Heater & Blower Cover on 411

[peter dowdle]

Geoff Thanks for your reply. Attached is the only clear photo I can find, it shows an aluminium strip that appears to be riveted into place but may not be original .Any photo that anyone can supply of an original car would be appreciated.

[Geoff Kingston]

Peter
If you use the search facility on the site, type in Bristol S2 Heater Shelf it should give you about three results click on the one from califironiabristol and it should show you the photograph I referred to 1st left,one of the other photos shows it as well.
What you have basically is an L shaped piece of metal mounted on the bulkhead in front of the heater to attach the bottom of the cover to,I have in the back of my mind having seen this cover fixed on the front or outside of this strip but obviously there would still have been a metal strip within the vinyl cover to take the screw or rivet attachments.
Knowing how Bristol liked to put their cars together I suspect rivets would have been used in preference to screws.
Geoff.

[Kevin H]

I think this is the thread Geoff is referring to

http://www.bristolcars.info/forums/8...ter-shelf.html

[peter dowdle]

Kevin I found it but its not showing how cover attaches

[Kevin H]

Peter, I have found some pictures of what I believe is a 411 S2 from an owner in Ireland which might be helpful - the engine has been upgraded so I have attached a close-up of the heater cover and the full engine bay.


It looks like the bottom of the vinyl cover is secured with a metal strip. From memory i think it is has a flattened C section shape and is made of steel.


I can't say whether it was riveted or screwed in place. The photo is not quite clear enough to see.

[Kevin H]

I'm pretty sure I have found the metal strip in question that came off my 411. See attached pictures.


Dimensions are 26" x 0.7" x 0.25" and it is steel

[peter dowdle]

Kevin well done clearly thats how its done.

Very poor system with ragged cloth protruding.

Clearly standards have dropped from the early cars.

Why they didnt use press studs along the bottom defeats me

Thanks for your efforts

Peter

[Geoff Kingston]

Peter,
There you be nothing wrong in my view in modifying the arrangement to fix the bottom of the cover with studs as well. It would require a slightly deeper front panel on the heater shelf and I would have thought 3 or 4 press studs would not only look neater but the cover would be a lot easier to remove should the need arise.
I think the metal strip that Kevin has photographed must be on the inside of the cover on my car as all I can see are screws in the outer lip of the strip running along the front of the shelf, it is obviously well located not just relying on a few screws through the vinyl.
Geoff.