While I was removing all that tinderbox and glue from under the bonnet, I noticed that the heater vents to and from the heater motor were
sealed up with gaffa tape, which is falling apart. That might explain the occasional whiff of engine fumes when driving (although I
usually have the window open in any case). So today, I'm going to try to seal it all up a bit better.
The heater motor is located inside the right-hand side of the engine bay, so easy to get to (easier than the TVR where I think they start
construction by hanging a heater motor on a hook and then building the car onto it - so you can't get it out without demolishing half of
the car).
I start by disconnecting the feed wire to the motor. Then there are 3 bolts around the motor - remove them, then gently prise it off the
gasket with a screwdriver, and it's off! How easy was that?
The intake is connected to a duct inside the wing, with air coming in around the headlight. At the back, there's a short length of flexible
hose connecting that duct to the motor mounting bracket. The bracket has two bolts into the top of the wing (that also hold the wing onto
the car body). There's another two bolts at the bottom, through into the wheel arch. Remove all those and the bracket comes off.
The flexible hose is too short, so doesn't cover the offset between the duct and the motor. No matter how I try, I just can't get them to
connect together... I find a piece of duct for connecting a bathroom fan to a wall vent, which is a snug fit inside the two ends. I cut a
strip off my self-adhesive neoprene gasket stuff to get a good seal, and manage to manoeuvre it into place. Replace the bracket bolts to hold
it all - it works!
Then I replace the motor, but not before I discover that the rubber seal on the other end of the motor (pushing air into the bulkhead through
the heater matrix) is torn. I tape up the gap (for now) and reconnect the wiring.
A wee test shows that it all works!
I need to look for some kind of rubber band, about 2 inches wide, to put around that square exit duct join, but that's better in the meantime.
And... it starts first time, so the carburettor repair has made all the difference!
And... the hood stays up itself without needing a prop, now that it's not weighed down by half a tonne of firelighter felt!
I found the ideal stuff (I think) to seal that joint between the fan exit and the entry to the passenger compartment! I'll try the self-adhesive
foam rubber sheets that I used between panels on the TVR.
First I measure round the heater vent - total length required is 340mm, and the width is 50mm. I cut a bit off one sheet, peel off the backing
and wrap it around. Perfect fit, although I deice to add a couple of tie-wraps to hold it firmly in place.
That's much tidier than it was, when it had bits of gaffa tape hanging off all over the place.
That's much tidier than it was, when it had bits of gaffa tape hanging off all over the place.
