Spitfire's rusty scuttle panel

[PeteStupps]

Afternoon all. Yesterday I took the windscreen off my mk3 Spit to 'sort' some minor rust bubbles on the scuttle before they got worse. Also because I am thinking of suspending some little pod speakers beneath there (i.e. above the glove box) so just wanted to make sure everything was sound. 

Here's a bad photo showing the wee bubbles

I think the car looks cool with no windscreen. Tempting to drive it like this next summer. 

On removing the screen frame, the extent of rust quickly became apparent. Would you believe it's a lot worse than it first appeared? Who'd have thought. Looks as though a previous owner lathered it with filler then painted over it, which is fair enough really.

Fortunately it's not a massive area, and seems to only have affected the flat part of the panel so relatively simple to patch, but I'm concerned that I'll need to take the vinyl dash-top cover off and will destroy it in the process.

I have learnt the rudiments of TIG welding in an agricultural style but haven't done anything that needs to look neat and tidy. Wish me luck! Any advice or tips gratefully received. 

[Nick Jones]

Have you driven a car with no ‘screen before? It’s draughty! Aero screens maybe?

The rot is disappointing. But even nice cars have their problems…

I reckon you can probably separate the dash cover enough to slip a bit of scrap steel sheet between it and the scuttle and prop it away to minimise heat transfer. That and going fairly slow with the welding, which you’ll want to do anyway to minimise distortion, will probably suffice.

Speakers  Pourquoi? (You won’t hear them)

 

[PeteStupps]

9 minutes ago, Nick Jones said:

Have you driven a car with no ‘screen before? It’s draughty!

This would be strictly for posing in town, not actually travelling anywhere.

And yeah I know re speakers, but it's for the passengers. At least 50 mins of every journey from my flat is through town at low speed, so you can hear music. Daughter prefers to go places in the saloon cos it's got tunes - she's not as interested in listening to rattles and diff whine as me yet.

[Nick Jones]

7 minutes ago, PeteStupps said:

she's not as interested in listening to rattles and diff whine as me yet.

[JMH]

Might be the result of a bent windscreen frame in its former life? 

Just clean up before you weld... :-)

 

[andymcp]

Use a welding blanket?  There shouldn't be any spatter with TIG (as if I'd know).

[Escadrille Ecosse]

23 hours ago, Nick Jones said:

Have you driven a car with no ‘screen before? It’s draughty! Aero screens maybe?

"It's draughty" . I can confirm 'draughtiness' from personal experience.

Does look cool when stationary. Less so when moving much above 20mph. Don't open your mouth above about 30mph or so though.

I also remember a driver in another moaning at me that I was "difficult to see" without the windscreen. Remarkably I managed to to provide him with the answer that deserved.

23 hours ago, Nick Jones said:

I reckon you can probably separate the dash cover enough to slip a bit of scrap steel sheet between it and the scuttle and prop it away to minimise heat transfer. That and going fairly slow with the welding, which you’ll want to do anyway to minimise distortion, will probably suffice.

This. Lift it just enough to slip something under. I suggest you tuck in the edge of a blanket and fold that back over the dash. A welding blanket is best but a wool one works well too.

[Mark]

Recently repaired around this area on my mk3. I couldn't avoid removing the dash top as the rot had crept under it. The air vents have brazed studs that hold the dash top on, along with several other nuts and bolts. A couple of the studs snapped and it was just awkward and led to me taking all the dash vinyl out. So if you can shield the dash top from heat and splatter that's the easiest route.

I've thought about going screenless,  with a low rap around perspex aero screen, rubber instead of carpet, and a couple of ally bomber seats,  pretty hard core though in winter, but I ride a motor bike all year round so not a lot of difference

https://sideways-technologies.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/9989-marks-spitfire/

[PeteStupps]

OK I agree, it's quite breezy with no windscreen - took it for a blast round the block. Maybe an aero screen would be a good idea. And a little flag waggling around for visibility Colin

@Mark thanks for that info, I did read your thread at the time but had forgotten. Point taken, I will try to avoid removing the dash top, but it's going to be mighty close. 

Many thanks for all the input gents. Yesterday I cut myself a patch panel, then tried to cut out the same shape from the scuttle panel. Important lesson learnt: angle grinders aren't good for cutting nice radiused round corners in panels. Other more important lesson: don't leave a piece of blue-roll nearby when grinding. It caught fire in the footwell, which was unexpected. Was thinking carefully about fire prevention for welding but not grinding... lesson learnt. 

So now I've got a big ugly hole in the scuttle, but have got the rot out. Patch piece v.1 is distinctly uneven and wibbly and a bit too small because I didn't plan properly, so have ordered some sheets of mild steel and will try measuring and cutting more carefully this time. Having watched some Trev's Blog videos last night I realise I was too hasty and imprecise.