'77 2500M -- Radiator shroud and steering rack advice please

[jastx]

I want to refresh the steering rack mounts on my “new” ‘77 2500M. However, unlike previous 2500Ms I have owned, this one has a shroud that extends from all four sides of the radiator curving back to where it creates a tight circular opening around the rear, puller fan. The rear fan has an edge around its outer circumference connecting the ends of the blades like a circle with the shroud closely surrounding it. There is also single smaller pusher fan at the front. This shroud encases the area where the steering rack is mounted – top bottom and sides. The rack arms protrude through holes on the sides. In the attached photo, you can just see this area on the left side. The only way to get to the rack is to remove the shroud.

I haven’t had a chance to work on it yet but it looks like I may be able remove the horns to reach a couple of screws that will allow me to remove a small part of the top of the shroud. If I can’t reach the rack mounts this way I may have to remove the entire shroud. To do that, it appears I will have to remove the fans and the radiator, turning this into a much bigger project than changing a couple of rack mounts.

I have also received a document about cooling fans from TVR enthuiast Dave Hunt. The latest thinking on this subject is almost the opposite of how my car was constructed some 35 years ago with the thinking back then. Based on this document, which unfortunately I don't see a way to upload, I should remove the shroud completely and leave it off.

Does anyone have experience with this fan/shroud configuration and its removal? It’s all factory. Does it work? Does the car run without overheating with it in place? My car is original with less than 4,500 miles but still has certain age-related issues. The steering is so bad with the deteriorated rack bushings (I suspect, since I can see movement of the rack through the small shroud holes I mentioned earlier) that I have only driven the car from the delivery truck to my garage. That was three months ago.

Thanks for your advice,

John

Edited by jastx on Friday 8th July 21:28

[Adrian@]

Hi John,
IF this is the OE item remove the spare wheel and the shroud lifts out, replace the rubber rack mounts with alloy versions. Then (here is where I need to know more about the current set up of the cooling) PRESUMING that you have the unpressurised over-flow tank, THEN you NEED to covert to the later system. Pictures of the engine bay would help.
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Friday 8th July 21:37

[jastx]

Adrian, I'm always amazed how responsive and helpful you are.

This is a US '77 2500M (3668TM). I removed the bonnet and spare wheel earlier this week when I had a little time. I think I have seen a photo of the shroud you are describing but this is not it. It does not lift off. It completely surrounds the puller fan and rear edge of radiator. It is plastic, looks brownish in color. Appears completely OE. I will take some detailed photos tonight and post.

[jastx]

I only intended to take some photos last night but you now how it goes...I wound up digging into it. I was able to remove enough shroud to (with great difficulty reaching where I needed) replace the steering rack mounts. The shroud appears to be OEM, it's an exact fit made of three pieces. The largest piece wraps entirely around the rear edge of the radiator funneling the air to the puller fan. You could not remove it without removing the radiator. The other two pieces form the top and bottom of the rear of the shroud, surrounding the fan. They are all held together with small screws and nuts.

At the moment the pieces I removed are still off. I don't know how I will be able to reassemble reaching inside the shroud to hold the nuts. I may try gluing the nuts to hold them in place for the screws or try to find a fastener I can push through from the outside instead of screws and nuts.

I also found the rear fan could not be removed without removing the lower drive pulley from the motor to make room (so of course I didn't remove it). I had to work around the fan instead. As I mentioned in my first post the steering rack is encased in this shround. There were pieces of carpeting stuck to the inside of the shroud then draped over the steering rack mounts, presumably to shield them from water.

The following pics show the shroud in place plus some shots of the two pieces I was able to remove. You can see one of the rack mounts through the fan blades as well as the screws and nuts I mentioned that hold it all together.

So, can it be confirmed this is OEM? Any suggestions on substitutions for the small screws and nuts fastening the shroud, something that could be installed from the outside with no access to the inside? Should I put it back on or leave it off?

Thanks!

John

Edited by jastx on Saturday 9th July 22:18

[Adrian@]

OK....I would love to answer the question of is this OE, IF so, it has to have a sister car (these are gel coated mouldings and as you see the same as the inner wings)....I have never seen that system on European cars BUT the method of how it is done LOOKS factory...does it work?
Adrian@
From 71 on TVR used a rivet-nut which is like a rivet but has an internal thread (the inner-wings are mounted in the chassis with them) here laser tools and draper have a cheap and cheerful one that would be perfect to add threads to mouldings.

Edited by Adrian@ on Sunday 10th July 08:01

[jastx]

Well, don't know if it works, but I'm going to reinstall because I'm sure it's original to the car and see. We have been having 100 degrees F days here lately so it won't take long to find out.

[thegamekeeper]

I wish we still had degrees F over here, it always seems warmer than degrees C. And my temperature gauge is in degrees F.