Tony,
I was faced with the same problem in general last fall when I was
trying to find some way to put air cleaners on my 67 +4 with a TR4
engine. Got all sorts of good advice about women's underware (remember
that, John B.?) and finally found an answer at my local LBC mechanic. He
suggested swapping my long-tube TR4 manifold with a shorter TR3 (which
he just happened to have) and stay with my short-body SU's (you have the
short manifold, but longer-bodied SUs). He then suggested using RamFLow
air cleaners. They have a crushable expanded steel cover over a foam
filter, and with just a little reshaping I got them to fit under the
existing bonnet. If you don't need air cleaners (we do in New Mexico)
then your that far ahead, but I think they look very vintage, almost
like they came off an old British bike, and fit the Morgan character.
Just an opinion.
Bob Alexander
67 +4
On Wed, 6 May 1998 tjsouz@epix.net wrote:
> Date: Wed, 06 May 1998 08:11:50 -0700
> From: tjsouz@epix.net
> To: FPS3@aol.com
> Cc: morgans@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: No-scoop bonnet
>
> Hi Fred et al,
> The subject is choice of carburetor(s) for my flat rad 4 seater
> project. Having progressed to the point of being able to hang the
> radiator and temporarily clamp the firewall and original scuttle, I can
> now see how thw bonnet will fit. The good news is that new chassis
> length and engine position have worked out and the bonnet will fit fine
> in length. The bad news is that the decision time to chop the right
> hand bonnet half for carburetor clearance is now at hand. You see I
> have upgraded the engine to a TR-3 with its twin side draft SU
> carburetors and intake manifold. The old Vanguard engine used a single
> downdraft which fit well inboard the bonnet.
>
> I would like to keep the original bonnet intact, thus hiding the engine
> upgrade to the casual observer.
>
> Now the engineering question. Is there another manifold and carburetor
> combination for a TR-3 engine that will fit inside the bonnet? And of
> course not sacrifice the added power capability of the TR-3. Maybe a
> downdraft 2 bbl Weber a la Ford Cortina or something. A new intake
> manifold could be welded up from tubing. Maybe there's a manifold
> available? Has anyone pondered this problem or seen a solution? I
> understand from Craig Seibert that Melvyn Rutter's flat rad four seater
> +4 (Beryl) goes like stink with its engine and suspension improvements.
> Craig might have a picture of Beryl showing the starboard side, but so
> far hasen't been able to find it. Perhaps Melvyn might have a published
> picture or account showing the bonnet/carburetor interface. A photo in
> the M. Rutter ad shows a front 3/4 of Beryl but unfortunately for me
> it's the left front.
>
> If worse comes to terrible, of course, a hole could be punched and a
> SS-type scoop faired in, and although perfectly acceptable to Morgan
> standards, I would like to at least explore options that leave the
> bonnet intact, maintain the vintage flat rad look and hide the "boiler
> room".
>
> Any suggestions, hints, references comments greatly appreciated. It's
> a wonderful thing to have so many good Morgan people netted together
> with which to share these ideas.
>
> Regards, Tony Souza
>
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