In a message dated 98-09-21 18:39:16 EDT, msecrest@erols.com writes:
> What's the metal flap in the center of the bonnet
> of my new 72 TR6, next to the windscreen, and how does it
> open?
>
> It's in the place where the fresh air vent is on a
> car I used to own, er, a Spitfire.
Martin,
There should be a lever below and just behind the dash, at the very right hand
side of the plinth for the heater, fan, choke, and vent knobs. Later years
replaced the flap with a grille, which was always open. This is both the fresh
air and the heated air intake. If you open the eyeball vents on the dash,
fresh, unheated air comes out if the flap is open. Air from this same vent is
passed through the heater core (weakly if the dash vents are open). With the
vent knob pulled out one notch, heated air is discharged through the defog
vents next to the windshield. Out one more notch, and heated air is also
discharged out the bottom of the heater, in the perfect position and direction
to thouroughly grille your right foot.
You might want to experiment with a duct tape and sheet metal deflector to
send the hot air some where other than directly onto your foot. Fresh air
coming at your face from the dash vents, and warm air percolating around your
lower half makes for very pleasant driving in cold weather, especially at
night after a long trip when you are having trouble staying awake!
Dan Masters,
Alcoa, TN
'71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
'71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion - see:
http://www.sky.net/~boballen/mg/Masters/index.html
'74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition - slated for a V8 soon
'68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74
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