What happened to the motorised vents?

[WhirlingDERVish]

Did I dream it or did were the two bonnet vents on the prototype motorised? If so, does anyone know why they didn't make it to the production car, what a cool feature it would have been! And less temptation for passing kids to throw stuff into the ducts if they closed up when you parked the car...

[DJC]

Weight and complications.

Thats before you throw in the effects of moving aerodynamic surfaces. Even without a wind tunnel or modelling software in front of me I can see some interesting smoke patterns forming over the car!

There is also the question of...what's the pt?

[the pits]

The point would be:

- Childish james bond coolness factor

- Another button or lever you don't get on a t350

- supposed extra cooling in traffic?

I know where DJC is coming from and overall it's probably additional weight and complication the car can do without. A far bigger oversight for me remains the lack of open vents be they bonnet, rear wheel arch or roof!

I've heard a rumour that the body warranty runs out after a year. If so, that would be the logical time to get the cutting tools out!

[dvpeace]

I think I have heard of people changing the angle of the second panel to stop the bonet lift problem. What effect that has on the aero's I have no idea.

[TSS]

dvpeace said:

I think I have heard of people changing the angle of the second panel to stop the bonet lift problem. What effect that has on the aero's I have no idea.

I did this on the advice of NS after speaking to him about the problem. Opening the second vent a little bit more does help the access-bonnet lift problem at lower speed. But above 130 it still lifts right up above the main bonnet.



I don’t know about later cars, but mine has 4 threaded screw holes on the underside of the bonnet and an eye moulded into the underside of each flap that look as if they were designed to accommodate some sort of opening/closing mechanism and connecting rods. It has been suggested that an electric aerial could be adapted in someway to open and close them.

On my car the flaps themselves are actually slightly too big to fit in the holes if they were closed. They would need their edges sanding down and re-spraying to fit.

[SP]

TSS said:

But above 130...

Presumably km/h my Lord

You bad boy!!

[sportie]

I was told that the heat from the engine cooked the motor. However I have a TR7 headlamp motor ready for my next project though (electic vents):

[DJC]

sportie said:

I was told that the heat from the engine cooked the motor. However I have a TR7 headlamp motor ready for my next project though (electic vents):

Actually sportie that wouldnt be a shock, I can well believe it cooked the vent motor!

[L1OFF]

easy way to accomadate this is to install "greenhouse" auto window vent openers.
I'm trying to find some units small enough to fit.

Alan