21 replies to this topic

[maccers]

There is a huge hole in my front bulkhead behind the air filter. I think its supposed to be there, as its looks like it has been made that way. However, on other minis, its filled in with a black panel. I can see the engine (and hear and smell it!!) when driving along which is not ideal.

I am fitting a dashboard and will sound proof it all off, but just wandered if there is a panel I can buy ready made that will fit this hole so there is at least some body work protection, if not fully fireproof.

Cheers,
Richard.

[Pauly]

There should be a plate to cover that......

Can just about see it in this pic.



Paul.

[maccers]

Yep, my 1979 Saloon as this plate behine the air filter case. My 1978 Pickup for some reason does not have this, but is has the centre speedo with the plastic cowel. I guess I will need to remove this anyway if I am fitting a full dash board.

[maccers]

I just found this on Somerford Mini web site:

"Owners of earlier Minis may at some point have found themselves wondering why their car has a
lopsided egg-shaped hole in the dash panel and a similar one in the rear seat brace , when viewed from
inside the boot. These holes were, lik e the slinging shoe brackets under the sills, features used by the
mechanical bodyshell handling equipment in the factory and served no official purpose after the car had
been built (except the hole in the dash served as relatively easy access to the back of centre-mounted
fascia instruments , of course, and the slinging shoe brackets were sometimes mistaken for jacking points,
with disastrous consequences).

Up until the 1980s, when a new body treatment and painting system succeeded the traditional methods,
new Mini bodyshells were treated against corrosion by immersion in a large tank of solution, prior to
painting. During the immersion in what was called the Rotodip, the bodies were turned over in a
largely successful attempt to ensure complete coverage of the steel with the solution. To enable this,
each body was mounted spitroast-fashion on a long pole running lengthways through the specially
shaped Rotodip holes in the dash and rear seat back. So now you know, if you didn’t beforehand"

Wow - what you did not know about your mini!!!

[Boycie]

It's very important that the bulkhead is properly sealed as, you've found out, it lets in a stupid amount of noise and dangerous fumes!

The centre-speedo cars sealed the hole with the actual clock housing, sealed with rubbery stuff that doesn't set permenantly hard.
The side-mounted instrument cars had the black plate screwed over the top of the rotodip hole, again sealed with the same stuff.

It's quite tricky to get the centre-speedo cars to seal properly here, I spent ages getting mine right and it really makes a difference!

[m1tch]

Mine has a centre speedo and has no cover, the speedo itself plugs the gap lol the holes front and back were for big bearings and a pole to dip the cars, and also to do any welding underneath them

[liirge]

it gives your car that classic Smell!!
On a serious note, yer i imagine it would stop alot of noise and alot of fumes

[finch661]

i have a big hole in the bulkhead above the air filter.... though thats due to mr rust... and its very noisy in the cab!

do you know what sealant was used to mount the centre speedo to the bulkead?

[dklawson]

Almost any caulk could be used to secure a cover over the opening. I would suggest against caulk in a tube that "sets" over time and certainly don't use RTV Silicone. If you can find it, butyl strip caulk would be ideal as it is non-hardening and sticks to everything.

Here's a link to a picture of the butyl caulk. I found this at a swimming pool supply web site. You may find the same sort of material in the U.K.
http://www.kellerpoo.../1015081029.jpg

Edited by dklawson, 16 July 2009 - 04:41 PM.

[finch661]

cheers, i will have a looky online! my plan is to refit the original soundproofing then place the centre speedo unit ontop of it and screw in tightly! would this be ok or is it better to fit the speedo unit directly to the bulkhead and seal using this sealant stuff?

[Boycie]

It's best to fit the whole speedo unit directly to the bulkhead, as per original.

I actually trapped thin foam between my triple-gauge pod and metal bulkhead. It works well!

I've also filled the void behind the gauges with sponge, it helps further to insulate the noises. It's all well worth it- IMO anything that makes a Mini more useable is good!

Edited by Boycie, 16 July 2009 - 06:22 PM.

[Stevie W]

I've used a tin of dum dum putty to seal the speedo against the bulkhead. It the stuff you use to stop the window regulators from rattling when bolted to the door panel
Just roll the putty into a long sausage (!) and place it onto the speedo housing flange.
As you tighten the screws on the speedo housing the putty squelches out and forms a good permanently flexible seal.
I think you can buy it in Hellfrauds

Cheers,

Steve

[finch661]

i have some felt (the floor underlay stuff) i could use a bit of that to sit between the bulkhead and housing. the foam inside is a good idea though! i will also have a look into the putty. i see halfords sell holtz gum gum exhaust putty, would this work?

is there a "right" place to put the speedo housing (3 gauge one) or is it a guess to line it up?

Edited by finch661, 16 July 2009 - 10:10 PM.

[Boycie]

na exhaust paste is not suitable- it sets hard and becomes brittle/ flakey.

You're best off with some Dum Dum as previously mentioned, I think even Halfords sell it and it's very cheap.

The underlay stuff will work perfectly though as long as it's not too thick. Lining the whole thing up is easy as it has four cross-head screws that go into captive nuts welded onto the other side of the bulkhead panel, hence it can only go in one place.

[partsguy1]

11.92.00.00 Speedo Blanking Plate, alloy from M-Machine. These are still listed on there website.
[attachment=87429:M_machin...test_fit.jpg][attachment=87430:this_engine_runs.jpg
]
You will have to Keyhole the plate so that the Speedo Cable can pass through. I used longer 10/32" machine screws to hold the Speedo Pod in place from the inside and then used Thumb Nuts to hold the plate. I also used 1/4" X1" foam tape on the back of the plate to seal it to the Bulkhead. Actually made a large difference in the level of noise inside the cabin.