Jonah Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 Evening all I’m about to take my Mk3 Spitfire out after restoration and began wondering what happens to rainwater that runs down onto the scuttle and through the grilles This maybe a dull question but I’m perplexed, I’m sure there’s a simple explanation best Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 the base of the heater plenum has a rubber drain valve it can block and fill with debris then heavy rain can flood over into the car have a look in the engine bay for the drain spout later had a rubber flap like Heater Hoses, Pipes and Demister Nozzles : Canley Classics Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 I’ve noticed a small rubber flap, opening onto the bulkhead, is this where excess water is supposed to drain away? looking through the grilles it’s clear that there hasn’t been any surface protection applied for a very long time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 id like to get inside the head of the Triumph designer who thought up this primitive idea! Has anyone tried to fit a seal of some sort along the top edge of the bonnet to prevent rainwater from getting onto the scuttle and into the heater plenum, which might channel the water off to the side drains? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 My daughters Mk2 Spitfire has had the top 2 mesh grills on the top of the scuttle removed by a PO and now have 2 removable chrome expanded metal grills in their place popped under the scuttle, with each held in place by a small metal bar across each on the top/outside of the scuttle by a single bolt and Rivnut locked into the expanded metal grill. They look good and being removable enable easy access to the plenum chamber to clean out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted January 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 Now that’s a clever idea, thank you Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 20 hours ago, Jonah said: Has anyone tried to fit a seal of some sort along the top edge of the bonnet to prevent rainwater from getting onto the scuttle and into the heater plenum, which might channel the water off to the side drains? Sound like the same set up on my Vitesse, it can cause a water trap on the ledge and my steel brake M.C also pipe runs under the heater box . Your idea has got me thinking to look into that. I currently tape it over with black gaffa type tape in rainy weather (though over the years, it has taken some paint off when removed) and have squirted wax oil under that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 The heater intake is open to the air anyway, so rain falling down is going to drop straight in. Early cars (Heralds anyway) had the same idea as Peter T's, the mesh was held in by screws and so could be removed. Squirting Waxoyl in through the mesh does help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 41 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: The heater intake is open to the air anyway, so rain falling down is going to drop straight in Doh. Hadn't thought of that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 you could make a cowl to give the air some extra ram effect it would act as an umbrella in the rain but water driven up the bonnet while driving it then makes a water shute with some rot or rust or Not the basic set up has lasted all these past 50 years Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 49 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: with some rot or rust or Not the basic set up has lasted all these past 50 years For sure. I'm just into any preserving of the the old girl, especially, as used all year round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 18, 2023 Report Share Posted January 18, 2023 well a squirt of oil down the mesh when topping up the dashpots Ha!! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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