Small Fan Housing & Magneti Marelli Distributor Reproduction

[carlbon71]

I've got one.
Am away till 9th August. can take some pics when I'm back.

[Darren65]

PM sent

[Darren65]

A recommendation on the Early911S Registry pointed me in the direction of Crawford Composites... http://crawfordcomposites.com/

Not often filling in an online enquiry form gets you anywhere however these guys are seriously on the ball and my package arrived today .....









...an excellent reproduction 226mm small fan housing at a fraction of prices being charged elsewhere. Quick and super efficient, Shane at Crawford Composites was really helpful and a refreshing change from others I've had to deal with lately.

It would have been nice to have found an original or one cast in magnesium although cannot fault the quality of this item or the high level of service from Crawford Composites, really superb

Plan is to clear anodise the housing and maybe take the edges off the part number for a more worn look.

Now I just have to part with a kidney to secure a racing oil filter housing! ....

Cheers,

[brembo]

Nice one Darren,could I be a wee bit cheeky and ask how much it cost, with all the usual culprits,(vat, import duty etc), paid.
I think the original finish was chromate back in the day.

[Mike]

I think the original finish was chromate back in the day.

That's because originals were magnesium as opposed to aluminum, are you going to paint it to replicate a chromate finish Darren?

[haasad]

Pretty sure aluminium can be chromated too....

[Darren65]

I think the original finish was chromate back in the day.

That's because originals were magnesium as opposed to aluminum, are you going to paint it to replicate a chromate finish Darren?

I think I'm going to stick with clear anodising which gives a nice matt finish. When new I believe the finish was fairly light in colour and darkens over time?

I've seen a few originals that have been painted matt black at some point and the chips and scars look pretty cool.

I'm not after a show finish and would like to achieve a 'used/rebuilt/used/rebuilt' but 'cared for' look, if that makes sense! .......will ultimately decide when it all goes back together.

Are you sure about the chromate on aluminium Andy, thought it was only magnesium?

Cheers,

[Mike]

The original ones are black, which is what happens to magnesium when it's chromated at the full industrial strength,
the lighter shades of grey you see are from weaker home made solutions.

I'd worry that clear lacquer on there will look a bit bright, I'd be tempted to paint it black but I'd blast the inner surface
first to get rid of the machining marks. But then that's just me of course

[Darren65]

Thanks Mike, all food for thought.

I appreciate the feedback.

Cheers,

[Darren65]

Decisions, decisions…..

Genuine RSR although not sure if original finish….



Again, not sure how accurate the finish on the housing is although looks pretty hot to me! …..



This looks a pretty dark finish…



…although less so here! ….



Glad mine is a Mongrel and I can do as I please!

A couple of good links here for reference and those interested and sad!…

http://www.pbase.com/9146gt/my9146gt_28 ... sing_oem_1

http://www.pbase.com/9146gt/my9146gt_90 ... sing_oem_2

Cheers,

[pht9]

Maybe a good solution would be to anodise it black, then as it ages, it gets a lovely patina to it...

[Darren65]

A quick update…..

Although I'm very pleased with the aluminium housing I've purchased I was a little concerned how it will look finished, especially when compared against the originals Armando has had re-chromated …..

http://www.pbase.com/9146gt/my9146gt_90 ... r_chromate

I'd talked to Ben Coles about him reproducing these in magnesium although initially it looked unviable due to cost; the investment required for moulds/casting etc is many thousands which is hard to recoup with such a limited production run. It takes numbers to reduce the cost per unit and there just isn't a big market for these.

Fortunately Ben had a change of heart and a friend with a pretty rare stock of parts has lent him this….







…this original, complex (and quite rough) casting has been thoroughly analysed and Ben is now in the process of reproducing a limited batch of small fan housings which will be produced by the exact same process and identical to the original with correct casting seems, part number etc, cast in magnesium and finished in the correct dark chromate finish…..and all done in Birmingham, one of the engineering capitals of the UK, rather than China or other parts of the Far East!

I'll post photos as soon as they're complete.

Guess I now have an aluminium housing for sale!

Cheers,

[DustyM]

Darren, do Crawford Composites make the larger fan housings?

Could you pm me contact details for the chap you dealt with?

Cheers
Jon

[haasad]

Hi yes I checked up and chromate processes can be used on aluminium.

http://www.surfacetechnology.co.uk/anci ... n-coating/

[Darren65]

I've become a bit of a Ben Coles mouthpiece of late! ….I make no excuses and the only affiliation is that of a very satisfied (paying) customer.

When the engine build for my Mongrel steered towards that of an authentic 2.5 litre race motor it's been Ben that's supplied many of the rare race parts that I've needed….sure, perfect originals would have been preferred but go source/afford them!…..and anyway Ben's products are indistinguishable from the real thing in terms of manufacture, materials and appearance

Just lately not only has Ben taken on the task of reproducing race 226mm small fan housings in magnesium, when I was made aware that the Magnet Marelli distributor I'd purchased was a later type and not correct for 2.0/2.2 cases, he said reproduce the earlier dizzies as he'd had other enquiries and wanted to add them to his range.

Ben has been sending me through a few photos of the process……really interesting stuff which I think others will appreciate so posting here……