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MG MGF Technical - cam belt tensioner

just had tensioners sent to me one has metal wheel same as taken off the other has plastic wheel with spring type on it i have 98 v v c should i replace like for like or is other one better (both parts are ina bearing parts )who i work for so will try to find out where they are made when i go in tonite on another noth will be reworking exhaust manifold crap design welded on the inside !!
rj hardwick

Not entirely clear, but I suspect that the plastic wheel tensioner is likely to be the autotensioner wheel. Your VVC needs a manual tensioner, so replace like-for-like.

Exhaust manifolds are not the best in terms of design and manufacture. Removing the excess weld from inside the pipe can liberate some gains, but can weaken it and lead to it fracturing and leaking along a join.

Best option for power gains is to use a decent 4-2-1 after-market manifold, but these are usually around 500+ quid...
Rob Bell

yes will do on tensioner propose to seam weld manifold on outside before i grind
rj hardwick

Yes, that'd be the recommendation - seam weld outside the pipes. I presume that this is not done as standard as access is a little limited, which would add time to manufacture. And time is money etc etc...
Rob Bell

thanks rob using wifes laptop at mo so signed in on her name i have seam welded manifold and started to grind out inside but just noticed crack in tube can weld but will probably go somewhere else then do you know of any good cheap suppliers of decent manifolds as running out of cash the garage phoned yesterday and advised me to replace exhaust valves too the fitter is a mate (he knows i will never sell and i want car right) so i trust him i am in stoneleigh tommorrow see you there regards richard
tg hardwick

I have a spare standard manifold that you are welcome to have - otherwise new standard or tubular manifolds are a couple of hundred quid upward. Let me know!
Rob Bell

thanks are you going tommorrow if so can i meet you there and how much do you want for it will use that until i boost funds to buy a stainless steel one thanks richard
tg hardwick

Unfortunately, not going to be able to make Stoneleigh tomorrow - but don't want a lot for it - a fiver? Someone's put a spark plug in the lambda boss, so I guess the thread's good - and it seems in sound condition :o)

I think that postage is going to be about a tenner though... :o/
Rob Bell

will let you know hoping to get stainless steel one tommorrow (in for a penny in for a pound )as the saying goes tracy has agreed its better to fit now while the f is in bits so fingers crossed i can get one at a good deal tommorrow thanks richard
tg hardwick

You know it makes sense Richard ;o)
Rob Bell

mgf center has scorpion one for £388 are they any good will order this pm if they are
tg hardwick

I believe this is the one I've bolted onto the Shed's engine - so I hope so!

It isn't quite an optimised design; it's primary and secondary lengths are a little short, but it is a big improvement over the standard fare.

Another option to consider is the Piper manifold. I believe Mike Satur sells this one - and may be worth considering.
Rob Bell

putting old one back on just ben told may be made redundant in march so costs will have to be slashed as need f to travel(midget is 68 model built for shows and the odd run not a daily commute) to new job if i can get one this country is falling apart
rj hardwick

Buckling under the strain of all that debt required to keep the banks afloat. >:o(

Any way, if you do need another manifold, I do have that standard one should your cracked one cause problems.
Rob Bell

thanks rob have welded it up and ported it a bit will have to do for now until funds pick up then it will be first thing on my shopping list.(perhaps i will go into politics then i can put it on expenses lol )
tg hardwick

Where did I put the receipt for the duck pond? ;o)
Rob Bell

had to order s/steel manifold from mgf center today haad car back manifold blowing like mad car running like on kangaroo juice !!!!! probably affecting lambda sensor (fuelling mixture ?)also noticed wiper motor making lovely grinding noise will have to spend some time on her the weekend stripping manifold and wiper motor will let you know how i get on lol
tg hardwick

Ugh! Bad news! Replacing the manifold takes some cunning guile, as there isn't a great deal of space betweent the engine and the subframe for the manifold a) to come out, but that's the easy bit - or b) get the new, somewhat bulkier manifold in.

I attached one of the MGF Centre manifolds on Project Shed. It was a bit of a pig to get to fit, and required some 'persuation' involving loosening engine mounts (not as scary as it sounds) and judicious use of scissor jacks. Must be said that it was harder to do with the engine and subframe out of the car than it would have been with it in, which is odd.

Let us know how you get on. And hopefully you can salvage your existing wiper motor/mechanism :o)
Rob Bell

been all afternoon stripping it bearing has gone so will take it to work tonight to see if i can match it up lots of excitement as i was working on it light aircraft came down about a mile from me lots of police fire bregade and such probably make the news tonite looks like everybody is ok thankfully will let you know how i get on
tg hardwick

rebuilt wiper motor the part number for the bearing is 608 z the z donates it is stainless steel bearing (mine was but very rough )stripped old manifold off today rob did you undo the the two 18 mm bolts on cambelt side to move engine back to get manifold in as it is very tight!!!!! must say mgf center manifold looks very good quality shame to hide it away (maybe glass cover like fararis a option lol)
tg hardwick

Where did you get the wiper motor bearing from?? Local motor factors? Nice job :o)

Engine mounts undone as you say - although might also have loosened the gearbox mount too, I can't remember now... done in a bit of a rush, in the dark, the night before MGFest09! LOL

I agree. Looks fantastic doesn't it? Very bling :o) But never to be seen again in public...
Rob Bell

any bearing suppliers should have them i use clydach bearing supplies if you need i will get no for you found a easier way to fit manifold strip as normal then remove oil filter and 18mm bolt from gearbox (you will see which one when you try to fit manifold from below)then you need to grind 10mm off block where nut was (not a problem only casting surplus)take out 13mm top bolt from alternator heat shield and push it towards o/s/r wheel and manifold should slide straight in hope this helps richard ps rob what sort of power gains should i expect?
tg hardwick

Is that the bearing under the PCB in the motor assembly? I recall getting that far but running out of time, bolting it back together and despite making a noise the BBC Sound Effects dept could have used for Daleks, it carried on working. Car now donor for a project that won't even have a windscreen, so fell off the task list...

I suspect the improved breathing of the better manifold will show a torque increase more than raw BHP.

If that heatshield bolt is the one I think it is, use threadlock on it - one that I had worked loose, was re-torqued very firmly and then on next inspection had vanished completely.
bandit

yes lovely day out there off to bolt motor back on and set up wiper position and hopefully wash and polish her (bought auto glym hi def wax £40 before head went so looking forward to giving her some tlc )
tg hardwick

>> ps rob what sort of power gains should i expect? <<

I haven't rolling road tested this manifold before, so can't say. Probably not a vast amount of power to be honest, but that isn't the place that these things really work - it's in the improvement in the mid-range torque. Probably looking at 3-5 bhp and 3-5 lb.ft gains in the middle of the power band. Since this is the area that you do most of your driving, you'll really notice the improvement :o)

>> Car now donor for a project that won't even have a windscreen, so fell off the task list... <<

Please reveal more Bandit!!! :oD Sounds like a lot of fun!
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 17/02/2010 and 08/03/2010

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