Batch of Supercharger support braces:-

[carlos420uk]

If you want something cheaper to fabricate, how about a pair of T brackets that have one bolt connecting them horizontally?

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by using 2 T brackets, but assume you mean no diagonal support but instead a straight vertical joint between the 2 T's bolted together with 2 bolts?

 

[carlos420uk]

I reckon I'd leave them as a solid assy but, if you can dowel the large bottom plate to place using two dowels on the opposite diagonal to the fixing bolts. This would be done in place on the engine, and if there was any gap under the supercharger some shim would do the trick. Dowels could be 5mm dia. silver steel or similar.

I think I'd look to profile the plates, or at least radius the corners, and also make sure I got each plate as flat and square as possible after welding. Job for your milling m/c when you get it? Lightening holes could look good too!

Not keen on the complexity of the rose joints, they just might come loose even with thread lock, and there must be some "play" in them to have rotational movement, obviously only a very small amount when new.

Just my 2p's worth...

Hi mate, your 2p's worth is more than welcome. I'm here to learn from those that have been at this game a lot longer than I (even though it might not seem that way sometimes) so all suggestions / criticism are taken on board and considered.

Lightening holes are a great Idea, as weight is a big thing in the modified / track car scene. So is looking pretty and cool for that matter lol.

I had already planned to radius the corners to tidy them up and possibly cut of the un-used 2 corners that don't get used to bolt up, and also to square off any slightly out edges of one plate to the other (Purely cosmetic as the holes are always in the right place due to the jig, but that doesn't mean I can always line the plate edges perfectly parallel to one another).

These will be supplied fully painted also.

I am not exactly sure what you mean about the dowels and the engine block, but if you could explain more that would be cool so I could understand.
I do use 11 and 9mm round stock dowels as such to lock the plates (Template / guide plate, and plate(s) being drilled) along with a G-clamp all locked in the x/y vice on my pillar drill before I maneuver across and drill the second hole. This ensures that each and every plate has the holes in the same place (I hope )

I also agree regarding flatting off the plates, but assume you mean do that prior to welding or after? If after shims and / or slotted holes would be needed to ensure fitment though as you'd be removing metal? Like I say the plates aren't exactly perfectly true when they have been cut from the flat stock, and I use a cold cut saw to do it

I do have a 1500w 100mm belt linisher that does a decent'ish job of flatting plates, edges etc, so could use that maybe, but even that heats the piece up. Like you say it would be a good job for the milling m/c and another excuse why I "Need" one I'm about to start another thread about the m/c I'm thinking of purchasing, so I'll talk about that then.

Thanks again for all of the suggestions, ideas etc I'll post some pics of how anal I've actually been over making these shortly, considering it's a pretty simple fabrication compared to some of the stuff I've seen people turn out on here I think I over thought alot of it!

 

[Wallace]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by using 2 T brackets, but assume you mean no diagonal support but instead a straight vertical joint between the 2 T's bolted together with 2 bolts?

A badly drawn picture paints a thousand words! Replace the 25x25 diagonal support with two shorter 6x25 plates that bolt together where they meet.

 

[FranV8]

Ooh, what did you draw that on? Not sketch up was it?

 

[Wallace]

Ooh, what did you draw that on? Not sketch up was it?

Yes, it was either that or scan a fag packet sketch!

 

[carlos420uk]

Look what I've just found looking through my box of bits. Will see if I can get a mk2 version made up with these later, as I still like the rose joint idea tbh. These are M8 size, I wasn't lucky enough to find a right and left hand thread though:-

 

[FranV8]

Yes, it was either that or scan a fag packet sketch!

Good though, I did play with it a couple of years ago. Did the sketch take you long?

 

[Epicyclic]

I am not exactly sure what you mean about the dowels and the engine block, but if you could explain more that would be cool so I could understand.

I'd check to see what is going on behind where you are fixing the lower plate to (oilways/waterways etc). Bolt the bracket up so you are happy with it. Then, if you have material behind the plate, drill through the plate into what is behind and ream a suitable size hole, fit the two dowels and you have positive location and support for the bracket, not just the clamping force of the two bolts. Not easy to explain, and I ain't no wizz with drawing packages anymore, hope it makes sense.

I also agree regarding flatting off the plates, but assume you mean do that prior to welding or after?

If I was having this made at work both mounting faces of the plates would be skimmed for flatness and squareness (and the mounting holes drilled) after welding and a quick stress relieve. Extra metal would be designed in for skimming off.

If after shims and / or slotted holes would be needed to ensure fitment though as you'd be removing metal?

If I were using shims then I'd make their holes +2/3mm on the bolt dia.

Hope it helps, but as always there is more than one way to kill a cat...

 

[Wallace]

Good though, I did play with it a couple of years ago. Did the sketch take you long?

About two cups of coffee this morning, first time I've used it.

 

[Cal]

Great work.

What car is this on?

 

[rkde]

Great work.

What car is this on?

Its an M62 Eaton blower so we should presume its a Mercedes C Class

 

[FranV8]

No, Honda Civic Type R, EP3.

 

[rkde]

I am sure the EP3 was an NA engine so is this for the Jackson racing blower? I thought it was a twin screw but I guess it is also about the right size for the m62...

 

[jinjahbiscuit]

Interesting project this. I think I would tend to agree with Epicyclic though, keep it fairly basic (and cheap). Stick with the fabrication, machine the ends to match space where it fits and use shims to make up the gap. I would think that dowels are out. If you're on the track and one comes loose, it could cause havoc. Doubt you'd get past the scrutineers anyway.

 

[carlos420uk]

As Fran rightly said, these are for the Civic Type R Ep3 shape (01-06).
The charger kit is Jackson racing, but the blower is an M62 to the best of my knowledge. They are a twin screw design as such.

Another one of the reasons I made these is because there is an equivalent kit out there made by another company called Comptech using a slightly different charger (still twin screw / impeller). That kit comes with a support brace as part of the package similar to mine, and they don't suffer the cracked manifolds that the Jackdons do.

Although a nice thought Epicylic dowels are out of the question as the people who will be fitting these are highly unlikely to want to drill there engine blocks to use them, plus space to fit one of these is tight if doing it with the SC in situ. The botton larger plate sits against a flat part on the block anyway so plenty rigid once bolted up tight.

I have 6 fully welded and tidied up now, but due to working 6 days and having a family I spend many a late night in the workshop trying to get stuff done! Got a backlog of parts and projects to keep me busy for a few months

A little Update, the mk2 version is now made, and it's fully adjustable. Looks really trick, but I'm still undecided as to which design is better. I know I keep promising more pics, so will try and snap some before I lock up tonight.
Got me some Sif Silicon / Bronze brazing rods to try out. Going to weld up a test piece with it later and see what I think. Hoping I can nearly eliminate distortion all together, but need to get the BFH out to test for strength afterwards.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and input everyone.

Pics to follow.....

Carlos.

 

[Epicyclic]

Looking forward to pic's of the finished item which ever way you choose....

 

[carlos420uk]

Here's a few pics of the new style rose jointed brace (before completion) and also some random pics of the jig I made, how I clamp them up for welding (and how much of a pain it is to weld them because of the clamps), making the jig etc.

Jig is 30x30x3mm box welded at a right angle, with 10mm plates drilled and tapped with M10x1.5 and M8x1.25 threads.

Rose joints are the quality teflon lined type (No "feelable" play) and are M10x1.5 L and R thread, same for the welded in inserts. I added the hole in the middle of the tube to stop the weld blowing out at the end, and it also serves as a point to put a piece of 6mm round stock through which I bent at the end so it's shaped like an Allen key for adjustment usage.

I'm living in the garage lately, she says she's going to set me a bed up in there

 

[Wallace]

Very nice, does it work out expensive with the rose joints? Your garage is too tidy, go out and get some clutter!

 

[DrNik]

Your garage is too tidy, go out and get some clutter!

i agree, needs a bucket of swarf throwing around the garage

 

[dannyp]

i agree, needs a bucket of swarf throwing around the garage

and a bucket of oil for good measure