Curious. Why the hole in the under dash panel?

[RobSirg]

Hi,

I just had a new set of under dash panels made and the guy who made them for me mentioned about the hole that they have in the panel that sits under the Glove box. We couldn't see any obvious purpose for this hole. Does anyone know why it is there?

Sorry I didn't take a photo but can do so tomorrow.

Cheers

[mbzse]

.../...under dash panels made and the guy who made them for me mentioned about the hole that they have in the panel that sits under the Glove box. We couldn't see any obvious purpose for this hole. Does anyone know why it is there?.../...

Hole in panel is there in order to allow air from the vent box outlets to reach your feet, when you have set the controls for the air distribution vent (and heat) flaps accordingly

[RobSirg]

Thanks for your reply Hans,

Just to be clear - l am referring to 2” hole in the photo.

Rob

[Benz Dr.]

That's strictly for fresh cold air. No heated air from those vents.

[RobSirg]

So fresh air ( intake ) for the blower?

That makes sense - albeit a little agricultural.
A grille / louvre would have finished it off for minimal cost.

With all the wonderful design elements in these cars l think we can overlook this one.

Rob

[merrill]

interesting the things i continue to learn from this form.

My 66 230 has never had the underdash panels,  looks like Sls has them.

[mrfatboy]

@merrill


Vintage Euro Parts sells them also or you can can make them yourself. I put the templates in tech manual a while ago.

I have more detailed pictures if you need them.

I covered them with MB Tex to match my interior.  Maybe you have some left over when you did your soft top cover.


See this thread.

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=27312.0

You will have to adjust the templates for autos and 230's. Simple to do.

[merrill]

MrFatboy
thank you ,

what material did you use for the panels?

[mrfatboy]

I bought 10mm on eBay. MB Tex from GAT. The actual board I bought from a local upholstery shop.  It was a complessed 1/8" (?) fiber board that I think was water resistant.  $14 for  a 3'x4'piece.

I used 3M spray can glue from Home Depot to glue both foam and MB Tex to the board.

Please note that the foam overhangs the board as seen in the picture.  The foam is to be trimmed to sized depending in fit.  Notice that 3rd party vendor panels are sold with over sized foam.

For a small detail I split 1/8" plastic piping in half and placed it on both left and right panel bend points to mimic the originals. Remember to score the fiber board at the bend points.

[Benz Dr.]

So fresh air ( intake ) for the blower?

That makes sense - albeit a little agricultural.
A grille / louvre would have finished it off for minimal cost.

With all the wonderful design elements in these cars l think we can overlook this one.

Rob

No. Not for the blower which has no effect on the side vents. Simple system that when you open the side vents and close the louvers air will come out of those round holes in the under dash panels. Your fresh air flap at the outer base of the windshield must be open but generally speaking it's left open anyway or nothing will work very well.

[RobSirg]

Oh yes ....simple indeed.

Thanks for the explanation

Rob

[stickandrudderman]

It's where the OBD socket should go......

[RobSirg]

Ok I’ll bite .......what is an OBD?

Rob

[mdsalemi]

On Board Diagnostics. All cars have them today.

https://www.carmd.com/obd-port-location/

And, Stick is correct...IF our cars had one, it would probably be right where that hole is! 

[Benz Dr.]

On Board Diagnostics. All cars have them today.

https://www.carmd.com/obd-port-location/

And, Stick is correct...IF our cars had one, it would probably be right where that hole is! 

Trust me, neither of us would fit under the dash of a 113.