Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing +8 Alternator removal

The bearings on my 1990 +8 Alternator are getting a bit noisy so I thought I'd whip it out and replace the bearings before the Silverstone Classic this week-end. Silly me!
There is a slot in the inner wing to give spanner access to the rear 'hinge' bolt but I cannot see how the front one can be removed. The bolt is considerably over length and fitted from the front so there is no way it can be removed given the space to the inner wing. Presumably the engine was installed with the alternator fitted. I'll try and get some pictures to illustrate the problem.
Has anyone else encountered this? I'm wondering whether I can unbolt the whole mounting bracket from the block. Failing that I might have to cut an access hole in the inner wing to withdraw the bolt (or take the engine out!).

The alternator would have been bolted onto the engine when the V8 was installed into the car.
Unfortunately it's a long time since I owned anything with the Rover V8 fitted (and never a +8) so can't offer any advice on removing alternator.

Probably won' t help getting it off this time but wonder if you could replace long pivot bolt with two short ones front and back with matching nuts?

There are several variations of alternator mounts. Can You take a picture.

its ages since I've seen the set up but its usual for one of the bolts to be long with a split spacer that's meant to move a little in the alternator lug. The idea being to have the other 'lug' fitted snugly to the bracket and the spacer then takes up the space left using the long bolt. I'm not sure if that makes sense! There is an order to assembly.

Of course none of this helps you to get it off though! but perhaps explains why you have an over length bolt on one side.

Thanks. I’ll try and get a picture from underneath, can’t really see it from above.

CJJB, I have not removed the alternator on my 85 +8, but I popped out to the garage to have a look. I would take a pic but I am not up for posting my pics other than directly here, don't fancy using a hosting site...My forum ID kinda hints at my mindset...

To get back to the point, on my +8 I can see the supporting bracket for the alternator looks like it unbolts with two bolts visible and looking reasonably accessible from above, though I suspect there will be another one at least below, perhaps accessible with a socket and extension from out front of the alternator... Happy to look on the underside tomorrow, if that might help, assuming we might have the same set-up..?

If You were to say you can't get the bolt out because the radiator (rather than the inner valance) I would understand. I have a +8 alternator mount in My spares that looks like I would have to remove the Mount with the Alternator and even that might be a chore. If I have it right it might be an idea to remove the cowl/radiator and then remove the alternator. You might be able to drop the rad out the bottom and not remove the cowl. I developed a system for removing the cowl quite easily (if anything is easy on a +8). If You will give Me your Email address I will send a picture of the bracket I think You have. Mine is wmbutton@gmail.com I am not spooky about these things. Maybe I should be.

Thanks Luddite & Button. I've sorted out TM Image and amended this post.

The first image shows the alternator tight in the scalloped bodywork. The second image is the best view of the two mounting/pivot bolts. The bolts are both installed with the heads outermost. The back one I can remove as there is a slot in the inner wing to get a spanner in. The front one is considerably over length and even if I could undo it it is too long to withdraw forwards.

I think I've got 2 options, unbolt the mounting bracket from the block or cut a hole large enough to pass a socket in the inner wing. I can always fit a blind grommet afterwards.

Here are some shots of the front bolt taken with my endoscope: