Lump of wood behind dash!

[tpo]

Just had the dash top off the 450 to fix a rattle and found it was caused by a lump of wood 2cm square and 7cm long floating around between the speedo and tach. Judging by the curvature and texture of the adhesive (big lump of brown poo) it looks as though at one time it was glued to the f/glass dash top, oriented fore and aft!

Any ideas what it is and does it need to be there or do I bin it?

[Tyre Smoke]

If it was loose and not supporting anything, then as long as nothing has stopped working/collapsed then bin it.

It was likely inserted in the factory to hold something in position whilst glue dried or summat.

[neejah]

It's around the 10 o'clock position to the speedo.......think it just supports the dash/veneer in relation to the dash top (if you know what I mean) mine had the same lump o wood (thought it might have been an option!).......build quality is pretty scary under the pretty covers (loose relays etc)

[FourWheelDrift]

Probably Fred's old spanner rest he forgot about and glued in behind the dash late one Friday afternoon

[neejah]

Could've been 1st place in the lunchtime whittling competition!

[edtvr]

Yes,
I took my dash off and this as you describe it bit of wood held in place by brown poo was still in place. When I touched it it came of in my hand.
I though the previous owner had fitted it, I did not think for a minute that it was a factory fitted optional extra.
Since then my dash rattles and I can push the panel back at the top.
I have been planning to do something I bit more subtle to firm it all up,
Thought about bonding something up there and lining it with foam or compliant rubber so as you push the dash cover down it squeezes in tight.
To do this I think you would need to change the right hand fixing from stud to captive nut
and use a bolt on the RHS instead of the nut. This would allow you to lower the dash top on vertically as opposed to the way you need to manipulate it around to avoid tearing the leather or vinyl.

Ed

[victormeldrew]

Yup, mine had this too, bit of wood glued to the dash top to hold the dash itself in place. For even more amusement take a look at the bracket which hold the left end of the dash up - its hung off a bent piece of scrap metal screwing into the fibreglass by a woodscrew. Or at least mine was - and I don't suppose others will be any different.

Some people call them kitcars; I'm not sure any self respecting kit car builder would stoop to such bodges. Still, the bits you can see look nice!

[SteveGRF]

Wax Oil & now Creosote, more expense .......

[Boosted Ls1]

It's a TVR harmonic balancer, stops the scuttle vibrating to much. If you measure it you'll find it's an exact length and no doubt fettled by a druid working in them there Blackpool caves.

Make sure you refit it the correct way round.

Boosted.

[mick_coupe]

Mines fallen out too.......

Mick

[Boosted Ls1]

victormeldrew said:

Some people call them kitcars; I'm not sure any self respecting kit car builder would stoop to such bodges.

You haven't seen what they use for a balancing weight behind the damper on some cars then

Boosted.

[else]

Boosted Ls1 said:

victormeldrew said: Some people call them kitcars; I'm not sure any self respecting kit car builder would stoop to such bodges. You haven't seen what they use for a balancing weight behind the damper on some cars then Boosted.

Go on then, tell us

[tpo]

Turns out that it wasn't the lump of wood rattling but as Edtvr pointed out was intended to stop the dash moving. There is already a strip of foam in there but it doesn't press on the dash all the way across so as Ed says, some extra sticky backed foam is required.

Cheers