Pulling out the dash from a '80 Mk 2 Escort?

Pazuzu · 29-04-2011, 04:31 PM

Hi all,

I've been getting water coming in somewhere during heavy rain, from "behind the dash". Hard to tell where because the carpet's in the way, so I don't know if it's from a decayed seal on the windscreen, a rusty firewall or what. I do know it's breaking my balls, as I was about to blow half my back pay on headers & a new exhaust

So, the plan is to take up the carpet at the front, grab a torch & mirror, and see if there's anything obviously wrong. The advice I'm seeking is:

Has anyone else had a similar experience, & what was the cause?

Once the carpet, trim, glovebox etc. are out, and if it's necessary, how hard is it to remove the dash? Are there any particular traps to watch out for?

Is any of the area behind the dash accessible without resorting to pulling out the dash or popping out the windscreen?

Any advice that anyone can give me would be great.

Cheers & Beers,

Dan.

Forte · 29-04-2011, 05:47 PM

G'day Dan, my guess is it could be a rusty heater bubble, it is a major issue in the escorts as water gets stuck behind the heater and it rusts out.

In regards to removing the dash, its a piece of ****, fairly self explanitry when you start to undo the screws, in my experience it makes it alot easier if you take off the steering wheel.

Pazuzu · 03-05-2011, 09:38 AM

Thanks a tonne for that, Forte. Stopped short of pulling out the dash, but you were 100% correct when you said Rusty Heater Bubble. Baby's got cancer, & now I'm stressing about where to go from here. There must have been half a kilo of old tea leaves caught up in that bowl; only got myself to blame for not getting onto it sooner. Not a happy camper! Anyone else had this problem fixed, and roughly what the $$$ damage was?

Forte · 03-05-2011, 11:23 AM

Yeah 2 of mine were like this, one was full of pine needles when i got her, but i fixed mine myself, i cut the rust out, and oxy welded new pieces in. if your nt keen on doing it yourself, best to have a chat to your local panelbeater and see what they say. spewing as only the other week a couple escorts went through the crusher, one with a perfect firewall/heater bubble.

Pazuzu · 03-05-2011, 12:53 PM

Thanks again, mate.
Next question: Can anyone recommend a good panelbeater in Brisbane? (Preferably North side?)

obsesscort · 04-05-2011, 10:32 PM

G'day Dan,

I think this is definately a DIY job if you've got the patience and the apetite to learn about your escy...

This is an ongoing problem for me, and I'm slowly getting on top of it. Mine had a rusted heater bubble and also a rusted firewall which looked to be spacked up with some sort of residential caulking.

I had water coming from behind my dash at one point and found it was the corner of my windscreen seals.

I've just written up a how to that you might be interested http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11330228

I hope this helps, if you choose the panel beater road, best of luck.

Pazuzu · 05-05-2011, 03:42 PM

Cheers, Tim. Saw your post, found it v. good, really showed just what's going on under the heater bubble and vents & frankly, it scared me. Unfortunately, mine's kind of a daily driver. I would love to take it off the road for a year or so to strip it all right down & make sure it's all good as I put it back together, but it's just not going to happen for another year or two. It's killing me, I hate the idea of patching something up to be good for a few years, without addressing the entire problem- especially when the patch itself costs a bucket load.