DAMN MICE!!!!

Damn mice!

Damn mice!

Damn mice!

I just discovered that mice have been nesting inside my fan shroud. I am not feeling good about having to pull it off and clean it out.

It seems like I read a recommendation against using those wire mesh things that cover the air intake opening.

Does anyone have experience with these? Do they fit doghouse type shrouds?

Damn mice!

Damn mice!

Damn mice!

Dang, man. No idea.

Mickey,
Dad's Monte has severe mice issues... I've been researching. Dryer sheets. Mice HATE dryer sheets.

Just don't forget where you put them BEFORE you start the car. Maybe tape one to the steering wheel?

By the way, a shop vac with a small nozzle will pick those little stinkers right up.

angela

I've had the mesh screen on mine for years. Can't imagine they hurt anything. The thing people most neglect is to reach back there now and again to brush anything that may have been caught on it.

Bill,

Does the mesh fit doghouse style shrouds?

Not sure as I don't have one. But I can't imagine they would have changed the diameter of the fan and opening from one to the other.

Always keep several loaded mouse traps in close proximity just in case. Also, I keep the exhaust end covered - a rubber glove works fine (after the exhaust cools). They've been known to explore up through there and into the engine if the car sits for a while.

I keep a boa constrictor in the garage, we haven't had a mouse problem since... you just have to learn to keep a poker face when the crying little kid comes to door and asks if you have seen fluffy the cat...and the muffled meows at night are a pain too.

Bill,

Now that I have my shroud off, it looks like the doghouse shroud does not have a continuous lip for the wire mesh thing to clamp around.

That about stinks, wonder why they would do away with the lip?
Oh well, live and learn.

This mouse nest could have gone unnoticed until my engine failed.

I pulled out one of the plastic things on the shroud that hold the plug wires and saw the nest stuff through the hole.

All of the cooling air going to cylinders 3 & 4 would have been blocked.

Can the shroud be removed without dropping the motor? The prev. owner removed the warm up flaps and bellows and I would like to reinstall them but I am unable to drop motor to do it. Will the shroud clear the oil cooler if removed out the top?

Yes.

It is a little awkward removing the screws on the front side (front of the car).

There is a screw at the oil cooler, a nut on the top cooler vent piece and an screw on the lower cooler vent piece.

On my car the last one was a slotted screw. I had to put a screw driver bit into a socket & ratchet to get it out. I will replace it with a hex head screw.

If you have the dampers, you have to remove the bar that connects them. It hangs on the bottom of the cooler. There is a clip at each end and a spring in the middle. The clips are easy. I am concerned that the spring may be difficult to hook back up.

I had the alternator and fan out before I removed the shroud. Before the mice discovery, my original project was to install a welded fan.

I have an unused unwelded fan if anyone needs one.

Yes it can... you'll need to remove the alt. stand to be able to pull out the shroud with the alt. attached as a unit.
Remove the 10mm bolts on the lower L & R sides of the shroud and any add'l 10mm bolts securing the shroud.
Linkages, heat hoses, fuel line and pehaps a few wires that are in the way will have to go too.
This is a basic plan, many speedsters have different motor configurations and items that may be in the way, this becomes a bit of a ballet but can be done.

It only takes 30 minutes to pull a engine and i tried a variaction Of what Alan dicribed > I 'd just rather pull the engine and do it correctly. i nearly damaged my oil cooler the last time .

I also put a screen on the fan shroud opening a monified T-4 screen would work too.

You better check your carpets to make sure they havent found their way into that like they did mine. before i even got to install it. Check your top too.

I now leave a little rat bait in the shelters. to keep them away.

Your hub Is progressing also We just about ready to press in the spool. we are waiting on a larger drill bit to arive to finish bore the center. for the spool. It was just one size to small and we did not want to cot the spool any more.

On another car mice built a nest in the heater blower and jammed the fan. Smoke started pouring out of the vents when I went to start the car. I turned it off quick enough that the smoking wires didn't ignite the mouse nest.

Angela,

I'm wondering, does the shop-vac just give the "little stinkers" hickies, or does it suck their guts out. (I don't want to foul my shop-vac's liquid reservoir with mouse guts). And just in case I see any 'hanging around' does a shop vacuume do the job on bats too?

Inquiring minds, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (large and small) and PETA, want to know.