Spitfire Bonnet Wiring Fixings

[Neil Clark]

Is there a recommended fixing to hold the wiring loom above the grille?  There is nothing visible on mine where clearly the loom ran originally.

Thanks

[Badwolf]

On my MKIV there are a couple of permanent clips welded under the bonnet nose strengthener/support. I suppose that they rust and break off eventually.  I'm sure that I have seen aftermarket push on clips which are like trim clips but with a big loop for the loom to be gripped by.

[Josef]

There were the fold over tabs originally (well, presumably, unless there were differences with the early bonnets). Is there any part of the grill fixing that can be used? I put cable ties through some of the grille mount holes on my Mk3 but there looks to be nothing equivalent in your photo/on the earlier cars. 

[Badwolf]

Just a thought following on from Josef's post. If you have the strengthening plates running along under the bonnet nose, you could drill pairs of  holes about half an inch apart and pass a cable tie through taking in the loom. Can't remember what model your Spitfire is, sorry.

[DanMi]

there should be tabs fitted to the bonnet above the grill aperture with a plastic sleeve similar to on the chassis, the wires sit in the nose on the small shelf

[Neil Clark]

Thank you.  Either tabs and clips have clearly been there.  All that remain are rough patches of metal.  I think I need to drill out those patches and rivet P clips or similar that I can release if I want to get to the wiring in future.

[DanMi]

or use automotive double sided tape. saves drilling 

[PeteH]

55 minutes ago, DanMi said:

or use automotive double sided tape. saves drilling 

I have tried many different "Brands" of Double side tape, despite clinical cleaning they all seen to fail in relatively shrt order. Anyone found one yet that will adhear to modern Plastics, which is another issue.

Pete

[Neil Clark]

I must admit that that part of the loom is pretty heavy with all the lighting wires, bullet connectors etc.  I've not had much luck with double sided tapes before and would be delighted if there is a brand that could hold it all up.

[Colin Lindsay]

You can buy plastic clips which will take cable ties; they're supposed to be self adhesive but usually aren't. Remove the adhesive bit and glue them up out of sight, maybe four or five along the line where you want the loom to run. Use a good glue or sealant but once dry thread a cable tie through and secure the loom that way. I used white ones on the Herald and they've lasted years, and are completely invisible under the bonnet.

[NonMember]

18 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said:

they're supposed to be self adhesive but usually aren't.

I note that every such clip I've ever bought has a counter-sunk hole in the middle for the screw that you will inevitably need...

[Colin Lindsay]

51 minutes ago, NonMember said:

I note that every such clip I've ever bought has a counter-sunk hole in the middle for the screw that you will inevitably need...

Well you could screw them into the bonnet, I'm sure you could find nice little plastic caps for the threaded bit that sticks out in front.

But, yes, that's why I mentioned using a good sealer to stick it, the original adhesive pads are no use for underbonnet applications.

[KevinR]

1 hour ago, NonMember said:

I note that every such clip I've ever bought has a counter-sunk hole in the middle for the screw that you will inevitably need...

Not when you stick them in place with 3M DP490

 

[PeteH]

30 minutes ago, KevinR said:

3M DP490

At around £30 a pop?. As we are prone to say up here " how ********* much".😭

Pete

[Badwolf]

3 hours ago, KevinR said:

Not when you stick them in place with 3M DP490

 

Now that rings a bell from somewhere!!!!

[Neil Clark]

Hmmm.  I need to research this glue!

[Colin Lindsay]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165639370552?hash=item2690e03738:g:IBIAAOSwu~NjA7n0&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAkFumfO3tBbMpG4H1OdfUy9%2FHswMm0p2ZDeD7fwmvniFIfBm4jlnCMxtzovbvmrR3zQEMZoaDCdzzP2bco2K%2FG%2BwE0MKXXRk%2BvvUMKkZ51S4ylL9tNh2B2cNYjBjoYiGoYeeLf6JKSmeyOVXZPTjgRTeIN1mm5HC6RA2N6eg8JFzVAI9g85j%2BROrtX7%2FZT%2B6Q6g%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR67Dka7mYA

[Josef]

For anyone reading this who has not yet painted their car, original style wiring clips are dead easy to fabricate. Just cut a T shape out of 0.8/1mm steel plug weld the top of the T to the body and bend to suit. 

[Neil Clark]

12 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165639370552?hash=item2690e03738:g:IBIAAOSwu~NjA7n0&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAkFumfO3tBbMpG4H1OdfUy9%2FHswMm0p2ZDeD7fwmvniFIfBm4jlnCMxtzovbvmrR3zQEMZoaDCdzzP2bco2K%2FG%2BwE0MKXXRk%2BvvUMKkZ51S4ylL9tNh2B2cNYjBjoYiGoYeeLf6JKSmeyOVXZPTjgRTeIN1mm5HC6RA2N6eg8JFzVAI9g85j%2BROrtX7%2FZT%2B6Q6g%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR67Dka7mYA

Bought it - thanks Colin.  Do you know where I can buy those little plastic tags that you pictured above?

[Peter Truman]

Bunning's Ha!

Well I can in the Electrical Isle?

Sooory

[Neil Clark]

Well, I've got a lot of friends in Cheltenham and Sandringham Peter so I suppose..................

[Dick Twitchen]

1 hour ago, Neil Clark said:

Do you know where I can buy those little plastic tags

Neil, I got mine from Car Builder Solutions and a glance at their site usually triggers a much bigger order than anticipated!

Dick 

[Neil Clark]

20 minutes ago, Dick Twitchen said:

Neil, I got mine from Car Builder Solutions and a glance at their site usually triggers a much bigger order than anticipated!

Dick 

Thanks Dick.  I've ordered the smallest pack

[Peter Truman]

36 minutes ago, Neil Clark said:

Well, I've got a lot of friends in Cheltenham and Sandringham Peter so I suppose..................

Very close to Dingley Village, and there's a BIG Bunnings on the Nepean Hwy very close to them!

[Badwolf]

Neil - Don't forget that you may need the dispenser gun although I have mixed small amounts on a board. If you do get a gun make sure that you get the correct model as there are several which all look similar. Some do several different sizes of cartridge. Also the adhesive is date sensitive, so check the sell by date on the cartridge. I keep mine in the fridge!!