Part placement in engine bay

[igosling]

Getting to the stage where I am looking to put engine in place and looking for general thoughts on where to place items in the engine bay, specifically, Fuel Pump, Fuel Filters and ECU.

I am considering placing an aluminimum skin on the trapezium shaped element of the chassis to potentially attach these items to. This was touted to me as a way to go for the ECU in a previous thread. This would also serve well for attaching other items I am sure.

Anyone done anything similar? Or is there a known 'best' method for attaching these items. Any comprensive list of items that need to be attached within the engine bay would also be helpful in my planning

Any thoughts as ever gratefully received

Iain

[guy mayers]

I'd recommend that the first thing to do is get all the mechanical bits in place first. That's not just the engine & box but the driveshafts and gearlinkages, exhaust system and coolant pipes, airflow meter and filter, steady brackets etc etc. These items tend to be pretty inflexible in thier placement and you have to work the rest around these parts.
The fuel pump should be as low as possible, it's the coolest part of the engine bay, however, make sure that any fuel line runs to or from the pump are above the chassis and the pump is pre filtered as well. I'd recommend putting the injector filter somewhere near the fuel rail where it can be easily serviced. Make sure you use the correct spec fuel line for injection engines and decent clips. I can't recommend using braided hose as you can't tell what state the hoses are in later. Leaks under pressure don't bear contemplation in any car, let alone a fiberglass one!
I'd always place the ECU within the cabin where it's away from heat and moisture. This involves stripping and recovering the loom to suit. You can put it in the boot but that makes things difficult to remove later and isn't as watertight as the cabin.
Guy

[strat6v]

Guys thoughts are spot on. add to that list an oil cooler. If you use one of the mocal water cooled ones you'll need to think about where to fit that too.

If you are using an ally bulkhead, make a tray to fit the ecu in and site that in the bulkhead, cabin side. Keep your cable runs as short as possible, away from heat sources as best you can. If you are using a 24v alfa then you can chop the loom and reuse the big circular waterproof plug. I have the part numbers for replacement pins from RS components.

Keep your water header tank as high as possible and if using an alfa engine, make sure that you plumb the cooling/heater connections properly on the rear head.

[guy mayers]

Thanks John, just like to add that if you are modifying looms then always use a quality crimping tool and solder the joints as well. Also make sure that whilst the runs are as short as possible, the loom connections aren't stretched or they will pull apart in time. Usually the most inopportune moment!
Guy

[igosling]

Both,

Thanks for the info, but can I just clarify that putting a 'skin' on the trapezoid rear chassis section is sensible. This to me would create an environmentally friendly place to store the ECU and may be other items. But may reduce the amount of space to play with

I notice a few pictures show other have gone this way? Appreciate it would need the floor pan extending up to this chassis member also.

Regards

Iain

[chris.richard]

I have an older (1995) Hawk chassis, where the floorpan comes right up to the rear cross member. I have double skinned the bulkhead, at the front and rear of the chassis members - two triangles and one trapezoid. I mounted the ECU between the two. There is adequate space for the Alfa 24v manifolds, cooling pipes and heads, although more space is always better! I had to get at my ECU recently and it was a PITA having to remove seats so as I could remove the cabin side of the bulkhead to reach it... Are you using a sloping (nearer to Lancia) bulkhead on the inside? The vertical arrangement gives more room inside and less in the engine bay. It certainly isn't the Tardis!

[igosling]

Chris.

The inner sloping (cabin) bulkhead came fitted, must be standard on the newer kits.

I have extended the floor pan already, with a view to that acting as a barrier for everything coming through the cabin bulkhead and potentially exposed to the road (although I appreciate the centre spar is more than adequate a barrier).

I am trying to get ahead of the game and work out how to construct a sensible compartment to house things and as you have found out be able to get access at a later date for any repairs/upgrades etc.

I am potentailly thinking of a permanent skin on the engine side and an 'opening' (secured by self-tappers) through the cabin-side. This pretty much seems to be what you are doing. Appreciate removing seats etc. might be a pain, but better than removing the engine !!

Thanks for the thoughts

Iain

[chris.richard]

You could construct a box on the engine side of the sloping bulkhead with access via a hatch between the seats, rather than a whole bulkhead. That'll leave you more space for the engine ancillaries.