Black box underneath my Freda

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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Stu 526

Black box underneath my Freda

Post by Stu 526 » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:28 pm

Hi My first time so sorry if I get this all wrong but my question is we have just got our Ford Freda v6 1999( Gertie) and as we reverse her off our drive with a slight incline the black casing under the van rubs the lip of the drive. I need to know is this going to cause major problems?
Mrs :cry: Stu 526
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by mister munkey » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:38 pm

Welcome to the fold Mrs Stu. :)

If you mean the black plastic tray under the engine, the answer is No - not really. Its there to mainly reduce noise & help direct airflow to the right places down below.

A few peeps have run without them for some time without any problems as far as I know.

If its a major niggle, whip it off.

8)
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by stilldesperate » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:59 pm

Taking the tray off wont get you much better ground clearance, as it sit's pretty snugly up to the cross-member, afaik.

Taking it off (mine has been running off, but to find a leak) will allow lots of road crud into the engine bits n bobs, plus you stand probably a greater chance of dinging something more critical.

Is it the "break" angle on the drive that's the prob? Could you pad out the drive a bit to reduce it?

SD
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by stilldesperate » Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:03 pm

"The older I get, the faster I was"

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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by mister munkey » Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:25 pm

Valid point there from SD.

That could become critical when fully loaded up for a trip away too. :?

There must be a Plan B . . .


:-k
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Stu 526

Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by Stu 526 » Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:33 pm

Dear all
thank you so much for the help. I think I will now have to talk to Mr Stu and see if we can try to change the drive a little but I won't nag him too much about the scrapping noise now!
Mrs Stu :P
PS I love my Bongo already and love reading all the messages from everyone- glad to be part of all the strangeness!
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by rita » Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:48 pm

Stu 526 wrote:Hi My first time so sorry if I get this all wrong but my question is we have just got our Ford Freda v6 1999( Gertie) and as we reverse her off our drive with a slight incline the black casing under the van rubs the lip of the drive. I need to know is this going to cause major problems?
Mrs :cry: Stu 526
Hi Stu,
I don't think that the under tray should rub on your drive way,with a slight incline.Unless it is full of bumps and holes.

Worth checking that the tray has not become insecure.

I presume you mean the under tray and not the Back Box Exhaust. :D
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by stilldesperate » Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:22 pm

Stu 526 wrote:Dear all
thank you so much for the help. I think I will now have to talk to Mr Stu and see if we can try to change the drive a little

... had some Irish fella's round this morning "with a bit of tarmac spare" .... should I send 'em your way Mrs Stu? :-"

SD
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by francophile1947 » Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:26 pm

stilldesperate wrote: ... had some Irish fella's round this morning "with a bit of tarmac spare" .... should I send 'em your way Mrs Stu? :-"

SD
Blimey - I thought they were all wintering in the Costas at this time of year - there's money to be made from stolen tarmac :lol: :lol:
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by wishmaster » Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:15 pm

Hi and a very warm welcome to you, any piccies of this lovely V6 of your :D Pleeeze. Just nosy cause we've got a V6 as well :lol: 8)

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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by Alison01326 » Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:16 pm

I scrunch ours at least four days a week, and it's not done it any harm (we've had the Bongo fourteen months). I've checked it a couple of times and it the noise certainly sounds worse than the amount of damage done. There's one angle of approach I can take on to our driveway if next door aren't parked in the way (on the street) which doesn't scrunch it (which accounts for the other three days a week!!!!!).

We have a shared driveway with next door and to change it we would also need to get the pavement altered (County Highways department). As a matter of interest, my husband's Triumph GT6 won't go down the drive at all without taking lumps out of it (yep, the marks are there) and his BMW won't clear it either. Haven't tried the latest conveyance as it doesn't go at the moment and what won't go down definitely won't come up again :lol:

Have lots of fun with Gertie, and have lots of fun (and seriousness) here on the forum. Looking forward to the pics :D Happy New Year
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by bigdaddycain » Fri Jan 01, 2010 2:13 am

When the workmen arrived to drop our kerb i said to them (pointing to the bongo) "If that scrapes the floor i'm not paying" A bit of head scratching ensued, thankfully the bongo JUST clears at any angle with no scraping! :D (hope the tarmac doesn't sink!) :shock:
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by The Great Pretender » Fri Jan 01, 2010 11:00 pm

stilldesperate wrote: Taking it off (mine has been running off, but to find a leak)
SD
Did you notice a rise in noise levels with it off?
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Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by stilldesperate » Fri Jan 01, 2010 11:41 pm

The Great Pretender wrote:
stilldesperate wrote: Taking it off (mine has been running off, but to find a leak)
SD
Did you notice a rise in noise levels with it off?
No, however I was more concerned with overheating than noise.

SD
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Stu 526

Re: Black box underneath my Freda

Post by Stu 526 » Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:36 pm

#-o
Hi I would send a picture of Gertie but too stupid to work out how to attach one! She is chaste white and highlight silver and was converted by West Country Converters of Exmouth. We have only had her a few months but love her to bongo bits!!
PS thanks for the idea of new tarmac do they sell pegs too??
Mrs Stu 526 :P
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