S3 109 Safari project......

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Moved onto the lower dash again, now that the wiper motor wiring is sorted out. There is a bit of corrosion and missing metal in the area where the heater matrix meets with the dash. This is a really challenging area as the dash has foam on it then pvc outer cover, which really won’t react well to welding!
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After applying Kurust, priming and painting the back of the dash with satin black, I cut some sticky back neoprene as I couldn’t buy the gasket. This will work just as well I’m sure :)
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To give the lower dash outer surface a spruce up the same as the top dash, I used the same vinyl dye. After two coats of it and on the wiper motor cover they look a lot sharper. Next time, I will get it fitted :)
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I would like to install the windscreen next time too, so refurbished both windscreen securing bolts. The only thing is I don’t know which way round they go! The spacers must go to the outside or inside, I just don’t know which…. Any hints would be appreciated :)
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After spending all that time on the dash, I thought I’d better fit it and that’s when the problems started!
The dash would not fit onto the bulkhead and that’s when it became obvious that it was the wrong one:mad:….
There is a recess on a series lower dash and mine didn’t have that recess. Further investigation on eBay and it looks like I have a defender version!
 
After spending all that time on the dash, I thought I’d better fit it and that’s when the problems started!
The dash would not fit onto the bulkhead and that’s when it became obvious that it was the wrong one:mad:….
There is a recess on a series lower dash and mine didn’t have that recess. Further investigation on eBay and it looks like I have a defender version!
Sorry to hear that. What a nightmare. Think of it as a practice run and how good the next will will be now you've sussed out the technique.
 
After spending all that time on the dash, I thought I’d better fit it and that’s when the problems started!
The dash would not fit onto the bulkhead and that’s when it became obvious that it was the wrong one:mad:….
There is a recess on a series lower dash and mine didn’t have that recess. Further investigation on eBay and it looks like I have a defender version!
Shouldn't be a disaster. Defender parts sell pretty well.

Flog it and try and find a Series 3 one.
 
I’ve had a look around and it seems that good series lower dash panels are like the proverbial hens teeth! Another option is to modify the defender one to suit a series. Now that the defender one is sound, I could modify the panelwork at the rear where it interfaces with the bulkhead, by using the series section of dash.

I’m struggling to upload pictures at the moment as the error message keeps coming up that I’m not authorised to perform that action! Anyone know why that’s happening?
 
I’ve had a look around and it seems that good series lower dash panels are like the proverbial hens teeth! Another option is to modify the defender one to suit a series. Now that the defender one is sound, I could modify the panelwork at the rear where it interfaces with the bulkhead, by using the series section of dash.

I’m struggling to upload pictures at the moment as the error message keeps coming up that I’m not authorised to perform that action! Anyone know why that’s happening?
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/log-in.383062/
 
At last… I can upload photos! So, the two options I have for the dash is to either use the defender dash and drill out the spot welds on both (pointing finger) and let in the S3 dash section to make it compatible with a S3 bulkhead. The other option is to fix the second series 3 dash and sell the defender one. I’m thinking that the latter option would be best. Worth a try!

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I had some more issues with the Rivnuts which hold the bolt’s securing the windscreen clamps. I eventually gave in and ordered some new ones from P.A Blanchard and fitted them using some nuts, bolts and washers. I really must buy the proper tool at some point :).

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Moving onto the big stuff, I thought I would fit the new steering box, but gave the front crossmember another coat of paint to tidy it up first. I fitted new bolts and locking washers, torqued them up and that’s another job done!

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I thought I would have a closer inspection of the lower dash to see how bad it really was under the vinyl covering. I wanted to reuse the vinyl so popped off all the retaining clips, heated up the vinyl with a hair dryer to make it pliable and reduce the chance of it cracking. Thankfully it came off in one piece with no mishaps.
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Next to take off is the closing panel which is held on by small pan head screws. Amazingly, they all unscrewed with not too much hassle. After removing the panel, the full horror of the corrosion was revealed :eek:
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