Heat Shields again

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firedrake1942
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Heat Shields again

Post by firedrake1942 »

Having researched the fuel vaporisation problems in the Minor, here and elsewhere, and noting that one of the causes is in the float bowl, I had spotted a period (1950s / 1960s) heat shield which is a) effective in shielding the float bowl, b) looks good and c) does not require any screws to be loosened on the carb itself.

It is not the whole solution and the re-routing of the fuel line from pump to carb, away from the manifold can play its part as can shielding the fuel line to the pump from the tank, but it does go some way to ameliorating the issues the Minor can suffer and these instances are likely to increase in frequency as the summers get hotter

I had only ever seen it on one car but this week managed to get hold of a rather battered version which I have repaired and repainted in BMC engine green

It clips around the carb bowl shielding it from the manifold and allowing a gap between the shield and the carb bowl for ventilation.

I am in the process of sourcing the steel and getting it laser cut with rounded corners as per the original and getting the right size clips then getting the right size former.

It is intended that a small run of these shields will be produced and I would be grateful for any expressions of interest. Cost is likely to be in the region of £20-25 and we will be doing them in heat resistant primer to later be painted in body colour, or in BMC engine-green.
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svenedin
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Re: Heat Shields again

Post by svenedin »

That looks good. The Grumpy heat shield kit from ESM comes with a shield for the rising metal fuel pipe to pump and a float bowl heat shield. The rising fuel pipe shield comes painted black and I had intended to paint it body colour but have not got round to it. It works very well and so I have never bothered to fit the carburettor heat shield. I had issues with fuel vaporisation last spring and after fitting the fuel pipe heat shield the problem was solved even in very hot weather in France so the float bowl heat shield did not seem necessary.

I might fit the Grumpy float bowl heat shield tomorrow and I'll post some pictures of both heat shields. The Grumpy carburettor heat shield only fits SU HS2 float bowls as it is secured using 2 of the float lid screws.

So your float bowl heat shield fills a gap in the market because there is nothing currently available off the shelf for an SU H2 float bowl and it would fit an HS2 as well. In addition it is easier to remove.

Actually, I fitted the float bowl shield just now......


Stephen


Grumpy rising fuel pipe and float bowl heat shield kit (HS2 carburettor only)

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1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
firedrake1942
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Re: Heat Shields again

Post by firedrake1942 »

Looks good but there are reports of the two screws coming undone. Loctite seems to be the solution. As you say this one is easy to fit.
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svenedin
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Re: Heat Shields again

Post by svenedin »

firedrake1942 wrote: Wed Aug 20, 2025 10:00 pm Looks good but there are reports of the two screws coming undone. Loctite seems to be the solution. As you say this one is easy to fit.
I suppose that is possible but there should be spring washers under the screw heads. My only criticism of the Grumpy shield is that it makes checking the vacuum advance connection to the carburettor impossible without removing the shield. The rubber connectors can and do perish. Your design is better I think. I would buy it! :D

Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
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