S3 bonnet 'seal'

S3 bonnet 'seal'

Author
Discussion

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

179 months

Sunday 21st September 2014
quotequote all
Anybody know what the piece of seal across the rear inside edge of the bonnet is for? It doesnt meet up with anything when the bonnet is closed - it is about 2 inches forward of the top of the bulkhead. It was coming loose so I've taken it off before it fell off. Maybe the heat will flow slightly better out of the engine bay without it?



NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

179 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Bump...

Anybody?



Top Gear TVR

2,244 posts

155 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
to prevent vibration, slam damage, smells?

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

179 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Top Gear TVR said:
to prevent vibration, slam damage, smells?
I could go with that if it actually made contact with something below with the bonnet closed!

(I tried to upload a photo but it didnt work)

It's a fook-eyed mystery!

Top Gear TVR

2,244 posts

155 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
To provide interest and intrigue?

Griffinr

1,017 posts

175 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
NaCl said:
Anybody know what the piece of seal across the rear inside edge of the bonnet is for? It doesnt meet up with anything when the bonnet is closed - it is about 2 inches forward of the top of the bulkhead.
???? The seal on my S3 sits on top of the bulkhead and presumably prevents under bonnet air flowing up the screen and also helps support the bonnet.
Rob.

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

179 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Griffinr said:
???? The seal on my S3 sits on top of the bulkhead and presumably prevents under bonnet air flowing up the screen and also helps support the bonnet.
Rob.
That's what I would have thought, but not on mine. With the seal in place and the bonnet shut, I can see the back of the engine through the gap across pretty much the whole width of the bulkhead.

I presume the bulkhead is in the same place on all S models? If not, maybe I've got an earlier model bonnet (no scoops or bulges). Or the fixing point for the seal is too far forward.

Or maybe TopGearTVR is right.




TurboTony

908 posts

172 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
If you have no scoops or bulges you may have an S4 bonnet - similar to a Chimaera in that it has ventilation slots on each side. Many cars had this style fitted after an 'incident'. However I do not know if these sit higher than others at the seal point. Definitely a mystery!

Alan461

853 posts

132 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
quotequote all
Your profile pic shows what looks like an S4 bonnet, difficult to be certain at that angle.
I think Tony is right, you have a later one.
The seal on my S2 touches the bulkhead all the way across.

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

179 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

Tony and Alan, I do indeed have a bonnet with the three slots on each side. It fits well everywhere else so will be interested to have a look at an S4 car at some point to see what the differences are to the adjointing areas of bodywork.

Maybe someone at the factory fitted it and thought" "what the hell, we ain't go any S3 bonnets left, so this will do"

I may as well throw away the deteriorated and redundant piece of trim and clean up the area it fitted too.

Andy

Edited by NaCl on Wednesday 24th September 08:31

s3c chris

288 posts

131 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi Andy.
Your car is indeed fitted with an S4 bonnet.
In my opinion the nicest looking bonnet for an "S". Can of worms no doubt opened!
As far as I know, and was told by the previous owner, this bonnet was fitted from new at the factory.
You would assume that the seal should sit on top of the bulkhead so maybe it was always positioned incorrectly? You can never be sure with a Tvr.
Chris.

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

179 months

Thursday 25th September 2014
quotequote all
s3c chris said:
Hi Andy.
Your car is indeed fitted with an S4 bonnet.
In my opinion the nicest looking bonnet for an "S". Can of worms no doubt opened!
As far as I know, and was told by the previous owner, this bonnet was fitted from new at the factory.
You would assume that the seal should sit on top of the bulkhead so maybe it was always positioned incorrectly? You can never be sure with a Tvr.
Chris.
Hello Chris. Come to think of it, I do recall you saying the bonnet was a later shape. Like you, I do prefer the look of it over the others - personal taste, nothing against the others of course. But strange that the seal doesn't actually seal anything.


NiceCupOfTea

25,295 posts

252 months

Thursday 25th September 2014
quotequote all
Was this car for sale around May 2012 in Stourbridge? I think I drove and nearly bought it! I remember a red S3 with an S4 bonnet in Stourbridge! Owner was a lovely chap and really didn't want to sell IIRC!

s3c chris

288 posts

131 months

Friday 26th September 2014
quotequote all
That's the car! I bought it and had it for a year. A lovely car! I have now moved on to a Chimaera.....
That's another story and I can actually see why so many come back to an "S".
At least this car is in safe keeping and being very well looked after by Andy!
Regards Chris.

Oldred_V8S

3,715 posts

239 months

Friday 26th September 2014
quotequote all
s3c chris said:
A lovely car! I have now moved on to a Chimaera.....
I can actually see why so many come back to an "S".
After the first sentence you redeemed your self nicely with the second sentence Chris. thumbup

s3c chris

288 posts

131 months

Friday 26th September 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for that!
As I recently told Andy, I've nearly spent more on the Chimaera than I sold the "S" for and there's still lots to do. Somehow it just doesn't seem as much "fun". I think with what I've already spent I just have to go with it and finish the car.
Regards Chris.

Daves4c

13 posts

196 months

Friday 26th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi Andy
The bonnet on my S4 is the same as yours with a gap going right across. I had the bonnet re-seated at the last service so it runs level with the wings. Perhaps it had to be like that so the wipers didn’t touch it?

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

179 months

Friday 26th September 2014
quotequote all
s3c chris said:
That's the car! I bought it and had it for a year. A lovely car! I have now moved on to a Chimaera.....
That's another story and I can actually see why so many come back to an "S".
At least this car is in safe keeping and being very well looked after by Andy!
Regards Chris.
(In a Dick Darstardly voice...)
Yes, Now it's mine, all mine,. Ha ha ha ha ha....ha ha ha ha!



NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

179 months

Friday 26th September 2014
quotequote all
Daves4c said:
Hi Andy
The bonnet on my S4 is the same as yours with a gap going right across. I had the bonnet re-seated at the last service so it runs level with the wings. Perhaps it had to be like that so the wipers didn’t touch it?
Could be. I will make a point of having a look at this area next time I see a few S's together - maybe at the next Shelsley Walsh breakfast club meet.

At least I now know it's not a fault or a repair centre botch job.

markbigears

2,276 posts

270 months

Saturday 27th September 2014
quotequote all
I have the later bonnet from new and can confirm that the seal does not seat at the bulk head and you can see the distributor and other bits and bobs of the engine when looking down.