Marcos Maniacs

Seems like forever since I was last here, but I'm determined to get
CLE 100H on the road for the 50th anniversary so I need to take some
action.

I've read people saying they've fitted alternators in place of dynamos
on their Marcoses and figure this (along with a bigger battery in the
boot) would be a worthwhile improvement to the car to make it more
usable on a regular basis.

So, does anyone have any information on what's required to replace the
standard dynamo with an alternator, especially in terms of rewiring? 

What about fitting a bigger battery in the boot? Is there a good size?
Where can I get (and how would I fit) a battery tray? Is this just a
case of running the positive and negative battery cables through to
wherever they currently go (Supposed I should go and look :D) and any
suggestions on where I might source such long cables? Can they be
routed inside the car or should they go underneath?

Lots of questions there - discuss :D

Cheers.

Mark

Mark . . .

 

Alternator: See the article "Metric Conversions - The Proper Way to Upgrade
Your British Classic to a Modern Alternator"  in Classic Motorsports
magazine, Issue 137, March 2009, page 97.

 

Battery in the boot: take a look at a 70's Mantis - the battery is in the
boot and should give you some good ideas.

 

Regards . . . Ron McLeod

Marcos Mantis P8/5858

Marcos 3L GT 3V-5642

From: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Mark Saxby
Sent: February-08-09 12:06 PM
To: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MarcosManiacs] Time for action!

 

Seems like forever since I was last here, but I'm determined to get
CLE 100H on the road for the 50th anniversary so I need to take some
action.

I've read people saying they've fitted alternators in place of dynamos
on their Marcoses and figure this (along with a bigger battery in the
boot) would be a worthwhile improvement to the car to make it more
usable on a regular basis.

So, does anyone have any information on what's required to replace the
standard dynamo with an alternator, especially in terms of rewiring? 

What about fitting a bigger battery in the boot? Is there a good size?
Where can I get (and how would I fit) a battery tray? Is this just a
case of running the positive and negative battery cables through to
wherever they currently go (Supposed I should go and look :D) and any
suggestions on where I might source such long cables? Can they be
routed inside the car or should they go underneath?

Lots of questions there - discuss :D

Cheers.

Mark

Thanks Ron,

I'm in the US next week, so maybe I'll get to pick up a copy of
Classic Motorsports magazine, but finding a 70's Mantis is a little
more tricky :D

If anyone has any weblinks or other info they can send me, I'd be very
grateful.

Cheers.

Mark


--- In MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com, "Ron McLeod" <ronald.mcleod@...>
wrote:
>
> Mark . . .
> 
>  
> 
> Alternator: See the article "Metric Conversions - The Proper Way to
Upgrade
> Your British Classic to a Modern Alternator"  in Classic Motorsports
> magazine, Issue 137, March 2009, page 97.
> 
>  
> 
> Battery in the boot: take a look at a 70's Mantis - the battery is
in the
> boot and should give you some good ideas.
> 
>  
> 
> Regards . . . Ron McLeod
> 
> Marcos Mantis P8/5858
> 
> Marcos 3L GT 3V-5642
> 
>  
> 
> From: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com]

> On Behalf Of Mark Saxby
> Sent: February-08-09 12:06 PM
> To: MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [MarcosManiacs] Time for action!
> 
>  
> 
> Seems like forever since I was last here, but I'm determined to get
> CLE 100H on the road for the 50th anniversary so I need to take some
> action.
> 
> I've read people saying they've fitted alternators in place of dynamos
> on their Marcoses and figure this (along with a bigger battery in the
> boot) would be a worthwhile improvement to the car to make it more
> usable on a regular basis.
> 
> So, does anyone have any information on what's required to replace the
> standard dynamo with an alternator, especially in terms of rewiring? 
> 
> What about fitting a bigger battery in the boot? Is there a good size?
> Where can I get (and how would I fit) a battery tray? Is this just a
> case of running the positive and negative battery cables through to
> wherever they currently go (Supposed I should go and look :D) and any
> suggestions on where I might source such long cables? Can they be
> routed inside the car or should they go underneath?
> 
> Lots of questions there - discuss :D
> 
> Cheers.
> 
> Mark
>

On 8 Feb 2009 Mark Saxby wrote:

> So, does anyone have any information on what's required to replace the
> standard dynamo with an alternator, especially in terms of rewiring?

It hould be very simple. You would need a different bracket to support 
the back end of the alternator because it's shorter than a dynamo. You 
might also need a different fan belt because the alternator pulley is 
smaller that the dynamo pulley.

Then just rip out the regulator box and associated wiring. The 
alternator just has three connections: battery +ve, reference (usually 
routed to the battery +ve or starter solenoid) and ignition light -ve. 
The other side of the ignition light goes to the ignition +ve supply.
It should be the same for any classic -ve earth car. If you have +ve 
earth then you'll need to switch over to -ve earth, which will affect 
any electronic equipment such as the radio and tacho.

-- 
Richard Porter           M I N I   M A R C O S   O W N E R S   C L U B
Webmaster/Archivist      MINI JEM * KINGFISHER  SPRINT * MINI SPECIALS
ricp@...           http://www.minimarcos.org.uk/

Hi from the UK.

Late Mantula's like mine had the battery in the boot (and I think
Mantaras too), mainly because the heater matrix was moved to the old
battery location. With a good alternator there is no need for a huge
battery, and I don't think mine is any larger then the earlier ones.
On mine the single positive lead from the boot was replaced by a
previous owner with larger 35mm2 cable, and similar sized direct earth
return, and no problems ever since. It does however have a battery
isolator in the boot, which is a great way to completely stop any
drain on the battery when the snow is too deep to drive !

Best Regards
Steve

--- In MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Saxby" <mark.saxby@...> wrote:

>
> Seems like forever since I was last here, but I'm determined to get
> CLE 100H on the road for the 50th anniversary so I need to take some
> action.
> 
> I've read people saying they've fitted alternators in place of dynamos
> on their Marcoses and figure this (along with a bigger battery in the
> boot) would be a worthwhile improvement to the car to make it more
> usable on a regular basis.
> 
> So, does anyone have any information on what's required to replace the
> standard dynamo with an alternator, especially in terms of rewiring? 
> 
> What about fitting a bigger battery in the boot? Is there a good size?
> Where can I get (and how would I fit) a battery tray? Is this just a
> case of running the positive and negative battery cables through to
> wherever they currently go (Supposed I should go and look :D) and any
> suggestions on where I might source such long cables? Can they be
> routed inside the car or should they go underneath?
> 
> Lots of questions there - discuss :D
> 
> Cheers.
> 
> Mark
>