Poor garage work or fair wear?

[A900ss]

Just removed plenum to get to the fuel regulator and found this mess.....


image by a900ss, on Flickr

Untitled by a900ss, on Flickr

The thing is I paid a garage to fit the trumpets in March this year as part of the service. Is this just one of those things or poor workmanship?

One trumpet is upside down and one is one its side and there is sealant everywhere on the trumpets. This can't really help with smooth running of the car can it?

Not happy.

I'm not going to name and shame but am conscious that I live VERY close to a known TVR specialist and can confirm that it was NOT his work.

On a separate note, what is the best product to use to refit the trumpets?

[NickM450]

Blimey

That looks a right old mess, sorry Do you think the upside down trumpet was fitted like that or has it somehow worked its way loose, is it fixed in position? What about the sideways one, loose? It can't possibly be fixed in position......

I don't think that is fair wear, that's poor workmanship in my opinion.

[A900ss]

The one on its side and the upside down one does have adhesive on it so I think it was fixed at one point. Adhesive seems to be in the inlet manifold as well so I think it was either started up before the adhesive was dry OR the adhesive can't take the heat and is melting.

What adhesive should be used?

I've also broken the gasket between the trumpet base and the inlet manifold when I took the base off. Does it need a bespoke gasket or will something like Hymoler blue be sufficient?

[ChilliWhizz]

I believe the technical term for that is cluster f**k..... Fingers crossed none of that cheese and liquorice glue has been ingested by the engine and caused some damage...

Can't advise on best sticky stuff to use but I'd be inclined to ask Tim at ACT...... On the bright side you're shirly going to feel a huge difference in the engine when that little lot's put right....

[jojackson4]

Shocking

[spend]

There is no gasket, I'd guess you've broken the thermal insulator, which judging by everything else looks like they've probably used inappropriate adhesive sealants in abundance.

I've seen plenty of messes from professionals ~ spending many long hours scraping off their abortions......


The trumpets should be bonded in with a smear of epoxy IIRC, a thin line of red hylomar is sufficient to seal the inlet manifold-trumpet base & trumpet base-plenum.

[Alun450]

If the garage didn't clean off the old oil on the trumpet base no sealant will work! Really shocking.
Looks like you should have the money back and do a proper job yourself A900ss!
I think I'm a weak mechanic then I see that, makes you wonder.
With the excellent advice offered on here you do a better job! Goodluck and I'd drop the sump and see if there's any junk down there.

[A900ss]

I've spoken to Tim at ACT this morning and it's apparent that the garage concerned decide to use their own adhesive rather than the one Tim supplies in his kit. The ACT adhesive is clear. This is a black rubbery compound.

tts.

I've ordered new adhesive and a new thermal gasket from Tim but this scuppers my day out at Caring with Cars tomorrow.

[s p a c e m a n]

That is beyond shocking, have they used sikaflex to fix them in place? Hate to think of the lumps your engines been sucking in

[Bobgriff]

Truly shocking workmanship, if, you can call it that at all. Karl I have a box of the glue, unopened from when I did mine and some blue aerospace hylomar which I used to seal the plenum. Your welcome to both if it helps you out for tomorrow mate.

[A900ss]

Bobgriff said:

Truly shocking workmanship, if, you can call it that at all. Karl I have a box of the glue, unopened from when I did mine and some blue aerospace hylomar which I used to seal the plenum. Your welcome to both if it helps you out for tomorrow mate.

Thanks for the offer Rob but I'm now going in a bit deeper just to check all is OK further down.

I'll miss out on tomorrow but hopefully this will prevent any damage down the line.

Have a good day.

Karl.

[phazed]

These are newly fitted ally ones but the principle is the same.

If these were a year old they'd just be discoloured.

Yours seems to have years of oil mist that could have been cleaned up.

I think they may have over chopped the centre ones to make fit IMHO.

[A900ss]

Phazed,

The trumpets are only 3 months old. They come black as they are carbon fibre. No oil mist on them and they are cut down to size by ACT.

[phazed]

A900ss said:

Phazed,

The trumpets are only 3 months old. They come black as they are carbon fibre. No oil mist on them and they are cut down to size by ACT.

I realise that.

The centre ones just looked more cut down then standard.

As to the state of the inside, you would have thought that they would have cleaned it up a bit.

Unfortunately it looks like a sad amateur job.

[A900ss]

phazed said:

The centre ones just looked more cut down then standard.

Unfortunately it looks like a sad amateur job.

It's actually that some of the trumpets weren't fully seated so it makes those that are seated correctly look shorter than they are!!!

I'm going to start a seperate thread about some potential damage his may have caused and would really appreciate all your thoughts as I am very angry at the moment and may not be thinking rationally.

New post here.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by A900ss on Saturday 17th May 14:08

Edited by A900ss on Saturday 17th May 19:21

[rigga]

Shocking ......


Nothing more to add regarding the way the trumpets have been bodged into place, mistakes happen even with professional set up's, it's how they are rectified that counts, I'd certainly be heading back to whoever installed them and asking them to explain.

[Bobgriff]

Having fitted mine (myself) only a month or so after yours were done I thought it worth checking mine following our hoon to north wales last weekend. You made me think ( well question my own install!). So I popped the plenum off and it's still all nice and clean in there and the trumpets are solid still, having used the ACT adhesive. Worth a check and goes to show that if you use the right adhesive there should be no problem. Hope you get this resolved with as little hassle as possible mate.

[MPoxon]

That is unreal. what a mess. Mine have been on 3 years and still look new. The garage in addition to fitting one upside down have not got them in the right order. As you will know already they all fit together to create a smooth intake hence all the cut outs.

This is what it should look like.

[900T-R]

phazed said:

I think they may have over chopped the centre ones to make fit IMHO.

Indeed - the flares on some of those look to be cut off far more than they need to be, although them being in the incorrect order may also give that impression. Look at the pic right above, this is how they should fit together - you might have to replace on or more if you end up 'missing' a piece or two...

As seen on that same pic, the ones on the second row have smalll cut outs on the outside te enable the centre pair of bolts that attach the trumpet base to the intake manifold to be tightened. For the rest it should be pretty obvious what goes where, if not they've been cutting the flasres where they shouldn't have...



Using black silicone sealant instead of the supplied glue... in my book that borders on criminal intent. Even Daz doesn't make that mistake anymore.

If a professional workshop can't get this thing right that I happily send out to anyone with half a brain to fit themselves in their garage or on their drive (that's why I like the trumpets/thermal gasket/smooth bore hose combo so much - huge bang for buck AND easy DIY installation because you don't have to disrupt intake manifold/ fuel rail/ electrical connections...) I dread to think what they make of some of the more involved stuff.

Edited by 900T-R on Saturday 17th May 16:47

Edited by 900T-R on Saturday 17th May 16:51

[s p a c e m a n]

Look at the one on the right, it looks like someone has been at it with a pair of nail cutters.

That photo is making me angry and it's not even my car, I would be down that garage taking money for new trumpets and whatever I gave to fit them