TA underside of bulkhead/firewall/scuttle - What's this thing?

[Rob Reilly]

Found on my '37 TA.
Located on the underside of the firewall, in the center, in front of the tool box.
Held by one small round head screw and square nut, remnants of thin plywood attached by two flat head screws and square nuts.
What is it for?

IMG_20210625_162504391.jpg (41.41 KiB) Viewed 2011 times

[antijam]

In the absence of anything more original, could it be the remnants of some previous owners fitment of a 'scuttle mask' or 'wiring cover' board? I believe these were introduced on the TC but some owner might have thought it a good idea to have one on his TA - on the lines of this for the TC.

[Rob Reilly]

Ok that makes sense I guess, a piece of plywood, though it's a unique example of an improvement on a car that has had mostly dis-improvements in its life.
I'm curious about the fact that the bracket was attached through an oval hole in the firewall/scuttle.
This hole was punched, which looks like factory work, not a hack job.
Was this hole used for something else originally?

[Steve Simmons]

I don't know TA minutia, but It looks like what's left of the dash under-panel that would have been in a TC. I believe TA also had them but not positive. They are usually removed because they're more trouble than they are worth. Yours seems to have removed itself by rotting away!

[antijam]

Ok that makes sense I guess, a piece of plywood, though it's a unique example of an improvement on a car that has had mostly dis-improvements in its life.
I'm curious about the fact that the bracket was attached through an oval hole in the firewall/scuttle.
This hole was punched, which looks like factory work, not a hack job.
Was this hole used for something else originally?

This shot of a TA engine bay suggests you may be right in supposing the hole to be original.....

....however, it doesn't seem to be serving any purpose.

[cdrolshagen]

Hi,
the hole is the front fixing point of the original plywood undershild

EPSON007.PDF

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cheers Carl

[Rob Reilly]

Ok thanks, it now appears that the plywood panel was original, but so many are long gone that it is a relatively unknown part. I had asked in a previous thread about some holes in the sides of the bulkhead, and now it appears they may have been used for brackets which supported this panel. Gradually the clues come together.

[Steve Simmons]

On a related note, I was on tour with several T-Types once about 10 years ago. There was a TF that was constantly shutting down over hundreds of frustrating miles. Once right in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge. Another time on a twisty road through the Redwood forests. Sometimes only 30 seconds passed between breakdowns. I kept telling the guy to check the connections behind the dash but the panel was so difficult to remove and install that he refused, and kept checking other areas. Finally no one could take it anymore and he was left behind to find a repair shop. The problem was just a loose connection on the ignition switch, which was inaccessible because of the cover. Just something to think about if you plan to drive a lot of miles.

[Rob Reilly]

Yeah, the way the steering column support passes through the round hole, ripping it apart was probably the method used on mine by some frustrated PO.
Perhaps hinged access panels or make it in two halves would have been better.
Maybe the factory thought there would never be any electrical problems.