Alta OHV conversions for the early sidevalve MM are very rare and spares are even rarer. I started making bits for my own car and have also been making odd bits for other owners. Valve guides, Keepers, Valves, water elbows, head studs and complete rocker covers (non-standard). I'm not doing it as a business, just covering direct costs. If anyone gets stuck for parts, or if anyone has any Alta bits for sale....let me know?

Cheers

Rob, Wales, UK

Nice work, Rob!

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Gerard

http://gerardsgarage.com/

Thanks, Gerard.

I'm enjoying the challenge of working out how to make this stuff through reverse-engineering. Amazing how much time it takes to produce the simplest of items.

If anyone ever needs to make valve guides, Meehanite is a good cast iron material for the job. That single piece of info must have taken me a month to find out.

Slowly getting there. Have finished the rocker cover (Mk2) and the radiator expansion bottle. Chemical engraving of the logo and enamel inlay.

Photos are splendid, Rob! And I bet sooner or later one or more of your parts will be desperately needed by some owner.

Do you know: Is there a list of Alta owners or any other kind of group? I'd love to be in the queue of Minor side-valve owners looking to acquire any stray Alta heads that happen to come up for sale. Though the phrase "hen's teeth" comes to mind ...

I only have the one Alta but I have five Hens' Teeth.

There isn't any central database, so far as I know, but quite a few people get in touch about spares for their non-runners. Quite a few really rotten ones that aren't likely to ever run again but people seem to keep hold of the few bits they do have in the hope that they can win the lottery and fund a rebuild.

If anyone know of any more survivors then I'd be grateful if I could be put in touch with the owners. Ideally I need to get some more people interested in clubbing together to fund a new set of valves.Refitted my head this morning after a weld/skim/rebuild.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-07-08 12:23 PM by usmh3.

Well, people keep asking her "What the heck do you have under the bonnet of that thing?????"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-07-14 01:58 AM by usmh3.

A bit more etching work.

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Gerard

http://gerardsgarage.com/

Well, after 3 years of waiting I finally have a delivery date for the newly cast top water elbows for the Alta (pic in first post). 3 of them are already spoken for and there won't be any more since they've lost the mould parts.

If anyone ever sees an Alta with the later casting that takes a thermostat then I'd be grateful if they could put me in touch with the owner so I can maybe get those cast as well.

Next job is to cast the high compression head (like the Derrington/Klienig) in alloy. Process starts next week.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-08-16 10:01 AM by usmh3.

That was quick. Sold out within a week.

Not ALTA, but still nice copies of the original Series MM engine bay labels. Just need to find a better supply of card in the right colour and then work out how to print the other side of it so that it fits.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-09-08 11:09 AM by usmh3.

Ooooooohhhhhhh !! Yes, PLEASE!

I've ordered some card in the right colour, John. Once I can get it printed out nicely on both sides I'll let you kno.

Cheers

Rob