Need turbo support bracket

[Lotus907efi]

Anyone have a spare turbo support bracket lying about? This is the Y shaped bracket that bolts to the bottom two turbo to exhaust manifold studs and then bolts down on the block or motor mount somewhere. The car I am trying to reassemble is missing this piece.

Also anyone have a decent rear lower timing cover plastic piece? Or are all the good unbroken ones of these gone now?

Here is where I am currently at with the reassembly:

[John Brennan]

I have a support bracket. Shoot me a PM.

[dunhamr1]

I'm sure John hooked you up, I've got an extra turbo support bracket as well. Shoot me a PM if you're still in need.

[Lotus907efi]

Yes, I got one from John.

[dunhamr1]

Good to hear! Moving things around, I actually found the rear of a timing cover, shoot me a PM if you're still looking for that.

[Lotus907efi]

While I was trying to assemble the new turbo support bracket on the bottom of the turbo I discovered why one of the previous mechanics who did work on this car in the past left this bracket off. It turns out the rod for the waste gate actuator fouls the bracket so when they installed the new T5/T4 hybrid turbo they decided to solve this by just leaving the bracket off. I also discovered that the diaphragm inside the actuator was no good so the actuator has to be replaced anyway.

I also discovered that they left the two extra stiffening brackets that run from the bottom of the engine block down to the leading edge of the transmission bellhousing off the car as well. So I am now waiting on these two brackets from John as well. I hope this is the last of the "missing" parts that I have to replace.

BTW, I bought the timing cover pieces I needed from Jeff at Midwest Merkur.

[dunhamr1]

Ah yes, fouling issues, at least it's not the motor mount. I had to totally redesign and remake my wastegate actuator bracket when it was fouling on the motor mount while the turbo went in the car!

Glad Jeff had the parts, I'm not sure what we'd do without him....

[John Brennan]

Glad to be able to help-- I had three turbo support brackets, so I even still have a spare!

I don't know the particulars of your setup there, but if there's a way to modify the bracket to clear the rod, I would do that.

One way I always modify mine is I grind a little bit of the raised edge off of the rearmost leg of the Y, close to the mounting hole, so that I can get a wrench on it and get some travel with it. Most ratchets/sockets are too deep, and without grinding it flat, you can't turn a wrench there worth a damn. Makes installation/removal a lot easier, as it's pretty tight in there.

[Lotus907efi]

Thanks for the hint, John. I have the turbo and exhaust manifold still sitting on the bench so I am installing the bracket onto the bottom of the turbo before I bolt the whole thing to the side of the engine.

[hbar]

Before reading this thread, I had no idea there was a turbo support bracket. My XR had a different turbo on it when I bought it and there was no support bracket. I"m just now in the process of restoring the original T3.

So, how essential is the support bracket? If I don't have it, will this put enough stress on other parts to cause breakage? I have a stainless header in place of the stock exhaust manifold.

[Mike McCreight]

Flex pipes on the exhaust were not installed on the original setup. Imagine a 15' long pipe vibrating and resonating...
I'm using a Stinger header, cut apart and pieced back together for alignment purposes, braced and relieved, so far so good.

[John Brennan]

A flex pipe section to "break the lever" Mike describes is certainly an option if your header/turbo combo won't allow fitment of the stock brace.
Some have fabricated braces and supports which pull or push from other locations, such as the exhaust manifold or valve cover bolts.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

So, how essential is the support bracket? If I don't have it, will this put enough stress on other parts to cause breakage? I have a stainless header in place of the stock exhaust manifold.

Especially with a header it's a good idea to have the bracket in place. If you slot the lower mounting hole you can pre-assemble everything and then just slide it into place with the lower bolt loosely screwed into place. That holds the weight while you get the header bolts fastened. Some do it the reverse way, slotting the two upper holes of the bracket.

[hbar]

So, how essential is the support bracket? If I don't have it, will this put enough stress on other parts to cause breakage? I have a stainless header in place of the stock exhaust manifold.

Especially with a header it's a good idea to have the bracket in place. If you slot the lower mounting hole you can pre-assemble everything and then just slide it into place with the lower bolt loosely screwed into place. That holds the weight while you get the header bolts fastened. Some do it the reverse way, slotting the two upper holes of the bracket.

Great idea. I'll do that.

[blugg]

dan your first wave of bits arrive tommorrow (which has the bracket). Your last parcel will arrive before end of week.