You know the one with no space for a nut behind it.

So I have a spare plate... but can I get clever here or is it plate off? Can it be done in situ?

I’m off for a beer!

[Dr S]

Hmm so it’s the front plate and it holds the cam in place. I really don’t want to pull that. Do you reckon I can mig a captive nut onto the cover?

[Dr S]

Thinking about it I’ve got some silver solder in stock. Rated to 10000psi of stick. That should do it.... thoughts welcome

[GraemeC]

I don't see how mig-ing (or soldering) a nut on the cover will help - its the thread in the backplate that has stripped so without that the cover won't be tight against the gasket and you've a potential leak

[Dr S]

Is it not just splash at the top? It’s not actually full of oil is it? I’d assumed that it would be adequately held by the remainder of the bolts

[Peter Laidler]

On that basis Doc and as you've already got a stripped thread, couldn't you simply go oversize to the next convenient thread size. If it's the backing plate, then make sure that it is a fine thread too.

Just thinking on my feet as they say!

[Dr S]

Seems wise Pete, what size is that then. I’m a metric boy! It’s about 6.1mm acosss the threads

[GraemeC]

The originals are 1/4" UNF so you'd be looking at 5/16" UNF.
You might need to hunt around for bolt that has a head small enough to sit in the recess of the cover (although I guess your bracket may negate that problem).

[Dr S]

Cheers Graeme, it’s a long bolt with the spacer bracket. Time to find the old box of taps and see what I’ve got

To be honest, it’s a crap fitting for the bottom mount. The smallest bolt on the fitting and no room for a nut round the back.

[Peter Laidler]

Thinking on my feet again, this time taking into account Graeme's input, the new slightly oversize bolt head could be machined down to suit with a slot-head cut across to tighten it. Or just use an hex allen bolt. I'm not with my Zeus or machineries now but isn't 0BA close to 6mm as I recall

[Dr S]

Set of 5-16 taps on order. Let’s hope this can be done in situ
At least it’s better faster for the somewhat Heath Robinson bracket arrangement

[Dr S]

I’ll grab some photos when I get home again.

[Dr S]

So it looks like the front plate has to come off. I’ve got the taps but I can’t get access for the clearance drill and it’s not an easy approach for the tap.

So I have two options. Pull the plate and fit a new one ( or a modded tapped to 5/16 version ) or silver solder the spacer to the cover for the top mount and tap that 5/16”

I could do that in an hours work and it wouldn’t disturb the cam timing....

But the question is how much of a pavlova is it to pull the front plate in situ? Starting to wish I’d just pulled the sodding thing out now.