230SL Glove Box Installation

[Harry]

Whew - almost done with the interior restoration of my 1966 230SL.  I'm having trouble reinstalling the glovebox though.  It inserts easily enough except going fully back to a position where the screws easily line up.  I can get the screws in but it is somewhat of a struggle.  I noticed this weekend that the glovebox door does not close adequately for the locking lever to swing into the recess to lock the door closed - so clearly it is not far enough back.  I cannot find what it might be hitting.  It "appears" to be flush against the mating surfaces on the dash but something is amiss.  I was curious whether anyone else has had similar fitment issues with their glovebox and what they might have determined to be the issue?

Thanks in advance,
Harry

[Jonny B]

Good question. I have had to fiddle with the glovebox in my 250 SL for some time. For me, it was just a matter of patience messing with the fitment screws to the dash, and the screws that hold the door in place. It still is not perfect, but much closer than what it was. The curved arm is also not quite right, and I was never able to get the little aluminum grommet you should see when the door is open (that protects the opening where the curved arm swings) to stay in place.

I shaved the liner to make the fitting closer. That is, the leather was fitted around the flange on each side, and I trimmed it so it was only on the front, and used adhesive to keep it in place. Each little step helped with the fitting.

[Garry]

Like Jon,

I have been working on doing up my glovebox at the moment.  I have refitted it a couple of times to make sure the door will go back correctly and it is always a jiggle to get it to sit in correctly even with the old interior fit out . I have not re-leathered my yet but plan that in the next few weeks and that may change the fit also. Have you done that which would change the thickness of the front lip if you do not shave back the leather?

A photo is worth a thousand words.

Garry

[Harry]

Jonny - thanks.  I had wondered about that as well.  I can tell that it is close but not quite close enough.  And it is amazing how including the door hinge and door positioning come into play.  Thanks very much.

[Flyair]

Garry,
I would expect that you share with us the photo of the glove box door once installed too, IFSWIM

[Garry]

Stan,

About to go to the post office and pick up the part I was waiting for

Have re-leathered the interior of the glove box but did not stitch it around the edge but just used a contact cement.  Now to get all the bits back together.