T350 bonnet - anyone know more about this?

[Zippee]

Browsing through a recent thread to do with T-car wheels I came across this pic of a T350 with Sag style bonnet vents, just wandering if anyone has any mroe info on what has been done and if it helps the cooling at all? From what I can see the bonnet actually looks pretty good on the car so I was wandering if it's an easy job that actually has benefits? One option could be a spare bonnet cut like this so a quick and easy fix to put back to standard.
My 4.3 generates more heat than normal and on very hot days (late 20s to early 30s) the water temps can get pretty high, the cooling system on the 350 is pretty woeful at the best of times so if the vents will help to draw hot air from out of the bonnet then happy days

[anonymous-user]

If any info comes up I would be interested in this mod....My car is pretty standard but it temps can still get high on hot days.

[Targarama]

That is a Japanese T350 - not many of those around!

Looks like the owner had Sagaris style slats fitted, looks pretty straightforward for a good GRP specialist. I bet it does help with cooling on the move, but probably not much more than some normal slats cut into the bonnet would.

[alex_gray255]

Well, don't have any info on this mod, but can suggest someone who can do it if that is what you are after...

My bonnet is being completely redesigned by the same person...

[plasticman]

That is one of my bonnets . Whenyou close up the gap at the front of the bonnet ( which is my pet hate on the T350 ) you have to change the hinging points .

[Zippee]

Thanks all.
Dave, have you found yours helping with cooling at all?
If you're ever around on a weekend would you mind if I popped over for a further chat and a look round your 350? The front vanes also look interesting as the channeling of air into the rad ducts is another area I want to look at.

[alex_gray255]

Hi Tony

One piece of advice if I may, try to avoid adding the Sag style "teeth" vents to the T350 (not the bonnet ones, the side ones).

It really does not work.

I've seen a few examples in the flesh and... yes, I will say no more.

All IMHO for what it is worth, but they never seem to work well with the T350 design.

[Zippee]

alex_gray255 said:

Hi Tony

One piece of advice if I may, try to avoid adding the Sag style "teeth" vents to the T350 (not the bonnet ones, the side ones).

It really does not work.

I've seen a few examples in the flesh and... yes, I will say no more.

All IMHO for what it is worth, but they never seem to work well with the T350 design.

Hi Alex,

I don't want the ones on the wings if thats what you mean, just looking at the bonnet only as per the Japanese white car and also the shark fin vanes in the front air ducts. Mat reckons a small, discreet front splitter would also really benefit the car.
Will catch up and have a chat next Saturday in between shooting pigeons

[ShiDevil]

alex_gray255 said:

Hi Tony

One piece of advice if I may, try to avoid adding the Sag style "teeth" vents to the T350 (not the bonnet ones, the side ones).

It really does not work.

I've seen a few examples in the flesh and... yes, I will say no more.

All IMHO for what it is worth, but they never seem to work well with the T350 design.

To begin with, I'll have to politely disagree with Tony on T350 cooling, after 2 years of use, and many a road trip and many a traffic jam, it's been blissful. I don't know of many others who are having similar issues either? Having said that, I don't have a 4.3 which is where the issue started for Tony? I've got a single scoop in each side pod and a vent under the number plate and as a result I've probably protected myself even more so, against heat issues.. I've also done many a road trip and drive mine more than most. Tony, before going down the route of bonnet vents and splitters, try adding some scoops in to begin with. It's a simple and less intrusive mod, or go a step further and add a vent with a grill under the plate like mine. In both cases the air draws right across the radiator and offers better levels of cooling.

Your more than welcome to check mine out next time i'm over at Matt's on the ramp to see how it works. I have found it a blessing and the previous owner had included these based on road trips he had done in Spain etc. The only issue you will have is in traffic and there is little you can do there, given the lack of airflow.

[billy no brakes]

ShiDevil said:

To begin with, I'll have to politely disagree with Tony on T350 cooling, after 2 years of use, and many a road trip and many a traffic jam, it's been blissful. I don't know of many others who are having similar issues either? Having said that, I don't have a 4.3 which is where the issue started for Tony? I've got a single scoop in each side pod and a vent under the number plate and as a result I've probably protected myself even more so, against heat issues.. I've also done many a road trip and drive mine more than most. Tony, before going down the route of bonnet vents and splitters, try adding some scoops in to begin with. It's a simple and less intrusive mod, or go a step further and add a vent with a grill under the plate like mine. In both cases the air draws right across the radiator and offers better levels of cooling.

Your more than welcome to check mine out next time i'm over at Matt's on the ramp to see how it works. I have found it a blessing and the previous owner had included these based on road trips he had done in Spain etc. The only issue you will have is in traffic and there is little you can do there, given the lack of airflow.

Got any photos of your mods as I would like to see them, not had the T350 very long and I have sat in London traffic with no issues of it getting hot unlike my Cerb which gets very hot and the fans are constantly kicking in

[Zippee]

billy no brakes said:

ShiDevil said:

To begin with, I'll have to politely disagree with Tony on T350 cooling, after 2 years of use, and many a road trip and many a traffic jam, it's been blissful. I don't know of many others who are having similar issues either? Having said that, I don't have a 4.3 which is where the issue started for Tony? I've got a single scoop in each side pod and a vent under the number plate and as a result I've probably protected myself even more so, against heat issues.. I've also done many a road trip and drive mine more than most. Tony, before going down the route of bonnet vents and splitters, try adding some scoops in to begin with. It's a simple and less intrusive mod, or go a step further and add a vent with a grill under the plate like mine. In both cases the air draws right across the radiator and offers better levels of cooling.

Your more than welcome to check mine out next time i'm over at Matt's on the ramp to see how it works. I have found it a blessing and the previous owner had included these based on road trips he had done in Spain etc. The only issue you will have is in traffic and there is little you can do there, given the lack of airflow.

Got any photos of your mods as I would like to see them, not had the T350 very long and I have sat in London traffic with no issues of it getting hot unlike my Cerb which gets very hot and the fans are constantly kicking in

Just tp clarify here, my issues only follow since the 4.3, it's not that bad but does touch just over 100deg when it's a really hot muggy day and I'd like to explore options around helping the cooling and air escape from the engine area. Theres noting wrong with the engine, more just a poor cooling design from TVR that could do with a little improvement, look at the rad position versus how the airflow would meet it - the top of the rad would receive very little of the cool air and being flat it's not that efficient a design.
The small vent Stece has on the front of his is another option I'm looking at to help force air to the top of the rad.

[alex_gray255]

Larger fans perhaps?

Suffer from the same sort of issue as well with the new rebuild.

Was looking into the possibility of a modded oil system to help improve flow.

Also new bonnet design will help in the case of the Sagaris, but that's specific to my car.

[chris watton]

Would changing the coolant to this help slightly?:

http://www.evanscoolants.co.uk/

[billy no brakes]

Zippee said:

Just tp clarify here, my issues only follow since the 4.3, it's not that bad but does touch just over 100deg when it's a really hot muggy day and I'd like to explore options around helping the cooling and air escape from the engine area. Theres noting wrong with the engine, more just a poor cooling design from TVR that could do with a little improvement, look at the rad position versus how the airflow would meet it - the top of the rad would receive very little of the cool air and being flat it's not that efficient a design.
The small vent Stece has on the front of his is another option I'm looking at to help force air to the top of the rad.

One thing I did forget is that after my little mishap I have a brand new ally rad fitted which are supposed to be better than the standard rad and keeps the engine a lot cooler, I think

[Mattt]

chris watton said:

Would changing the coolant to this help slightly?:

http://www.evanscoolants.co.uk/

These make the engine run hotter.

[chris watton]

Mattt said:

chris watton said:

Would changing the coolant to this help slightly?:

http://www.evanscoolants.co.uk/

These make the engine run hotter.

Does it? I didn't know that...

I am having my engine upgraded to 4.3 next year, I am wondering if it's worth buying a new rad at the same time, one that's slightly bigger?

[Zippee]

billy no brakes said:

One thing I did forget is that after my little mishap I have a brand new ally rad fitted which are supposed to be better than the standard rad and keeps the engine a lot cooler, I think

I have the ally rad and also a pair of Doms uprated fans (they draw a lot more air than standard).

[Targarama]

billy no brakes said:

One thing I did forget is that after my little mishap I have a brand new ally rad fitted which are supposed to be better than the standard rad and keeps the engine a lot cooler, I think

I changed to an alloy radiator when mine needed replacing. It made zero difference to the cooling/temperatures. Car and radiator were healthy before the radiator needed changing due to the usual problem with seams splitting. I went alloy in the hope that it would last a bit longer.