Top bodge of the year....

[Chunk]

Need some help here guys. Removed my dashboard and uncovered a top bodge that a previous owner has done.

Basically it looks like they've chopped the bulkhead to allow them to change the heater matrix without removing the dash. Annoyingly the heater matrix that was fitted wasn't even right for the car anyway, it was far too small and didn't fit in the heater box!

What I need to know is whether the rubber part you can see in the pictures is in the correct place (on the engine side of the bulkhead), or whether it's supposed to actually be on the inside?

A mobile welder is coming out to be tomorrow to fix this, it would be really handy if anyone has any pictures of how it is supposed to look.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/cliokiz/93E61EA1-1837-4B40-9B4F-2454AF4BE5D4-4813-00000448FC4F1DF5_zps888a6d13.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/cliokiz/62FE3B5B-8473-435D-B2DC-6114BCE9B510-4813-00000448F62230A2_zps0fd37734.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/cliokiz/93284F4C-EB9B-40DF-BAD5-E6B679643C01-4813-0000044900D9EC53_zps6b35dfa9.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/cliokiz/FD6F4C97-8E97-4398-979A-69594361252C-4813-00000449064563FF_zps262344bb.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/cliokiz/3EC79879-8947-466A-94D8-B5B28240CB7C-4813-000004490B394F79_zpsd1d36520.jpg

Whoever did this is a total idiot

[michael tierney]

engine side is correct as far as memory serves me,take a look at a few engine out pics,,,under projects!

[fossie]

Have they seriously just used a drill to cut that hole. Proper bodge

[Chunk]

Yeah unfortunately

The rubber part has a huge screw holding it on, guessing that's a bodge as well? Or should it just be a small screw?

[Slammed 66]

That's epic!


I'd be proud of that job though :D

[Matt@CodeRedMotorsports]

Bloody hell!
You're having fun with that one eh?

[gimme5]

Engine side mate, with two small torx screws (T20 Screw driver)

[Chunk]

Perfect, presume the torx screws just screw into the bulkhead/metal?

I'll find some shorter screws as the one they've used is massive.

This car has been a nightmare since I bought it 3 years ago, but slowly but surely i'm fixing the various bodges and bringing it back to a decent standard. I just want to drive the damn thing!

[Alex]

It must have taken just as much effort to drill all those holes that to do the job properly and remove the dash!

[dangerous dave]

i thought that was a bold statement and id have seen worse..


i was wrong, thats unreal..:sad2:

[Chunk]

It must have taken just as much effort to drill all those holes that to do the job properly and remove the dash!

My thoughts exactly, by the state of the dashboard it looks like they've tried to rip it out but couldn't manage it, so just decided to hack the bulkhead instead.

What I find harder to understand is that they fitted a heater matrix that was too long for the box, so that could be another reason why they hacked and bodged the firewall to get it in.

Should explain why the heaters were a bit weak as all the heat would have been escaping out the hole in the box where the matrix goes! :mad:

[Trevhib]

If they'd had any brains at all, given that they are obviously a bodge king, you'd have thought they'd have simply bypassed the matrix by joining the hoses and done without heat.

[Nad-5GTT]

Crikey that is a bad job. I'm amazed that in 3 years of owning this car you haven't seen this stinking great hole from the engine side:scratch: good to see your getting it patched in now though:)

[Brigsy]

Nice, how come its took you so long to spot it lol

[Chunk]

I viewed/bought the car in the dark years ago (mistake, i know, but it was cheap)

Spotted the fibreglass shortly after but didn't worry too much about it, since changing the heater matrix I obviously wanted to get it sorted and then discovered the mess.

It's been welded up new and a proper heater matrix has been fitted, looks a lot better than it did. Just needs a bit of filler and some paint to get it looking reasonable.

It's never going to be a show winning car, I do want to turn it into a solid, honest car with a decent engine. It's got very little rust on it which is good.

Once I get chance i'll put some pictures up