Any ideas's what this may have come from ?

[jonnyboy]

Dear All

I appreciate this a needle in a haystack type question, but as the title says, any idea's where this may have come from ?

I had been out for a drive, got home, parked on the drive and then a little while later put the car away and found this, as seen in the picture.It was in region of where the rear of the car had been, the bolt head is approx 12mm and approx 25mm in length.There appears to be paint on the thread (similar to car colour) and there was also thin metal shards around the thread, which I would presume would indicate that the hole it fell out of is worn. also, as the nut was done all the way up to the bolt head, i presume this was to limit how far the bolt went in.

I have checked the oil, all ok, there doesn't appear to be any on the bolt and there was none on the drive and no new drops on the garage floor.

I have had the car jacked up today and got under as best i can and there are no obvious holes missing a bolt, famous last words.....

It is due to go in for a service week after next, but as its a bit of a drive, I'm just trying to ensure I don't cause further damage whilst on route.

Any suggestions gratfully received.

Edited to try a make picture viewable.


Cheers

Jonny Boy

Edited by jonnyboy on Monday 2nd May 12:49

[Johno]

Can't see pictures . . . but bolt size sounds like a prop shaft bolt, paint being used by TVR to confirm they've been checked for torque etc . .

But as I say, I can't view the pics because of firewall, so really guessing, but size sounds about right.

May have been sitting on top of the exhaust for ages, but you need to check them.

[jonnyboy]

Blimey, thanks for the quick response, I have tried to edit so photo may now be available.

I'll have a look in 'the bible', re prop shaft.

Cheers

Jonny Boy

[clive f]

a strange one...... definately not a propshaft bolt, the nut on the bolt is a shoulder nut, and it is on the wrong way around, it was either done up onto something thin and has sheared out of its hole, or, the nut is fitted that way to act as a locknut, as the bolt was too long for its intended application,..........not sure where it could have come from, at the back end it could be fuel filter bracket, speedo sensor bracket,exhaust mount, upper rear diff mout bracket?

for piece of mind why not get under the back end and see if you can find anything loose?

[jonnyboy]

Thanks for the suggestions, I had a look under earlier and nothing appeared loose.

I have just had a look in 'the bible' (being a mechanical half wit), but must confess i wasn't so sure about the prop shat, due to the stop nut on it.

I'll jack up again and have another look.

Cheers

Jonny Boy

[chris52]

I would say that is the bolt that secures the Front of the exhaust to the engine block. If you look through the N/S front wheel arch you will see where Y peice joins to the exhaust, there will be a bracket there that bolts straight onto the engine block. I know you found this near the rear of the car but I guess it could have fallen off at any time.

Chris

[Pupp]

The 'stripped out' material in the threads; is it ally or steel?

Have a close look at your caliper mounting fastenmers just in case someone has done something odd (although that looks too clean), maybe also look around the front cover/water pump area on the motor as there are quite a few fasteners of that sort of size in that area.

[Johno]

Can see pics now on BB. Definitely not prop.

Looks like a bolt for a blind hole, so exhaust front mount a good suggestion.

Fuel filter or fuel pump bolts (don't think they're blind but given washer sizes and spacers as suggested could for mounting something thin)

Speedo working OK? Think of anything that mounts to chassis or diff or engine . . . I know that's a lot but . . .

Has someone bodged the diff breather etc . . .

The challenge sometimes is undoing the bodges by previous owners/service mechanics etc . . .

[jonnyboy]

Pupp

I think the stripped out material is ally, as can't pick it up with a magnet. Would ally suggest something mounted to the engine block ?

I'll go and check the exhaust front mount.

Johno, i think the speedo was working, but haven't been out since i found the offending article.

Thanks for all your suggestions, hopefuuly something simple.

Cheers

Jonny Boy

[Pupp]

Block is certainly ally so worth a look at the exhaust mount and timing cover/water pump...

[Pupp]

It's also about the right thread size for a header fastener and they do strip/get longer screws bodged in etc

[jonnyboy]

Chris52,

Just been and had another look through ns wheel arch and there it was a triangular bracket which looks like it is attached to the exhaust, also visible through the hole in the bracket was a hole in the engine, minus a bolt. Diagnosis correct, thank you very much.

Where else can you go, attach a picture of a random bolt and then be told exactly where its come from...

Bl**dy Excellent Service.

Thanks to all who replied.

Cheers

Jonny Boy