Engine mount/exhaust spacers?

[Franky boy]

Hi all,

After nine months of TVR ownership I have finally have renewed enthusiasm to get the Chimaera sorted.

In short, I bought/was sold a lemon by a very convincing couple who would drive the car to the moon and back to breakdown on the way home, after lots of investigating found out that its been seriously messed about with, got the car running ok, to find the clutch slipping, removed it to find it contaminated with oil, I didn't notice the slipping before as the car when running was really underpowered.

Anyway!

As exhaust/manifolds are off, gearbox is out, and having had the front wishbones powder coated by a blind man who should have just told me not to bother I'm going to bite the bulIet and decided to go body off restoration and do it right with new front wishbones, see how the rears are later, new bushes, shocks etc.

My first and second, of probably many questions, when removing the exhaust to get to the gearbox I noticed on each of the 6 bolts that hold the plate supporting the silencers had half a dozen washers used as spacers, is this normal or required?

I have also noticed that there are washers used as spacers on the top of the engine mounts raising the engine by10-15mm, again, is this normal or required?

Advice and/or comment gladly received.

Cheers

Frank

[Belle427]

My exhaust plate does not have any washers, it’s flush to the chassis.
The engine mount spacers are to clearance the exhaust manifolds slightly from chassis, seems most cars are different but I have spacer plates only under my drivers side.

[debaron]

Franky boy said:

My first and second, of probably many questions, when removing the exhaust to get to the gearbox I noticed on each of the 6 bolts that hold the plate supporting the silencers had half a dozen washers used as spacers, is this normal or required?

The threads in the chassis that the exhaust tray bolts bolt into can be a easily stripped (doing up with a windy gun likely) so maybe washers are there to help with that. My exhaust tray sits flat against the chassis and always has. There should be a single L bracket exhaust hanger right at the end of the exhaust controlling exhaust 'height' does yours have this? If so you can probably do away with washers and bolt direct to chassis and adjust there.

Also possible that perhaps washers are there to stop propshaft knocking against silencers if engine is sitting high...Perhaps? Especially given your comment below.

Do gearbox mounts look ok?

Franky boy said:

I have also noticed that there are washers used as spacers on the top of the engine mounts raising the engine by10-15mm, again, is this normal or required?

Not to my knowledge! TVR did use an engine mount spacer - usually one one side though - but only about 5mm. 10/15cm sounds a bit much! Need to investigate what's going on there.

Good luck on the body off - I did mine 5 years ago. There is an exceptional guide somewhere online. Well worth a read.




Cheers

Frank

Edited by debaron on Sunday 3rd June 20:37

[Classic Chim]

I’m suprised the Plenum doesn’t rub the heat protection on the underside of bonnet.

On many of the later chassis they have one 7 mm spacer fitted to centre the engine not lift it as such. Surely by lifting the engine you’ll take it off the prop shaft centre line especially with 15 mm spacers. Then again it might bring it into line on some cars
Re tap the threads if needs be and remove washers.
An easy way to tell us where your engine height is would be to turn your steering to full lock and get a torch if needs be and look to see how much clearance you have between the chassis main top rail and the exhaust manifolds. You should be looking for about 10 mm clearance at most. New mounts you can get them to adout 12-15 mm max.

Any higher than that and it’s defo sitting higher than standard. Hope that helps.

Edited by Classic Chim on Sunday 3rd June 20:58

[N7GTX]

No more than 1 washer for each bolt on the exhaust tray on mine. While in there, worth replacing the rubber mounts that come in 2 half cones. Once contaminated with oil, they go soggy and deteriorate very quickly.

http://www.powersperformance.co.uk/store/slug/unde...

Engine mounting spacers - as ClassicChim says, usually one to get the engine central. However, sagging mounts or aftermarket exhaust manifolds can allow them to get too close to the top chassis rails with the risk of damaging them. Best remove the washers and fit one or more of these as required to give a little clearance. Worked great on mine.

http://www.powersperformance.co.uk/store/slug/engi...

[Franky boy]

Thanks for all the comments/help, exhaust manifolds are off so can't check clearance until it all goes back together but will check then, I'll probably use new mounts so will see.

The plenum won't come of without bending/ removing the perferated panel.

I'll see the level of the exhaust when it goes back together.

Thanks once again, wish me luck, lol