bulkhead

[strat6v]

What can i use to make a seal around my gear linkage as it passes through the rear bulkhead? My thoughts were something like a rubber gaitor. What have you guys used?

[Chris J]

John

The standard hawk centre tunnel/console butts up to the bulkhead, and it's THAT that isolates the linkage from the cockpit (at the gearstick gator).

If I remember right, you're planning to not use the hawk centre tunnel/console, I think most people HAVE used it. Are you planning to have the linkage and handbrake lever in view/exposed?

That's got me thinking. Would there be a matching tunnel/centre console for each type of bulkhead (sloping or vertical type)? The first car I had, had a sloping bulkhead and the fibreglass console/tunnel fitted up to it with no gaps.

My linkage is going down the water pipe tunnel, if I can manage it.

[strat6v]

I will be using the centre tunnel but have chopped it about a bit. Plan is,
New handbrake mount which is higher and slightly further forward so i can mount my x19 handbrake lever which will suit cable or hydraulic(cable, if i can get my abs to work!).The base of my bulkhead has been moved further forwards than the standard sloping item, but doesn't affect the seating position. I didn't plan on having a gaitor around the lever.My thoughts are now turning to a cv joint boot, fixed at an angle to the bulkhead, but parralel to the spine.Does that sound daft?

[Chris J]

With the standard set up, what I forgot to say was that where the tunnel meets the bulkhead, it covers up a hole cut in the rear bulkhead. Everything is covered by this tunnel, but I can't remember anything isolating the inside of the tunnel from the engine bay/rain/floodwater etc.

The gearstick and handbrake gators were the only things isolating the cockpit from the hole in the rear bulkhead.

Not all cars have standard tunnels though, so you're right to ask. I don't think Ken Tomblin's car is standard in this area (and a few other areas) for example.

[chris.richard]

I've put in a double (vertical) bulkhead. Between the two, I wrapped the gearlinkage shaft in polythene, then filled the space with intumescent aerosol foam. That way the cabin is fully isolated from the engine. The centre tunnel, even if sealed to the bulkhead and equipped with handbrake and gearstick gaiters is still open at the front for fumes to come through.

[Chris J]

Yes Chris, you're right, the centre tunnel/console is open at the front. It is covered a bit by the rear of the front tunnel.

I never had any fumes with the first car, but that's where they'd have got in, had there been any.

[guy mayers]

X1/9 handbrake levers - not much in the way of leverage there with Beta callipers! The only way I could get things to work was by going hydraulic....... which ain't legal for the SVA or MOT as it's a stored energy system.... You'll also have to alter the lever arms on the brake callipers if you're going this route.
Guy

[guy mayers]

Also, the Beta gear linkage forward rod came with a rubber cone shaped gaiter the sealed to the front bulkhead to stop gasses and liquids coming into the cabin - but who ever kept the thing as they were usually split....
Guy

[strat6v]

I know that handbrake ratio's will need playing around with.The mount will still accept a beta lever, albeit slightly further forward.
If there was a dual circuit m/cyl on the handbrake would it be possible to run the abs?

[guy mayers]

Yes you should still be able to run ABS with a dual cylinder M/C BUT the cylinders would need to be the same size or the braking effort using the handbrake will be unequal.
Guy