About Plates

While building my own A-series engine, I realised the standard front plate was an exceptionally weighty item; especially when one
considers that very little structural rigidity is needed for this item. After all, the only strenuous task it endures is to secure the
alternator tensioner arm. Aluminium,being approximately 1/3 the density of steel, makes it an ideal material for this component
while careful grade selection ensures a high strength and fatigue resistance. This is essential when being used to tension the
alternator.

As a professional engineer, I set to work designing a replacement that was identically proportionate to the factory plates, albeit with
several subtle modifications. Rather than simply copy a factory plate, the more laborious route of measuring the hole centers of
over a half-dozen different engine blocks ( you are after all bolting these to engines, not your old steel plate ) was chosen in order
to attain a wide data sample to base the dimensions from.

The geometry was then generated in a CAE software, which is exported directly to a CNC controlled machine that cuts the many
holes and profiles, including the 82-degree countersinks, with high accuracy, repeatability and finish.

Once this stage is complete, the plates then move to the third stage of the process, where the plates are roll flattened and yhrn
annodised with a superior black finish for the best corrosion resistance possible

The final stage of the manufacturing is the fitting of the four distinctive studs. These are imperative as the aluminium is too thin to
adequately retain the short screws as per the factory steel plate; this also helps insure ease of installation. The final choice of
these particular studs was researched carefully, and after several abusive / destructive tests, we are satisfied that these will prove
completely reliable in service and maintenance schedules.

Dave Coxon
aka
TurboDave