8 replies to this topic

[scomo52]

Hello
My standard original exhaust was indeed cracked and the gasket was worn so i decided to buy a lcb manifold as i was struggling to get hold of the original cast manifold that came on the car, i bought the new lcb manifold from minisport and when ive come to fit it the plate on the lcb manifold is a different thickness to the one on the carb inlet by a good 2mm could someone please enlighten me on where i may be going wrong or if there is a simple fix. Do i need to change the carb body etc
Please please can anyone help
regards

[SMP]

Firstly I don't think you are doing anything wrong - sure Ive had this problem before.

Which bit is the thickest?

Options are:-
1. Buy a new inlet manifold of a matching thickness. No good if it's an injection.
2. Make some stepped washers by cutting some extra washers in half and glueing / welding them onto your original washers. Glue should be ok - not got to do anything once it's clamped up.
3. There are some manifold nuts with captive washers built into them that will clamp onto uneven manifolds. They're not cheap, don't know if they will accomodate 2mm and they will still be straining the studs. I think these were used on the injections.
4. Take a grinder / dremel to the thickest manifold and thin it down (not on the gasket side).
5. Speak to the supplier (nearly forgot that one - do this first!!).

Steve

[scomo52]

Thank you ever so much for your help the more i think about it the more the inlet manifold is a good option to do i know another expense but thats what we have minis for isn't it? haha. i thought of the hole washer glueing trick myself but i feel like i would be bodging it which i dont want to do.
Thanx again for your help its nice that i can come on here as a newbie and have good people around to help me out. hopefully one day i may be able to return the favour.
Regards
scott

[Dan]

Firstly, well done for noticing and realising it's a problem. Many people don't pay that much attention, this is a common problem. Making a stepped washer isn't a bodge, simply ignoring the problem is the classic bodge here. What Mini is this? Did it already have a separate inlet manifold?

[KSTANDSTEVE]

On mine I had the original combined inlet/exhaust manifold so when I bought a minispares maniflow exhaust I also bought a new minispares inlet manifold too as I didnt fancy modding the cast iron jobby.

The minispares inlet also has the option of connecting to the cooling/heating pipework too - but I havent bothered with this.

[scomo52]

Thanx people for replying and giving me options i decided today to try get hold of a cast manifold like the one i took off so now im going to return my lcb manifold. hey presto good old somerford mini spares have come up trumps so to speak and it will arrive monday sometime. this option i like as well as im trying to keep the car as standard as i can as my aim is to restore it to its former glory.

Thanx again

[bmcecosse]

No need to bodge about 'glueing' washers - just file a flat on the washer to make it 2mm thinner, and back it up with a second washer!

[SMP]

No need to bodge about 'glueing' washers - just file a flat on the washer to make it 2mm thinner, and back it up with a second washer!

You must have a lot of patience if you're going to file half a washer down to half it's thickness? Quicker to hacksaw a washer in half then use the two pieces to modify two washers. Nothing wrong with "glueing" - I could have made it sound better by suggesting "bonding" - a technique used in structural applications on aircraft - perfectly acceptable in this non structural use on a mini. Just my opinion anyway.

Cheers
Steve

[adam_93rio]

i used an extra washer cut in half to get mine to the correct thickness, i tried a couple of inlet manifolds and none fit, so the 'cut a washer in half' option was best bet

havnt had any problems with it except when i forget theyre there and drop when taking it off for any reason, then off to cut another washer


does anybody know why they dont just make them the same thickness?