Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Bulkhead boxes


  • Please log in to reply
1 reply to this topic

#1 pikey7

pikey7

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,824 posts

Posted 29 December 2005 - 06:20 PM

Guys,

I'm rebuilding the front of the body at the moment (damned PO's and their tendancy to go to cheap-a$$ body guys), And I thought about preparing the shell for engine upgrades while i'm at it.

The biggest problem is, I don't know the way I'm gonna go for the big numbers at the moment. Soooo, I was considering a box for webers AND a box for a Turbo. That way I'm covered for the future, and the body won't need another stage of welding.

From the pictures I've seen of the two boxes, the turbo box basically chops out the bulkhead crossmember AND slightly above and below the crossmember. Whereas the weber box just slots a big box above the crossmember.

So, my questions...

1. What's with the crossmember on the turbo box? surely chopping out the middle section of it weakens this member substantially. with it being the subframe top mounts and the bit that keeps the top of the shocks apart, I'm a little wary of it. Can someone put my mind at ease?
2. I guess I'll lose the heater mounts with the turbo box, but does a heater still fit? Even though it'll end up being a bit in the "stripped racer concept" I still want a few creature comforts, and will obviously need a heater to pass the demist regs in the MOT (right?)
3. I've read that if you use a mirage manifold on a turbo car, then you don't actually need a turbo box. Is that right? (I've not actually seen a pic to prove it, just lots of "yes it will"s and a few pics of engines out of cars. That way I am safe in the knowledge that I can just fit a weber box, and if I do go turbo, then I can go with a Mirage.
4. can anyone tell me definitively how to position either box. There's a bit of conjecture flying around, and I'd like to hear the first hand truth!

Thanks,
Mike

#2 Dan

Dan

    On Sabbatical

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 21,354 posts

Posted 29 December 2005 - 08:10 PM

The turbo box also projects to the rear into the passenger side of the bulkhead, so it's not just chopping out some of the crossmember and leaving a flat plate. There's still some box section to it and it still has strength. It's fine and it passes the construction and use regs if fitted properly as it was designed for the Rover/ERA turbo Mini which was sold by dealerships and made in Rover's name and so it passes type approval.

The proper turbo box has new heater mounts on the rear of it AFAIK. It moves the heater about 1 1/2" further into the passenger cabin (if your heater is currently fitted to the mount closest to the bulkhead, if you look at the mount you will notice there are two positions for the heater to fit).




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users