Jim,
Let's assume, for the sake of conversation, that you are unable to locate a
new back plate:
Just where are these three cracks located? I'd be real tempted to send the
thing out to a good machine shop, who could gouge & TIG weld the cracks,
then, after grinding the welds flush, check the plate for trueness, and mill
it flat, again, if needed. I'm guessing that the fractures are probably not
a "big deal", and can be easily repaired. Of course, if the fractures are
not gouged out, it is likely that any repair weld will, eventually, fail.
So, be sure the machine shop is experienced in these types of repairs.
There is a machine shop in CA, which does a lot of repair of irreplaceable
Porsche. I can't recall the name, right now, but I can find out, if you
want to call them. Let me know, OK? Oh, and we're probably not talking any
big money, here. It should be pretty basic stuff, for the right machine
shop.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-spridgets@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jim Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 11:41 AM
To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com; Spridgets
Subject: 1275 back plate needed...
Gang,
The sad saga of my 1275 engine back plate continues. To whit....
1) I bought a used one last month. When I cleaned it off with the sand
blaster, I found three cracks in it.
2) Unable to find another, and not wishing to weld it up and take a
chance on the welds breaking later, I took it to the machine shop at
my community college along with $37 worth of new 3/8" steel plate to
get them to cut out a new one using their plasma cutter.
3) Yesterday, they inform me that there was something wrong with the
plasma cutter and
it screwed up the edges of all the major curves on the plate when they cut
it.
So.... I am back to square one. I now have 3 back plates....
1) The one for a 948 engine which the PO left me that caused all the trouble
2) The proper 1275 used one with the three cracks in it and
3) The ruined one that the plasma cutter screwed up.
Does anyone have, or can anyone get me a GOOD 1275cc back plate of
some kind so I can put this damned Midget back together??!! I have
everything else and am ready to go.
Cheers!!
Jim - disemboweled Midget in Dodge City
--
1964 R60/2 BMW
1968 MG Midget
1976 R90/6 BMW
1990 K100LT BMW
**Young girl is transported to a surreal landscape where she kills the
first woman she meets and then teams up with 3 strangers to kill
again** - Marin County, CA newspaper TV review for The Wizard of Oz.
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