ENGINE COVER STAY
As our cars get older the one item that becomes more
common is the problem with the engine compartment stay. The nylon clip that is
supposed to hold in position at the rear of the opening when not in use (engine
cover down) is either broken or missing completely.
I hit upon a simple idea of using the little bulldog
type clip that usually comes with a clip on plastic name tag – the sort you
have to wear when visiting some premises. They are usually sold at places like W
H Smith. The better one have a small
lip at the end of each clip which can then clamp round the arm attached to the
car body at the rear of the engine cover opening.
To fasten it to the stay I used some thin wire and
bound the opposite end of one of the clips to the end of the stay arm. You will
need to position the stay in the normal operating position and place the clip so
that it wraps round the stay bracket and mark where you need to bind it on the
arm.
On the NA car, the stay fastens to the rear of the
engine compartment on the engine/boot wall. On the SC car the stay is on the
other side and attaches to the front wall of the engine compartment. The
position of the clip part at the end of the stay is slightly different but the
same method can be used for both types
STUART KYNOCH
