Sprint inside bonnet clearance - oil filler cap

[simonhorton]

Hi everybody
Got my engine back in my car today ( thought engine mounts were wrong before )
The bonnet only just clears the oil filler cap
I went under the car , and managed to reach up with my hand and was able to turn the oil filler cap

There is only about 5 MM. clearance though

A close fit !!

Simon

[gmsclassics]

You got me wondering, so off to the barn armed with a lump of playdough (or however you spell it).

The closest point of contact turns out to be quite well forward rather than on top as this is where the bonnet curves down. Minimum gaps found between edge of oil filler cap and bonnet are:

79 Pageant blue car = 17mm
76 Mimosa car = 17mm
75 Race car = 15mm

Given the race car had a ding that bent the left chassis rail, was pulled out and straightened it's measurements may well have the least relevance.

I was surprised at the consistency in what are 40 year old cars with engine mounts that are almost certainly replacements from indeterminate sources. While the 79 car is very original, the 76 version was a shell that I added parts from a variety of sources, and of course the race car has led a very hard life.

Interesting though

Geoff

[Jon Tilson]

Yours will settle a bit in use Simon.

They are indeed a bit tight in this area. You can also raise the bonnet slightly with a shim under the hinges.
Some came like this from the factory.

Jonners

[simonhorton]

Hi Jon,
Thanks for the reply

Engine back in my car after 15 years

Simon