HavnQuestions on heater matrix and MOTs

[rjgreen]

Having just spent several days pulling all the interior out of the car for a refresh i'm thinking that it would be best to spend some time making sure that everything is good before it put it back (fing dashboard , designer of which needs to be ). I've noticed some leaking in the heater matix area and i'm wondering if anyone knows:
a) what it comes out of?
b) where i can get one?
or 3) is there anywhere that reconditions them in the salisbury area? (well not so fussed on area really)

Finally, once i've stuck all this back together i'm also looking for recomendations for firstly MOT garages in the area that have experiance of TVRs (cars been off the road for 5 years, don't wanna take it too some norm), and secondly, any good paint shops in the area as it could do with a new coat (might give it a bash myself tbh but recomendations are always good! i'm all )

Cheers for any help, Rich

[dixiebabes]

When you get that heater matrix out give me a bell and tell me what you thought, i need mine out and not looking forward to it!

Dix

[Wedg1e]

It's not a very big matrix so probably from something small... like a Mini

The dash isn't THAT hard to get out: you just need arms like Stretch Armstrong to get at the two nuts that hold it in!

If you can get your hand up behind the instruments and remove the speedo cable that helps; if you can't, try dropping the steering column (two bolts). The nut above the glovebox just needs a bit of dexterity with a 10mm open-end spanner as I recall; helps if you can visualise what the spanner end is doing mind. Undo both nuts a couple of turns and the dash should just pull away from the bulkhead.

[wooly350i]

Am doing this job at the very moment,matrix is siliconed within metal case inside the plastic heater housing,got mine out and decided to rebuild the housing altogether using 6mm polycarbonate sheet so it'll weigh a bit more but have done it so matrix will just pull out from the front via a removable cover,Berkshire rad services in Caversham / Reading looked at mine and gave a figure around 75 quid to have a replacement made up as they couldn't find an exact replacement in their books.Hopefully will have my box finished in the next week or two to try it out,hopefully not a waste of time. I think the matrix looked a little more meaty than the boys mini one but yes around that size.
John.

[MJG280]

Amy radiator place will do a recore. My nowex FHC was about £60 4 years ago.

When replacing the dash use wing nuts and glue some glass/sandpaper either side of the slot to grip the dash and then it's easy to tighten and remove when you've forgotten something.

[RichChef]

Wedg1e, i agree its not so hard to get the dash out... well once you've done it once anyhow. Unfortunately i bent the drivers side bolt as i couldn't figure out a way to get some lub on it before i started

Dixie, In terms of order of dismatling i would suggest that both the link bolts (left of centre console and right by the bonnet pull) are the first things to remove. Then do the drivers side first so you can get some flex in the dash before trying the other side behined the glovebox (might be easiest to wip out the wiper motor i didn't but now have a large array of scratches all over the back of my hands due to something being sharp on the back of the motor). I found that there was plenty of give which allowed me to shift the dash a fair distance out before i had to reach for the speedo cable, certainly had no chance of getting to it before the dash was off. I will admit to having already taken out both seats, steering wheel and steering column which gave me plenty of room to get on meh back and reach about

Certainly taking the advice on wing nuts , they are going on everything

[wooly350i]

I forgot to mention that to get the matrix out of the heater box you will have to cut the heater box open along a seam cos there is no access otherwise,hence the reason to make a new one.John.