230 Mike wrote:
Just kidding Graham! I've gotten so busy the last couple of days I haven't had a chance to look. As I recall, it was a fairly simple (in theory) modification where 1) the bracket was cut cleanly into two pieces, then 2) bridged with a similarly-heavy short piece with two stout bolts on each side of the cut. Sound about right?
Yes Mike.
The extra bar stays permanently on the section of the original bracket that is bolted to the block, so it could be welded to it, rather than bolted.
When modifying it, the extra bar was clamped to the original and all the necessary holes drilled through both and tapped ( M8); including those for the dowels ( those were basically shouldered M6 bolts that I cut the heads off once they were locked in place). The holes in the water pump end of the bracket were then drilled out to give clearance for the dowels/ captive bolt threads ( facing forward, they are basically acting as studs)
Only then, when the new bar was firmly attached to the oridinal did I make the cut. so ensuring the alignment always stays connect ( probably not critical, but why not whilst I was doing it !).
Using the studs and dowels also means the bracket is held in place when it's being refitted even when the nuts and washers need to be retrieved from the bilge !