A Request for some V8 Engine Bays please!

[Deeman]

Guys,

I've been debating this long enough - I want to get some bodywork done by professionals, particularly a star craze on the bonnet. Scrutinising the star craze closely does reveal someone has had a go at rectifying this problem before, but its clearly failed. I just don't want it to fail again.




I am absolutely convinced its the air intake pipe elbow doing it and its also possible the bonnet has dropped a bit and needs a slight lift, to stop it impacting.

Before I take the plunge, I wouldn't mind seeing what the majority have set-up.

I guess its also a great excuse to see some engine bay photo's too - and am quite expecting to see some stunning examples that will put mine to shame.

Help would be appreciated -

[Barkychoc]

If you study the support bracket for the air intake pipe inline roughly with the alternator the height of the pipe can be adjusted by the position of the nuts on the threaded bar - is it too high could it go lower?

Are your bonnet hinges bent / sagging allowing contact?

[phillpot]

Could the bonnet hinges have "sagged" letting the front of bonnet sit too low?

Does the gap along the side between bonnet and top of wing look parallel or taper down towards the front?

From your photo the induction pipe does look very close! Try some Blu-tac or plasticine on top to measure (if any) the clearance?

[Ragtop]

Mine's exactly the same. I tie-wrapped a piece of thick soft rubber over the offending elbow to prevent further damage. I may have taken the pipe off and 'flattened' it a bit and/or 'adjusted' the mounting bracket under the radiator top bolt as well, but to be honest it's so long ago I can't remember.

Graham

[v8s4me]

My experience here

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[phillpot]

Looks like TVR put that ugly big bulge in the wrong place !

[Deeman]

Chaps - thanks for all your replies, all of which are very valid. Because of the tiny gap there, anything moving slightly to reduce the gap could be the cause. Will use the blue tack trick Mike and hopefully will see how much or little I have to play with. Hinges are original metal grade (I replaced some on my old S2 with items from David Gerald that were way stronger) and have mishappen ever so slightly, but shut lines are still good. Chris will look for that little bit extra and see if pipe can move down. Joe - great set-up on your car; if I can't resolve this problem, I may call on you for some more photo's if possible. Any more photo's greatly received, as not convinced they all look like mine..

[Ragtop]

Deeman said:

Because of the tiny gap there, anything moving slightly to reduce the gap could be the cause.

Like the next pot-hole...

Deeman said:

Chris will look for that little bit extra and see if pipe can move down.

Unfortunately that will only pivot the pipe about the rad mount, and won't make a lot of difference.

Graham

[seb400]

I've got an almost identical pattern/crack in my bonnet. A few years ago a kind individual backed their car into the front of mine. The bump, impacting just above the nearside indicator, taking a chip out of the paint, pushed the bonnet backward slightly. This bent the square section hinge mounts and pushed the bonnet into the air filter and produced the crack.


Steve