Inside firewall padding - need photos

[66andBlue]

Below are photos showing the inside firewall pad in a 250SL (John L's) and a 280SL (49er's) manual shift car.
I am wondering whether all Pagodas have the cutout in the pad for the line indicated by yellow arrows. Can someone post a photo showing the pad in a 230SL manual car, please?
The other photo shows a photo of the pad in "peter h" 's 280SL automatic. It shows a crack where a cable from the high/low beam switch runs across under the pad  - at least in my 230SL automatic. Can anyone else confirm this?

Also what is the the hole for indicated by the "?"   

Several members have asked for the firewall material and if we have it stamped out then it would be less costly if only one die could be made that serves both manual and automatic cars.

[49er]

Alfred,
 I am away from my car at present, but I believe the hole you have a question mark by is for the tab to hold in place the under dash panel.

John

[thelews]

I agree, the hole is for the tab.

The other slit is for the hydraulic line for the hydraulic clutch.

[66andBlue]

John & John,
thank you both. I don't recall seeing that tab on my 230SL - unfortunately the photo that I have does not show the details.
On your cars, where does the cable from the high/low beam exit the cabin?

[114015]

My inside firewall padding clearly resembles Alfred's.
There is no tab anywhere for any underdash panel on the 1963 or 1964 SLs either.
Furthermore, there are no whatsoever openings for the high/lowbeam exit nor for the clutch master cylinder.
Have to have a look again for these this upcoming weekend.

Achim

[tel76]

On my 1968 280sl the tab is there as per the photograph,also the wires from the dip switch go to the wires from the kick down switch and exit in one of the two holes located below the kick down switch.

[thelews]

Alfred, I wanted to help, but when I lifted my grey mat tonight to take a picture, I forgot about all the lead septum I'd laid and really don't want to pull it all up to get to the padding.  I can tell from my picture that there is no tab on my car for that hole and it is not broken off.  I can't tell you exactly where the dimmer switch wires exit, but I think they travel upward behind the pad.  My pad is slightly ripped because I went to the switch to install a relay wire to get the power off of my dash headlight switch and not burn it out.  I've attached the high res pic.  Now that I look at it, the two green wires travelling up from the switch are mine for the relay, so, I guess I'm not much help here.

Sorry.

[49er]

I will be back home Wednesday and will lift the carpet and take some more detailed photos of the area in question

John

[66andBlue]

Hi John L,
no problem, I would not have lifted these heavy lead pads either.
I received a photo of the pad that was removed from a late 250SL (manual) which has a small round hole where yours has the oval slot.
Do you know what the screw is for in the hole above the hi/lo beam switch?

[mbzse]

.../.. a photo of the pad that was removed from a late 250SL (manual)../...
Do you know what the screw is for in the hole above the hi/lo beam switch?

This screw is an anchoring point for the rubber type matting which was original in the footwells of the 230SL and 250SL.
There were two such screws to anchor the rear of the mat also, in front of the seat that is
See picture attached for one of those (borrowed picture)
/Hans in Sweden

.

[thelews]

Hi John L,
no problem, I would not have lifted these heavy lead pads either.
I received a photo of the pad that was removed from a late 250SL (manual) which has a small round hole where yours has the oval slot.
Do you know what the screw is for in the hole above the hi/lo beam switch?

As noted, the screw is to anchor the rubber mat on the early cars.  I've attached pictures of it on the passenger side and I also had a couple of the pad that you might like.

And, it's not the weight of the lead that's the issue, it's that it's molded in ever so nicely into every nook and cranny, insulating and absorbing sound and vibration.  All without glue.

[49er]

Here is a picture of the tab holding the under dash panel and also a picture of the passenger side floor showing the two mounting points where the floor mat carpet snaps on to. There are also two snaps on the rear of both driver and passenger floor mat carpets.

John

[66andBlue]

Thanks John!
I wonder when the tab appeared since it looks like that 230SL and early 250SL did not have one .. unless of course they are all broken off by now.
And what is also significant is that you do not have the mounting post in the hole where it sits in John L's car.
Vive la différence!

[thelews]

Deleted comment, it was incorrect.

[114015]

And what is also significant is that you do not have the mounting post in the hole where it sits in John L's car.
Vive la différence!

Rubber mat cars (230/250) versus Tufting carpet cars (280). 

Vive la différence!

Achim
(details aficionado)

[Naj ✝︎]

Under dash padding, passenger side.