Things are moving along nicely on the interior and I'm finding that some of the dash parts are not as straight as they might have been when the PO took it apart 15 years ago. Picture of passenger underscuttle that is no longer flat, leaving room for lots of daylight around the fuse panel door. I am usually pretty tolerant of something like this, but if there is a way to straighten it, I would do it.

Thanks

Dave

 

mine is like that too. The components behind it cause it to warp. I gave up trying to straighten it. Once the foam takes a set, it becomes permanent.

just make sure the top edge excess material goes under the trim, between the wood and the crash roll. The way it is in the picture looks too low.

 

I fixed a couple of these bowed panels, many years ago.

Get a steel rod from the hardware store. Threaded rod will work. Place the rod over the bowed section. Use your favorite epoxy to glue the ends of the rod in place. You now have a rigid 'spine' of sorts.

The idea is to pull the bowed section up to the rod and secure it. I recall using some black utility wire through the face of the panel and tying if off to the rod. It was nearly invisible, and a great improvement in appearance. But, you could devise any number of methods.

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks Jose, I fought with that reveal when putting the underscuttle back and that was about the best I could do and still have the screw holes line up. I'll look at it again.

Dave

 

That's a straight forward fix and I like it, I'll take a look at it again. Thanks.

Dave

 

I'm sure you have noticed there is a bracket leg welded to the blower fan case that fits into a cavity at the bottom right corner of the trim panel, right? Same on the left trim panel.

it holds the bottom of the panel from hanging loose. Insert the leg into the trim panel before anything else.

 

Yes, I found that connection as I "reverse engineered" the poor fit the first time.

Dave

 

Mine was OK when dropped to replace the ignition switch.

I did sub in Allen head sxrews for the slot screws. I have a dislike for slot screws!!

In this case a ;lenmgyh of oxy acetylene weldig wire looks about right.

Still quarantined. smoke as well a reason. it seems better. i have the front dorr open and a fan to xhayst the house..

Carl

 

My left-side underscuttle is straight, I'm luck there. I agree with you completely, slot head screws should be outlawed now that Robertson and Phillips have created something better.

If you are acetylene welding in the house, open doors and windows are your friends Carl!

Dave

 

Thankd. Dave.

My tanks have been empty for decade or so. ONLY once did I light the torch in the house. To free a fire place damper...

Ccarlv

 

I have fixed these numerous times and always found it to be very easy: gentle heating using a hair dyer or sun, and gentle bending of the panel. When the newly reformed panel cools, it retains its new shape, snug against the underscuttle. No tools necessary, no drama.

 

Thanks Gregory, I like that idea! That thought crossed my mind, but to me, the material didn't seem like a good candidate for heating/bending. I appreciate the info.

Dave

 

I will try it too but i don't want to cause any damage to the exterior finish of the panel, mine are like new, only the passenger side has bowed out and it is because of the cruise control box pushing against it.
Going to try and relocate the cruise box first.

 

I used my heat gun, heating on both sides, did not hold a new shape. I'm thinking Doug's fix is the way to go if you can't sleep at night because of the warping. Like I said in the beginning, I have a high tolerance for something like this.

Dave