MGF seat conversion and seat heaters

 I found some nice looking leather seats from an MGF.   The green looked like it would suit the Alpine.

I would then follow the process documented in this "seat convertion video" by Oily Puddles on the Sunbeam Alpine YouTube channel

In the meantime I thought it might be good to add seat heaters - just in case.

To dismantle the seats I followed this seat refurb YouTube video.

I had some issues mainly with the front plastic clip (as warned
in the video) in fact I managed to crack it quite badly.

The lip appears to just push over the edge of the seat base but there are several barbs punched out of the steel edge to stop the cover clip from coming away.

Seat back

Seat Base

The orange tool is showing the offending tags in the frame lip

Peel back the sides

The lower cover still had the hog rings

Pull the tie wraps down

cut a hole for the thermostat

And glue the heater to the base

Also fitted the B&G seat lowering kit

.

The seat frame is placed onto the foam base.

The cover is easily refitted.

The front clip had broken all the way along so I will need 
to secure the front with some screws or similar.

Type 9 Gearbox repair and Long first upgrade. SAOC National 2021

 

At the end of last year the 5th gear stopped working.
- it was as if in neutral.

Initially it turned out to be a simple fix - a broken circlip.

In trying to stop the gearbox leaking I made a small error as described in the type 9 gearbox manual.
Which meant a few rollers escaped on the layshaft.
Which I didnt notice - so a run around the block was sufficient to hear a new whine and then the need to remove the gearbox again.

The gearbox was despatched to Paul at First Motion  for proper repair.

I also chose to go for a "long first" conversion.

I chose the "longest" first gear option of FM275 which kept the other ratios the same.

Once on the road the first gear useage is perfect.
Before - it felt as though as soon as the car was moving it was time to choose second.

Maybe I dont need the Scimitar axle now.

A long run to the SAOC National at Thruxton proved it was better than before. Even fifth was easy to select now 😍

New Rocker covers

Ordered these rocker covers some time ago from Redmond Metalcasting.

They arrived for Christmas.

Some installers have had issues with the alternator being in the way.
Being pre-warned I didn't have an issue.
Maybe a lucky choice in fanbelt sizes.

Not a big problem  - but the breather hose needs to be extended
To keep the the run fairly neat the original hose was cut to keep the moulded bends but means a few extra unsightly jubilee clips are added.

Will look to improve that later.







Work to-do

• Fuel return hose install
• Fuel tank refurb
• Oil cooler take off port blanking.
• Front caliper rebuild
• Engine Electrical wiring improvements

Log Book and new engine

19 May 17
I've been working away for a while, Back for a long weekend to go to Spa Classic.

The log book has returned from DVLA with a change in cubic capacity. A lot less hassle than I expected.

The engine has been collected from specialised engines and looks good.
Would have preferred to build it myself (without the mistake) but working abroad for a while.
I'll begin the install after the trip to Spa



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23 May 17

After Spa - now fitted the engine...
It runs but whines a lot.

I thought maybe starter motor stuck on.


Apparently its the Aluminium timing gear and will reduce in volume as it wears in!

Hope so

Need to refit the cooling system and fill with water etc.. - When I'm home again.

type 9 gearstick adjustment and steering end stop

If you get the shortening of the housing slightly wrong then gear selection isn't easy!

not easy to see in the photo - but I had to push slightly down on the gear lever to select first and second - which leaves you open to the possibility of reverse at the wrong time.

The selector shaft gearstick connector needed to be rotated a small amount clockwise and be re-secured to fix the issue.


The steering arm on the drivers side would make contact with the oil cooler/filter housing.

After a while it was realised that the series 3 has an adjustable steering end-stop on the lower wish bone.
A tweak with the 9/16" socket and the steering was slightly restricted stopping the steering arm from making contact with the oil cooler.

Engine swap -finalising position.

The old gearbox was an Borg Warner 35 automatic, The original was a standard manual with overdrive so I had both sets of gearbox mounts to potentially use.

Remarkably the Auto box mount fitted just right and only needs the addition of a M12 hole and a small reinforcement.

The gear lever protrudes directly through the ashtray! But it does feel as if its in the right place when sat in the seat.

The plan was to shorten the linkage as per this series of photos.

This being a Right hand drive Alpine and a cologne two port head - the passenger side rear outlet is very close to the steering linkage. The exhaust stud was fowling on the grease nipple.

Some adjustments have been made to the position and it will be possible to fit a bespoke set of headers in there now.

But the linkage will need protection from heat.

Checking the Radiator alignment.

Top hose port is good and will use a standard Granada hose (shortened)

The bottom hose outlet needs to be readjusted.

Engine swap (part two)

Busy few days.

The engine mounts were cut out.
Nice to see some of the original colour. It will return to that colour one day.
Steering bar replaced. Awkward to fit.

 Trial hanging of the engine.

Will the engine go in with gearbox as well?

Annie wont be impressed with the state of the carpet!

Lots of things get in the way.
A few extra dents and chipped paint.

The oil filter was still on in this pic.. it gets in the way.
The remote filter will be fitted shortly.

Ready for takeoff captain...

Its not in the right place yet but it doesn't look so big now it's in.

I need to cut the transmission tunnel at the gear lever end to be able to push the engine back further.

Then the mounting position can be finalised.

And then pull out the engine again.. :-(

Engine removal - the change begins.

Engine swap part 1 (of many)

Sad to decommission the sunbeam but it's time to remove the old engine.

Deadline to have it all on the road again is June 2017.
But hopefully earlier.

We are going to the Laon Classic June 3rd in France.

No pressure yet.. (But many overseas jobs on the horizon)







It took all after noon to get the engine out.
Maybe not the best idea to leave the gearbox behind.
But the auto box looks big and heavy.

Not very much space in the engine bay to get at most of the bolts. And of course I forgot one so the engine would only move so far before it got stuck.

Had to take the water pump off as well to move it forward enough.

BW Auto gearbox next to come out.



Engine bay doesn't look to be big enough!