Rad/Dynamo Qs from a very new owner!

[Big Brother]

I have just bought my first Seven earlier this evening, and I was grinning from ear to ear all the way home!!!

 

I have now had some time to pick the bugs out of my teeth and give the car a good look over. I now have a few questions!!!

(The car is a 1979 model fitted with 1700 SS / 4 speed / live axle

 

Question 1

The car has a 1700cc Super Sprint engine that is fitted with a dynamo,(and I thought only push bikes had them...) it also has a history of charging problems. Does anyone have any experience of converting from a dynamo to an alternator? If so - whats involved, what alternator will fit, can an alternator bracket be bought over the counter and will the loom need to be modified - voltage regulator bypassed?

 

Question 2

The car is fitted with an early radiator (that leaks)with a tiny fan on the grill side of the rad. Is it possible to fit a later type rad (the smaller/thicker type) with the fan mounted the engine side. If so will the wiring to the fan need to be modified.

 

Question 3

Can anybody recommend a decent "haynes manual" type book, that shows how to strip - rebuild the Seven (possibly a restoration book)

 

 

 

Edited by - steve motts on 21 May 2001 23:30:24

[allen]

Amazed no one else has picked up on this - expect you have seen my repy to your post on the General Chat forum, will post some information, or email it to you tonight - whereabouts are you in the country, I'm Somerset, so if you're at all local...

 

Later thumbsup.gif , when I get home

 

allen

[Dave H]

Steve,

 

There is no Haynes Manual, but, there is an extremely useful and excellent book by Tony Wheale on restoring & maintaining a Seven. The build manual also has some useful stuff in it (or my copy does - about '93 vintage)

Haynes do a book on the Crossflow, which tells you everything you need to know, plus what to do when you catch upgraditist.

 

Dave

[c7kjt]

My seven ('86 supersprint) had a similar radiator configuration to yours. Converted to a sealed system with alloy rad, better fan (i.e. one that actually does something), silicon hoses and proper header tank. The work was done by James Whiting, excellent job, pics available here under 'modifications'.

 

Kevin Thomas

kevin.thomas@bigfoot.com

www.7gallery.co.uk

 

[R2D2]

If you have a dynamo it is possible (just) thay your car has a positive earth. If it does you will need to change the connections on any polarity sensitive device such as heater fan, horn, washers etc, etc. The biggest problem would be the rev counter and it would probably be easier to change it for a new unit rather than try to convert it to negative earth.

 

The easiset alternator to fit is an LAR100. These units are quite cheap and have the regulator pack built in to the rear of the unit.

 

I recently bought a Pace products alloy rad which has mountings for the fan welded onto the rad. This would move the fan behind the rad, but you would need to buy a compatible unit.

[John]

Radtech in Cannock Chase make the Caterham alloy rads (or alloy rads for Caterhams) They can make the fan mounts either way round and can provide a SPAL electric fan which would cool ice cream for polar bears. As for the dynamo / alternator conversion, fitting a Mk2 Escort alternator and bracket should be straight forward. Just check that your current setup is not positive earth and recrimp the correct connector onto your charge wires. the onnectors can be bought from www.lightninglooms.com. They can also advise on positive to negative earth conversion if necessary.

 

Sounds like upgraditis has gripped immediately.

 

John

[Big Brother]

Allen

Thanks for the mail, its really appreciated. The scans and advice will be very helpful.

 

Allen - Dave H

Cheers, I have just ordered the book from a local branch of WHSmith (2 Week wait)

 

Kevin T

Cant stretch to an allow rad yet, but I will find out more about the sealed system.

Was your rad in this position before the upgrade? Mine is mounted further back (inside the chassis - behind the roll bar).

 

Chris

This was something I checked before buying the car, its -ve earth. Do you know where the voltage regulator is likely to be? I have looked - but Im not sure what Im looking for!

 

John

Cheers for the link and advice. Upgraditis has only gripped so far as I have a charging fault, a rad like a seive and a severe misfire when hot - poss due to rad?

 

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

 

 

Edited by - steve motts on 22 May 2001 22:23:31