Leather 'trays' (picture)

John Murch · Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: Leather 'trays' (picture)

I noticed in an advert for a 4½ :
The car even retains its original leather trays between the chassis and the sump flange, which are almost always missing,
I'd never previously heard of such things. Were these fitted to all WO's or were they an extra, or is the quote not quite true?

John

Iain Warner · Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 12:15 pm Post subject:

John

The late type 3 litre engine has the same style sump. On the outside edge of the broad flange are a series of small (~2BA size) holes. This is where the leather tray was attached and I understood that it was a standard fitment although I have not seen one.

John Murch · Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 1:33 pm Post subject:

Thank you Iain, always nice to learn something new!

John

Laurie Fox · Guest

Intriguing. What did they do and look like?

Laurie

Mark Hollis · Joined: 01 Mar 2010 Posts: 162 Location: East Anglia

Engine trays
Wouldn't know about leather but mine were/are aluminium
Mark

William Highley · Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 8:30 am Post subject:

Dear Laurie and all,

I have taken a picture of the "leather trays" which I took off my 4½ litre many years ago. I must get around to putting them back on the car! If anyone would like a pattern please let me know. I suspect the holes that attach them to the sump flange and chassis may well be slightly different in every car. The leather is about ¼ inch thick.

Kind Regards,

William Highley

Laurie Fox · Guest

Thanks, William. I wonder whether their function was the same as Mark's aluminum trays, namely to keep bits of unmade road etc. out of the engine compartment.

Laurie

William Highley · Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 11:04 am Post subject:

Laurie,

Yes, I have always assumed that they are there to stop muck etc. being thrown up into the engine area. Likewise they collect oil etc. from any small leaks from the engine which flies and dirt get stuck to. That may have been why I left them off!

Whether they were fitted to all cars I don't know but if you have holes on the outer edge of the sump flange and some small holes in the chassis your car was probably fitted to them.

I presume the car John Murch was referring to was the 4½ litre Bentley up for sale by RM Auctions at Villa Erba yesterday. See the link below.

http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1058593

Regards,

William

Mark Hollis · Joined: 01 Mar 2010 Posts: 162 Location: East Anglia

I reckon their most useful function is to catch tools etc when you drop them having just burnt your hand on the underside of the exhaust manifold!
I would prefer aluminium as (a) it looks smarter and (b) you hear the tool/whatever drop onto them even if they've slid out of sight under the ex manifold
Mark

John Murch · Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2024 6:07 am Post subject:

On another forum is an interesting discussion on cooling and airflow.
I wonder if the reason that these “trays” are so rarely seen is that they restrict air flow somewhat and especially with an ageing radiator core, cause a tendency to overheat. Especially with a 3ltr which has a much smaller radiator than a 4.5.
With the result that they were removed.