Plus 2 Alternator fitting

[NYK]

A couple of questions having just fitted my alternator (bought the car in bits so have never seen what it should be like).
In the first picture, is the distance between the alternator and head normal, the gap looks a bit small to the uninitiated?
In the second photo, should there be a bolt through the arrowed hole into the timing chain cover?

[pharriso]

That's this bracket?

[NYK]

Yes, that is the bracket and this illustration appears to show a bolt going through it into the front cover. But my bracket has a cut out on the other side of the bracket where the bolt appears to go through such that the bracket can be fitted over the existing bolt that is in the front cover. My interpretation is that perhaps initially there was this through bolt but is was subsequently decided that a through bolt was not necessary.
Comments?

[mbell]

A bolt through the front cover and mount is standard, with a standard round hole for the bolt in the mount. Maybe someone decided they'd be removing the alternator mount that often they'd mod the bracket....

[NYK]

I wonder why it needs that bolt through the front cover as the bracket has two sizeable bolts into the block.

Any thoughts about the proximity of the alternator to the head?

[Craven]

Logic say’s to strengthen the front cover, several mods were made to the upper adjusting bracket for alternator use.

[pharriso]

I wonder why it needs that bolt through the front cover as the bracket has two sizeable bolts into the block.?

The Lucas ACR is a big heavy chunk of metal, I think Lotus were concerned that the bracket would tend to rotate about the block boss mounting face, so they made that arm wrap around the front to give some stability.

That bracket really is a "Brick Shithouse", pardon my English

Any thoughts about the proximity of the alternator to the head?

I'd be more concerned about the proximity of the exhaust manifolds (American = Headers...)

[pharriso]

Here's another picture of a LTC with the Lucas ACR alternator:

Don't use this style upper bracket...

Make sure that you use the later style top bracket & front cover re-inforcing plate so the Front covers are not stressed:

[NYK]

Here's another picture of a LTC with the Lucas ACR alternator:

OEM_Lucas_AlternatorBracket.JPG

Make sure that you use the later style top bracket & front cover re-inforcing plate so the Front covers are not stressed:

SteveLoader_Brackets_092016.jpg

Yes, I’ve seen this bracket from a couple of U.K. suppliers but not sure if they have the reinforcing plate, looks like a day on the phone tomorrow

[pharriso]

Here's another picture of a LTC with the Lucas ACR alternator:

OEM_Lucas_AlternatorBracket.JPG

Make sure that you use the later style top bracket & front cover re-inforcing plate so the Front covers are not stressed:

SteveLoader_Brackets_092016.jpg

Yes, I’ve seen this bracket from a couple of U.K. suppliers but not sure if they have the reinforcing plate, looks like a day on the phone tomorrow

I think Kelsport carry both..

Reinforcing plate is https://kelvedonlotus.co.uk/product/alternator-front-cover-adjusting-strap/
Bracket is https://kelvedonlotus.co.uk/product/alternator-adjuster-strap-2/

[NYK]

Here's another picture of a LTC with the Lucas ACR alternator:

OEM_Lucas_AlternatorBracket.JPG

Make sure that you use the later style top bracket & front cover re-inforcing plate so the Front covers are not stressed:

SteveLoader_Brackets_092016.jpg

Yes, I’ve seen this bracket from a couple of U.K. suppliers but not sure if they have the reinforcing plate, looks like a day on the phone tomorrow

I think Kelsport carry both..

Reinforcing plate is https://kelvedonlotus.co.uk/product/alternator-front-cover-adjusting-strap/
Bracket is https://kelvedonlotus.co.uk/product/alternator-adjuster-strap-2/

Great, now ordered thanks again.

[Donels]

Here you go, a picture of the bracket and alternator.

[NYK]

Here you go, a picture of the bracket and alternator.

151D0C48-2133-4B18-8D6B-867FC5B44D4C.jpeg

Thanks, useful photo. Did you have problems with the dip stick fouling the bracket? Looking at mine it appears that I may have an issue, it looks like the dip stick tube needs to be belt a bit but I can imagine that it will not bend easily and or I risk collapsing the tube. I know for a fact that I can’t pull the tube out, I think when I rebuilt the engine I pushed it in too tightly.

[Donels]

No clash with the dipstick but it is close, see pic, but I have a tooth belt drive. If I remember correctly the tube is a shrink fit in the housing, ie the housing is heated before the tube is fitted, so it won’t move without reheating. It will certainly collapse if you try to bend it.

[Donels]

Just remembered. The original bracket was wrong for the toothed belt so I made a new bracket that cleared the dip stick etc. Then just use a spacer as required. Another pic. New bracket on left, original right.