B t-5 engine droop problem

Ren · Post by **Ren** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:43 am

Hi all, nearly finished the silver bullet t-5 but still cant see why I cant get the rear engine cover back on. It looks like I have about a 50mm gap. I have checked the hoop bolts and ok, gear box mounts ok, engine on gear box ok, shims on front box mounts ok, but still a big gap around the engine tin. Im stumped.

Come on tub experts... whats appening?

Apart from taking out the gear box and putting it back again, I just cant think what has gone wrong.

I will try and get a picture of Dr Kirwans silver bullet for you all.

Dave Ren

louis356 · Post by **louis356** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:22 am

Yes, pictures might help. Will compare with mine for you then.

Good luck 'droopy'

mjh356@hotmail.com · Post by **mjh356@hotmail.com** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:25 am

Dave,

If the Transmission Mounts are tired they will drop the transmission and subsequently the engine meaning that the rear engine tin panel drops below the rear deck. This was the case on one of my cars until I replaced the mounts.

One some cars the rear deck was slighly higher which meant that the tinware with the rubber made the seal againt the underside of the deck.

regards,

M

Ren · Post by **Ren** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:27 pm

Mounts on rear box are brand new but are stoddard ones.

I will get pics tonight. Its a big gap and engine is well below the rear inner body/engine bay surrounding panels. Engine looks level though.

I was going to position rear tin then bolt exhaust on and then wiggle and screw down tin. Pull seal up to try and meat body.

But I would rather try and fix the problem Porsche style not mexican bodge style. the under side is different o my 1960 t-5 but we put that down to the silver bullet being a late 1961 t-5 and mexican rally car.

mjh356@hotmail.com · Post by **mjh356@hotmail.com** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:59 pm

Dave,

Another indicator is if the side pieces of tin are about level with the the inner deck, all is OK and the transmission mounts and position are good. At this point it may be that the rear panel may just need "tweeking" whilst in place to make a decent seal.

regards,

M

Ren · Post by **Ren** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:16 pm

side tin is below inner panel level but level with car. "Tweeking" I dont think I can tweek 50mm out of a panel.

louis356 · Post by **louis356** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:03 pm

Shouldn't need tweeking. 50mm is a big gap!

40 scout · Post by **40 scout** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:45 pm

Did you have the motor mounted level in this car before??

If so and you are using the original transmission hoop then the problem must lie with the rear mounts. They are the only other parts that effect engine position.

Have you changed all of the mounts (front and rear)?

I fitted new front and rears from stoddards with no problems.

Are there different rear mounts available? (I'm talking about the ones that bolt through the gearbox bell housing). Can the mounts be fitted upside down to cause this??

drive you mad these 356's dont they!

Steve

Ren · Post by **Ren** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:08 am

front round ones are the old ones and look ok. Rears are new stoddard ones and look ok hoop is one that was on car and is a bit beaten up as it was a rally car but dont think its bent to much out of shape. well engine looks level just to far toward rear of the car and a bit lower than the level of the inner body work.

I managed to get the rear tin on after taking of exhaust putting tin in place then bolting exhaust back on then screwing down the tin. The tin sits just under the level of the inner body panels so I think it will keep the hot air out and cool air in like its supposed to do ha hah ha.

another victory against the mexicans who bodged it before.

Now to find a 10ohms resistor to fix the temp gauge.

Dave Ren

Graham · Post by **Graham** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:07 pm

On US spec tinware the engine tin meets the engine shelf,on the european type engine cooling/heating the shelf sits higher,and the rear tin seal is much bigger.
Did you replace the shelf at all??

Ren · Post by **Ren** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:43 pm

No all tin is as with car when bought and looks lime USA type not European type.

Car will be drivable soon so when its about maybe the owner will ask other knowledgeable people.

Ren · Post by **Ren** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:23 pm

here is tha pic of Dr Ks silver bullet
http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos- ... 8_3472.jpg

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:00 pm

Hi
I had this shelf same problem a few years ago with a "lovely " restored 356C , the engine surround metalwork had been replaced but at the wrong height which caused a whopping gap around the motor , this situation was not a happy one as it was allowing hot expelled air back into the engine , the answer was to renove the tray and weld one back in the right place , I dont have a 356 to hand at present but you might want to get someone to measure up from the bottom of the inner wing to the underside of the tray to make sure some numpty hasn't fitted one in the wrong place in the past.