Mystery Find in the Driver's Footwell

[Dom]

Afternoon, All.

I found this object in my driver's footwell yesterday, and am puzzled as to what it is. I think it fell out from behind the dash somewhere. There were also what look like two rivets lying nearby.

Can you identify it, please?

Many thanks,

Dom

[dapinky]

Dom,

It is what is known as a Big Head Bolt (they do nuts aswell). Designed to be bonded onto a surface that needs a thread - often used in Marine applications and fibreglass cars.

Not sure where that one has come from, as it looks remarkably clean - the only ones I know to be used on the Elan, are on the front clamshell inside the headlamp pod bracketry - although it's quite possible that they could be glued/bonded to the dashboard for some application or other.

[lotusflasherman]

Has yours got Aircon ? Parts Manual seems to show them being used to support the evaporator unit... maybe they were riveted and not bonded - looks too clean to have been bonded and broken away. Can you see where rivets were?

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[Dom]

Thank you for the replies. Mine has no air conditioning. The bolt was on the floor below the clutch pedal, with the rivets further to the right. I can't see where it might have come from, I'm afraid.

[cliff]

Hi Dom

There are 2 of these securing the fascia, as you found it in the footwell, it might be the one holding the right upper side.

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[Dom]

Ah, that could well be it. It happened after I fitted some foam to fill the usual "dash gap", which may be a coincidence, or may not be! The right side of the dash has always sagged a little compared to the left side, too. Maybe this is why.

[Dom]

Oh, and how do I reattach it?

[lotusflasherman]

Oh, and how do I reattach it?

Big 'pop rivets'..

by 'Big' I mean something like 6.4mm ... www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-4mm-Aluminium-Steel-Domed-Head-POP-Rivet-Blind-Open-Rivets-Choose-Length-/182280226193

[dapinky]

As they are designed to be bonded (hence the holes in the flange to allow the 'glue' to grip) - I would just see what it attaches to, clean it up and use a big blob of sikaflex.

[clemo]

Add lightness .

If its fallen of and its still standing then its over engineered . Throw it in the bin !.

(or put on shelf)

[Dom]

Add lightness .

If its fallen of and its still standing then its over engineered . Throw it in the bin !.

(or put on shelf)

Tempting, as nothing seems to have changed.....yet....

[clemo]

Add lightness .

If its fallen of and its still standing then its over engineered . Throw it in the bin !.

(or put on shelf)

Tempting, as nothing seems to have changed.....yet....

thumbs up picture thing .