Discussion
On my V8S that seal partially filled the gap rather than actually sealing anything. The panel in front of the windscreen is shaped to carry water to the edge of the engine bay where it will eventually either evaporate or drip to the ground. Before I added the bonnet vents I took that seal off to improve cooling while stationary, and never bothered to put it back. It didn't seem to me that it made much difference either way. There are a few variations in the bonnet fit and if yours comes close to the bodywork in the middle then the seal might protect the bonnet from damaging the tub, but I don't see any other particular need for it.
In September 2015 I said:
"OK, let’s start a fight.
My S won’t be living outside until I’ve solved the problem, neglected by all those wonderful TVR engineers, of control of the rainwater which comes off the windscreen when parked, and off the back of the bonnet while travelling.
What they decided to do was to dump it all over the brake servo, the steering column UJ and the roadcrap that has already collected around the front outrigger, making totally sure that they live in a permanently moist environment.
Have any of you ever had any problems with these three components?
Look at any other post-war car. Look at a 1930’s MG Midget. Look, even, at the fairly adequate attempt that TVR made to protect your precious belongings in the boot from the rain. But not your precious belongings on the front of the firewall. Oh no.
Does anybody wonder why the UJ and servo live a long and happy life in the cars they were designed for, to the extent that we can use them for second-hand spares? Because they live in the warm and dry, that’s why.
No. my car will be a garage queen until I’ve found a way around that one."
It's still in the garage, mostly because I can't get it to run well enough for the MOT.
But the day will come..............
And when it does, I have a fiendish plan to fit a drainage channel across the bulkhead, which will not impede the airflow.
"OK, let’s start a fight.
My S won’t be living outside until I’ve solved the problem, neglected by all those wonderful TVR engineers, of control of the rainwater which comes off the windscreen when parked, and off the back of the bonnet while travelling.
What they decided to do was to dump it all over the brake servo, the steering column UJ and the roadcrap that has already collected around the front outrigger, making totally sure that they live in a permanently moist environment.
Have any of you ever had any problems with these three components?
Look at any other post-war car. Look at a 1930’s MG Midget. Look, even, at the fairly adequate attempt that TVR made to protect your precious belongings in the boot from the rain. But not your precious belongings on the front of the firewall. Oh no.
Does anybody wonder why the UJ and servo live a long and happy life in the cars they were designed for, to the extent that we can use them for second-hand spares? Because they live in the warm and dry, that’s why.
No. my car will be a garage queen until I’ve found a way around that one."
It's still in the garage, mostly because I can't get it to run well enough for the MOT.
But the day will come..............
And when it does, I have a fiendish plan to fit a drainage channel across the bulkhead, which will not impede the airflow.
The only moisture that my brake servo sees comes from spray thrown up by the wheels. This is unavoidable and means the bottom of the servo is going to rust out eventually regardless of where you drain the rain water.
I've seen the rear wheel arch liner extended to protect the front edge of the outrigger tube from stone chips and that seems like a good idea, but it's directly behind the spray from the front wheel so nothing you do is going to keep that dry.
You can dramatically extend the life of the upper steering column UK by putting a boot over it to protect from it exhaust heat and dirt. A generic steering rack end gaiter does the job nicely.
I've seen the rear wheel arch liner extended to protect the front edge of the outrigger tube from stone chips and that seems like a good idea, but it's directly behind the spray from the front wheel so nothing you do is going to keep that dry.
You can dramatically extend the life of the upper steering column UK by putting a boot over it to protect from it exhaust heat and dirt. A generic steering rack end gaiter does the job nicely.
Personally I'd be very wary of home made improvised gaiters on the steering uj, unless you get it 100% sealed water and muck will get in and be held there...... promoting corrosion rather than reducing it.
Unprotected but kept clean mine is still good after 7 years, I'm happy with that
Unprotected but kept clean mine is still good after 7 years, I'm happy with that
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff