Dashboard Removal 350i

[islander]

Have dismantled the dashboard to have a closer look at the heater matrix (following a wet leg experience this morning). Having removed all the bolt and got it lose, I cant get it off around the indicator switch, am I missing some thing?

[islander]

Always good to answer your own question-It was the speedo cable that was holding everything! However, I can now see the heater box, but I have no idea how to get it out, let alone get to the heater matrix!

Help!

[islander]

Does anybody have any experience of removal of the heater matrix?

[adam quantrill]

My mate Jim Chase did it, not sure if he gets on PH much these days. It's not an easy job as I recall.

[BadRedWedge]

islander said:

Does anybody have any experience of removal of the heater matrix?

I got mine out of my 350 a few years ago but for the life of me I cant remember the details .. cant be that hard if a thick northerner can do it, just keep undoing stuff, see what happens. Are you sure its the matrix and not the pipe ??

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

I've got a spare one in my garage, but I never took it out.

but could send some photo's of it, if that will help.

It's a big bast.

Leigh

[islander]

I have undone everything there is to undo!!! Even a day of standing back and thinking about what to do next hasn't helped.

Basically when you strip everything down you get left with a complicated plastic box which has the heater matrix in the front of it, the electric fan in a sealed housing on the offside of it there is a void behind the matrix which you can get your hand into via the vents and there is coolant in the bottom of this void! The vents are above this void and above that is the solid duct that goes up to the windscreen vents which consists of a solid Tee piece! On the front of the this complicated plastic box there is some carefully scored and folded plastic which houses the central switches etc. The whole thing appears to be one piece. There are some seams which appear to have a very solid bead of sealant/adhesive in them.

I will try and run some photos tonight!

[m2500tvr]

You may want to try to connect with Barry Rowe in the US. I know he's had his heater box out of his 280i, and had the box apart to repair the heater core. The heater box and switchgear frame are made from scored sheets of polypropolene plastic that's folded and plastic-welded together.

You can get to Barry through the TVRCCNA and/or the TVR USA Yahoo! Group.

- SJ

Edited by m2500tvr on Wednesday 14th May 07:31

Edited by m2500tvr on Thursday 15th May 03:02

[grahamw48]

Chuck it away . Who needs a heater in a tiv anyway.


Or you could always give these people a ring...around 2 quid seems a fair price.

[islander]

Photos as promised





With regard to doing away with the heater, it did cross my mind that diconnecting the pipes that feed the heater and creating a loop from the inlet manifold and back again was the easiest fix and the best way to make sure the system is pressured without airlocks!

[islander]

m2500tvr said:

The heater box and switchgear frame are made from scored sheets of polypropolene plastic that's plastic-welded together.

That is exactly right and it looks to me as if the matrix is sealed into this box!

I will try him and see how he got it out!

[PR350]

You wont be coming out for a drive then this weekend?

Shall I come over and offer moral support, mate? Sunday looks OK - I can bring my SH "bible" as well if needed.

[islander]

Hi Paul

Would you believe that I reckon I could get that lot back together in about an hour or so, I have put it mostly back together again and taken it apart again once already (If your thinking why? it was a case of giving up as being too tough and then thinking I must be missing something obvious!)

I have the bible myself, it has some great schematics of the different systems and thats about it!

[m2500tvr]

Quick question (so I think it may be) - where're the screws that secure the upholstered GRP instrument/glovebox part?

Thanks.

- SJ

[Gerry Attrick]

Not sure if this is connected. If you look under the bonnet on the other side of the bulkhead, immediately in front of the matrix area, there is a raised portion. On my 350i, there are signs that this has been removed (pop rivets, sealant etc). Is this the way in??

[PR350]

islander said:

Hi Paul

Would you believe that I reckon I could get that lot back together in about an hour or so, I have put it mostly back together again and taken it apart again once already (If your thinking why? it was a case of giving up as being too tough and then thinking I must be missing something obvious!)

I have the bible myself, it has some great schematics of the different systems and thats about it!

Well Saturday is supposed to be carp and Sunday OK so do you fancy a blat over to Goodwood to invade the WSTVRCC meet?

If you manage to put Trev together again of course

[islander]

Hi Steven

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Barry, he has pointed me in a direction that may help, but wont be home until the weekend now so cant have a go until then! He keeps telling me I am nearly there!

m2500tvr said:

Quick question (so I think it may be) - where're the screws that secure the upholstered GRP instrument/glovebox part?

Not sure exactly what you are asking here, there is 1 screw on either side of the box which screws into the plastic frame behind the GRP box, in fact in the top picture you can see the hole that the screw has been taken out of! These screws are the only fixing for the GRP cover.