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As it was going relatively good so far, I measured up the repair panel size and cut some steel to make one section of the repair first. I bought a small sheet metal folder at the Sunday market, and this was my first time using it. Don’t know how I managed without it to be honest!:) After folding...

I was really concerned that the vent flaps would be unusable, but amazingly they started moving with a little encouragement. They will clean up just fine but that’s a job for later. I popped them off the retaining clips to see what repairs are needed. Looks quite overwhelming but I think I will...

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:

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...

You can actually copy and paste photos or drag and drop them in, rather than selecting the photos the conventional way. It seems to work for me :)

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!

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 :).

I couldn’t help myself and fitted the pedal rubbers, painted the rear crossmember as it had picked up some chips, then fitted the rear grab handles…Keeps me motivated!

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...

Thanks….not just me then! Thought I was having a senior moment there :D

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...

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...

Thanks so much, that really helps me out! No more guessing when I go to fit the windscreen:)

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 :)

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 :)

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 :)

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...

After that, I connected up the cut end of the dash loom to the wiring I salvaged from the spare loom. I soldered it and applied heat shrink. Then, methodically, I snipped each wire one by one off the old multi plug, and fitted the new terminals into the new plug.

After snipping off the three spade connectors which go from the park switch to the motor, I extended the wiring as there was not enough spare length to get new connectors back on to the switch. I used standard female spades, squeezed them in a bit as they were a little wider than original. As a...

All sorted now, thanks again Kevstar!