Ram From Hell
Full Access Member
I finally bit the bullet, and broke out the grinder to clearance for the Paxton. I re-examined the suggestions made on the forum, but reducing the valve cover spacer couldn't be milled enough to do the job, and I didn't want to modify the mount and screw with the alignment of the compressor's belt, or the air inlet and outlet.
So, I patiently whittled away at the corner of the valve cover, removing a tiny bit at a time. Each time I put painter's masking tape over the work to see where it contacted it, re-installed the compressor, removed it, did it again. What made it extra challenging was the fact that the contact area moved slightly each time, as the compressor settled into position. We are talking about clearancing between two compound curves here.
Just about had it perfect, when I noticed a tiny little dot in the work area... So now I know just how much material you can remove from the corner of the valve cover. No big deal, though. I'll be taking the valve cover to a nuke-certified welder friend, and TIG in some material to restore the area on the inside. Everything fits like a proverbial glove now!
So, I patiently whittled away at the corner of the valve cover, removing a tiny bit at a time. Each time I put painter's masking tape over the work to see where it contacted it, re-installed the compressor, removed it, did it again. What made it extra challenging was the fact that the contact area moved slightly each time, as the compressor settled into position. We are talking about clearancing between two compound curves here.
Just about had it perfect, when I noticed a tiny little dot in the work area... So now I know just how much material you can remove from the corner of the valve cover.
No big deal, though. I'll be taking the valve cover to a nuke-certified welder friend, and TIG in some material to restore the area on the inside. Everything fits like a proverbial glove now!
