I have been looking into a solution to remove both the overflow bottle and washer bottle from the strut tower. I was thinking of putting a reservoir in the wiper plenum area but that can look worse than its current location. So I decided to use a VR/VS washer bottle and mount it to the inside front left hand guard. Unless you get some measurements wrong this is a really easy mod. Remember messure 3 times the 3rd time is usualy because you do stuff up the first and second time, Its not easy to put back metal. I have supplied some measurements but please check these for yourself as I take no responsibility.
VR/VS under guard washer bottle, bought for $30 from wreckers.
This is the location of the filler neck, this will allow for standard airbox fitment.
First thing is to locate where to drill the hole for the filler neck to poke through. The dimentions are 66mm from the lip/joint on the headlight support pannel and 145mm from the engine bay. There is a little tolerance due to the ability to later succure the bottle in the location that suits.
I run a small pilot hole to ensure it was in the correct location before cutting the hole. I find it a good idea incase you are a little way off as you can correct it and usualy remove the pilot hole when you cut the main hole.
The OD of the filler neck is 39mm so I have used a 40mm hole saw. So after locating the correct place cut the main hole. You dont need to be a rocket scientist to use a hole saw but for those who dont know light steady pressure is the way to go.
Remove the yellow cap off the bottle and insert filler neck through the hole. Should look something like this.
I personally am not inserting the bottle all the way because I want the filler neck lined up with the panel in the engine bay. So this will invole making a spacer that I will go into further later.
So from the under side of the guard it should be looking something like this or yours may be inserted all the way so the top mounting tab it sitting against the panel.
Find where the bottle sits nicely and center punch where you want to screw it down. Then secure it using two 12G self tapping pannel screws with washers and a 4.5mm pilot hole.
If you have gone with pushing the bottle all the way up drill a hole into the bay through the top mounting lug with a 6mm drill and secure it with a M6 bolt and washer and a M6 flanged nut. As I will be lowering my bottle I will need to machine up a spacer. This will be done when I get back to work. Ill post pics up when finished
The wiring is pretty simple as the plug is the same all that needs to be done is have the wiring extended and run a new hose to your washer jets. I have not done this yet as ill be rewiring the whole bay so ill do this at a later stage.
Finshed product.......
Nice work man, I've been wanting to do something about mine as it's looking pretty yuck nowdays, all cracked and discoloured etc, so this gives me an idea
One question, What have you done about the radiator overflow bottle?
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
My cooling system will be slightly modified and include a header tank instead of a overflow bottle. If I do not end up iincorporating this system ill use a cylindrical overflow bottle down the side of the radiator.
Great idea, might look into it myself, will have to put it on the driver side though if there's room underneath with the vac ball. Being a V8 the battery is on the passenger side so no go there.
Cheers guys, was just a quick write up, had the spare time on my hands. I was going to put it on the drivers side but my oil cooler is going there. There might be room to tuck it between the batt. I dont have a batt there so I cant tell you.
I had a look last night and it will fit behind the battery quite nicely, so that's where it'll go. Wiring etc will be very easy. I've got a GENIII coolant bottle, was thinking of trying to make use of it, but nowhere to put it. Maybe just a VS one in place of the original, which is pretty ordinanry and in need of replacing anyway.
To be honest mate I have not even looked at the car in the past couple of weeks. You dont need to be a brain surgeon to work out where to run your wiring at hose. Ill be hiding all my wiring under my gaurds so it will be going in there with the body loom.
Good stuff. If I could make a suggestion (since you go to all this effort):replace the washer motor with a Mitsubishi late model Magna (TJ-TL) one. They have a large inlet and small outlet, giving you a much higher output pressure. This would help you get a better burst out of the jets, since the fluid has to travel further and against gravity.
