Thread: Minor repair yesterday

For a few weeks I had been aware that the 2a had got noisier than it used to be. In particular, I was noticing intake noise that had previously been unheard above the wind, tyres, gears and rattles. I was sure that this used not to be audible.

Enlightenment cam last week when I had the bonnet up facing into the sun to check levels, and happened to get into the driver's seat, to find sunlight coming in under the steering column.

So yesterday I removed the metal plate that holds the seal. This seal is made from foam plastic (I made it when I repainted the car about ten years ago), and the bottom section was missing. It looks as if some of my local rodents had decided to have a look in the cab via the engine compartment, probably the legacy of grandchildren leaving food wrappers in the parcel tray.

So I made a new seal from two layers of insertion rubber with the cut to get them round the steering column in different places. The major issue in the job was that the plate is held by two screws with nuts and washers (4BA?), and without removing the door tops it is impossible for one person to reach both ends, one next to the steering column, the other in the engine compartment. Problem was solved by holding the screw in place with duct tape while I got the washer on and nut started, the putting a socket on the nut with a ratchet that rests on the brake m/c, remove the tape and tighten with a screwdriver.

I will go for a drive today to see how much quieter it is!

Yes, insertion rubber is as described. The stuff I used is about 4mm, and is the offcuts from some I made mudflaps out of. I got it from Clark Rubber a few years back. Always keep this sort of thing - might be useful some time!

I still have somewhere a bit of 5/8" insertion rubber that is the offcut from a piece my father got in about 1950 to make a new universal joint for the family car, a 1931 Swift.

One place where insertion rubber is used on Series Landrovers, earlier ones anyway, I think is the bits between the chassis brackets and the radiator support.