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MG MGF Technical - Nearly cured!!!


The annoying rattle/ rasping/ noise that I've been experiencing is nearly cured!

I got a dowpipe steady bracket from Mike Satur. I managed to fit it on Sunday morning ( in between twice having to retire to the house to get some heat back into my fingers - christ it was cold)

Now I managed to attach it to the manifold/ flexipipe with no problems.

But how the hell do I get both bolts into the block????

I managed to get the one nearest the oil filter. That was a doddle. But there is no way I can access the other side at all.

The noise has been significantly reduced but there is still a faint rattle there which I'm putting down to only only one bolt holding the bracket to the block.

This was all done from underneath the car with the inspection cover on as I dont think I'd be able to get it from above either due to the manifold.

Anyone managed to get this bolt in?
Bob Millar

Dont everyone rush to help at once!!

Just kidding.

Found the answere on Dieter's site. Looks like I'll need to remove the oil filter and reach in from the left but with the oil filter off I'll be able to get more access!

Bob Millar

I was just about to suggest Dieter's site as well Bob! ROFL! Fingers crossed you'll get the bracket fitted soon :o)
Rob Bell

>But how the hell do I get both bolts into the block????

It's an a**e to get the both upper in.
http://www.mgfcar.de/exhaust_bracket/

Good luck !

Suggest using the MGF/TF very own search engine at http://www.mgfcar.de (brown colored field). The same as http://www.mgcc.de/mgf/search.htm

Currently covering 955 documents from I think 15? webmasters.

Dieter K.

Looking at the pictures the top bolt is common to the alternator heat shield bracket. I did this at the weekend whilst fitting a Janspeed 4-2-1.

Access from top!

1, locate the manifold on the studs.
2, attach manifold nuts but do not tighten.
3, hold bracket in position
4, locate the retaining bolt (about 50mm long) in to position whilst jiggling the manifold.
5, tighten the bolt.
6, then tighten the manifold bolts

Get plasters for grazed fingers and knuckles.

Steve
Steve Ratledge

PS: the alternator heat shield is held to the bracket by 3 bolts. 1 at the top and 2 very small further down. Removing the heat sheild is time consuming but easy and gives more access to the bracket.
Steve Ratledge

> Looking at the pictures the top bolt is common to the alternator heat shield bracket. I did this at the weekend whilst fitting a Janspeed 4-2-1.


It's not the bolt at the alternator side it's the one at the other side.

Cant be bothered to stip off the manifold etc. I already did that a few weeks ago. I should be able to get at it if I remove the oil filter. Then I'll be able to get me forearm up into where the oil filter would be and that will give me a better angle!
Bob Millar

I tried to remove the heat sheild bracket protecting the water pipes too. I could undo the bottom bolt from under the car. But the top one was a git. In the end I did not bother, my conclusion was that I would need to move/remove some of the water pipes and I was not up for that !

Just removing the actual heat sheild killed the backs of my legs - whilst leaning right ober the side of the car and that was just the two long bolts with 8mm heads.

Good Luck
Steve Ratledge

Removing the heatshield is alright as long as you have.......an 8mm ratchet spanner!
Bob Millar

Yes those bolt are ridiculously long! I could not get a socket in so I used an 8mm ring spanner - hence the very stretched hamstrings. :-(
Steve Ratledge

> hence the very stretched hamstrings. :-(

I did is from underneath with the car up on ramps. Slightly easier than from above. Certainly for the two longer ones
Bob Millar

>Yes those bolt are ridiculously long!

Replaced the long bolts at both shields with shorter made from Stainless Steel at my current MGF :)
Dieter K.

Hi all,
yes -that bracket is a pig to fit but IMO it makes more good than just curing rattle. It might also neutralise the bending forces from the total exthaust system towards the head! In doing so there might be some additional free time until You all know what happends...
When doing the bracket I noticed that when both bolts were safely into the block and the nuts on the studs one should start to tighten the bolts into the block first,then tighten the exthaust flange nuts. By doing so there is less of a chance to apply any stresses to the system.
Thin rubber glowes from the pharmacy saved my hands.
Yes- the type of glowes you donīt want to see your doctor put on when visiting him ;o)

BR, Carl.
Carl Blom

> It might also neutralise the bending forces from the total exthaust system towards the head!

I'll second that. I had a look at the exhaust system while pressing the accelerator with my hand.

Even the amount of flexing/ movement in the system with the bracket in place was quite frightening!
Bob Millar

This thread was discussed between 23/02/2004 and 25/02/2004

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