Road Noise

[Martin Gutkowski <webmaster@xxxx>]

Hi All

Ever since I got #1458 on the road, it has been the victim of road
noise. It's difficult to hold a conversation when doing 80mph on the
motorway, and most of the noise seems to come from the centre console.
Engine noise is substantial, as is wind and tyre noise. I do need new
exhaust gaskets, though that does not account for more than 10% of the
noise IMO (you just get that beetly sound)

It was at the Birmingham show, and a conversation with Mark Bourne that
I realised the possible source of the problem - if you lift the tray
thing at the back of the centre console, the underbody has been cut away
to reveal the joints in the fuel lines that run directly beneath. This
cut is about 12" long and 1.5" wide, and is directly over the
accumulator. It looks part of the design, and not an afterthought to get
at the pipes. Has anyone else got this hole? I removed the centre
console today and you can clearly see the road down through that hole.

I know that in common with all early cars, I'm also missing the rubber
grommet thing which goes around the bottom of the gear stick - can
anyone confirm how much of a difference this thing makes to the road
noise?

All the best

Martin
#1458

PS Memphis here I come!