Bonnet and heater fan squirrel cage

[jjbunn]

Two questions for the experts. '69 E-Type:

1) Is it possible for a single person to remove the bonnet on an E-Type without damaging it? How heavy is it, roughly?

2) The squirrel cage in my heater box is very stiff - it barely turns by hand. Can I remove the motor and cage without removing the whole heater box and fittings? I'd like to open the motor up and re-lube it.

Thanks!

 

[jessebogan]

1 No, not really. It is big, and heavy.

2 It should j u s t come out with a little flexing of the fan blade. Beware though, it is old and plastic...

 

[Andy Blackley]

Julian: Yes, the fan motor and cage will come right out. You might be able to loosen it up with some WD40 .

There are MANY threads on Jag-lovers about replacing/upgrading the fan motors with ones from Grainer or a Pontiac Fiero. Check this: https://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=1034818641&n4=

 

[Andy Blackley]

Two questions for the experts. '69 E-Type:

1) Is it possible for a single person to remove the bonnet on an E-Type without damaging it? How heavy is it, roughly?

Leave to Jag-lovers again: it has been done. Check out this thread: https://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=1232319379

There are many others. Some guys use old couch cushions, foam rubber etc. on the floor. The main thing is to remove the hinge pivot bolts and NOT the shims and bolts where the hinge assembly is bolted to the bonnet, as suggested by the manual.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Have removed and installed the bonnet on several Es by myself. What I do is, jack the car up in front a little. Put foam or blanket on floor in front of the bonnet. Open the bonnet, remove the springs or pistons (whichever you have), that will let you raise the bonnet more to get to the hinge bolt and the nose will touch the floor on the blanket. If you jack the car up a little more the bonnet will balance on its nose.Loosen the hinge bolt to almost out. Unplug the lights and any other wiring. Step inside the bonnet and remove bolts. You should be able to carefully twist the bonnet away for the car and set it down. Do some preplanning on where and what to do with it afterwards. Depending on your shop, you might could put the bonnet close to a wall in front and keep it there until you are ready to replace.

A MGB heater fan motor can be used in the E if you do a shaft mod for the fan.

Marv

 

[jjbunn]

Julian: Yes, the fan motor and cage will come right out. You might be able to loosen it up with some WD40 .

There are MANY threads on Jag-lovers about replacing/upgrading the fan motors with ones from Grainer or a Pontiac Fiero. Check this: https://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=1034818641&n4=

Thanks Andy ... I'll take a closer look in jag-lovers.

Is it just me, or is the user interface over there completely funky? I have no idea what I'm looking at half the time, whether the posts are in topic or date order, or how to do a powerful search e.g. demand an AND between search words. BCF is so much more nicely laid out and clear IMHO.

 

[jjbunn]

Have removed and installed the bonnet on several Es by myself. What I do is, jack the car up in front a little. Put foam or blanket on floor in front of the bonnet. Open the bonnet, remove the springs or pistons (whichever you have), that will let you raise the bonnet more to get to the hinge bolt and the nose will touch the floor on the blanket. If you jack the car up a little more the bonnet will balance on its nose.Loosen the hinge bolt to almost out. Unplug the lights and any other wiring. Step inside the bonnet and remove bolts. You should be able to carefully twist the bonnet away for the car and set it down. Do some preplanning on where and what to do with it afterwards. Depending on your shop, you might could put the bonnet close to a wall in front and keep it there until you are ready to replace.

A MGB heater fan motor can be used in the E if you do a shaft mod for the fan.

Marv

Thanks Marv ... sounds straightforward(!)

I think I may have an old fan from my TR6 hanging around - perhaps that will fit. But first I need to check whether the existing fan can be loosened up.

 

[Andy Blackley]

Julian: Yes, the fan motor and cage will come right out. You might be able to loosen it up with some WD40 .

There are MANY threads on Jag-lovers about replacing/upgrading the fan motors with ones from Grainer or a Pontiac Fiero. Check this: https://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=1034818641&n4=

Thanks Andy ... I'll take a closer look in jag-lovers.

Is it just me, or is the user interface over there completely funky? I have no idea what I'm looking at half the time, whether the posts are in topic or date order, or how to do a powerful search e.g. demand an AND between search words. BCF is so much more nicely laid out and clear IMHO.

No, its definitely funky, perhaps even a kludge, but the content when you can find it is often priceless. Forums like this one and the Alfa BB have spoiled me too.

 

[DrEntropy]

Since you brought it up, Andy, I gotta say I agree about the "spoiled" bit. Tho I don't frequent the Alfa forum often, it has a similar "feel" to this place. This is home. :wink: