Lower Dash Panel

[dirtrack49]

Can anyone please tell me where this panel lines up on the lower drivers side, under the dash, near the steering column?

I thought I had taken a picture before taking this panel out to work on the dash instruments, but evidently not. Most likely I am suffering from CRS!

Thanks in advance,

Tom L.
1966 230SL

[Peter h]

Maybe it helps
280sl
Peter

[dirtrack49]

Thanks Peter. I think the 280SL is different. Especially with a clutch.

I keep looking at this and for the life of me I can not remember how it goes in.

Tom L.
66 230SL

[mrfatboy]

The board crease goes behind the pedals against the firewall.  The circle cut out would go on the left side (LHD) under the left vent.  Of course the foam backing should be facing under the dash😀

[66andBlue]

This should help to orient you. 
The two tabs on the right go behind the steering column and the slit between them is for the cable.

[Pawel66]

Yes, they are different for 280SL.

What is misleading is the cut out that looks like for pedals, but it is for hood opening cable, actually (not that I am clever, I have just gone through hell with it).

Take a look.

[dirtrack49]

Thanks everyone for your help. Hopefully this evening I will be able to get the panel back into it's proper position.

I had forgotten about the foam backing on these panels. I think when I had taken this panel down for instrument access, there was some amount of foam backing still on the underside that had turn to basically powder. I must have cleaned the rest of it off. Now I am wondering if I should just replace it, or put some type of foam back on it.

I think at this point in time, I am only going for a "driver quality" rework of this vehicle. I am not sure if it is necessary to replace the foam. However, I am curious as to what others have done with these panels?

Tom L.

[mrfatboy]

The foam was for sound insulation.  You could just apply  new 1/2" or 10mm(original) foam to the back of the panel and cut to fit.

I recently made new panels. They have 10mm foam and were covered with mb Tex to match my interior.

[Pawel66]

Yes, glue the foam on. It is easy and not expensive. You probably can buy even foam with self adhesive if you do not want to get dirty...

When I did my panels, I did not make these vent holes, assuming there is enough gaps and holes there for the air to flow. I do not like the way they look...

[dirtrack49]

Thanks everybody. I just put the panel back in without any foam. Might go back there sometime if I decide to restore the interior.
Thanks again,
Tom L.
66 230SL