TR2/3/3A Removing cowl wood?

[AHS]

Is there a trick to removing the 3pc TR3 cowl wood? I've removed all the wood screws and the wood is rattling around loose and completely free of the metal, but the 3 pcs are still attached together and there doesn't seem to be any way to get them out as one unit without some major flexing of either wood or metal. I can see some screws attaching the pieces to each other if I pull the wood down slightly, but it won't move far enough to allow access to these screws. The wood is in good condition and I don't want to break anything. Thanks, Andy

 

[mallard]

Unless you break the wood you will not get it out. If you can do weld repairs there is a way. On the right side under the dash where the wood ends you can see an inner panel that is spot welded to the car. If you drill out those spot weld you can pull the metal back far enough to remove the wood. I looked thru all my old pictures but I did not get a picture of that repair. Here is a shot I just took but it does not show much detail.

 

[luke44]

Don't break it! The wood piece is actually 3 separate pieces and yes you can access them - the 2 curved ends are screwed into the main straight piece. Undo one side (2 screws) and it wiggles out. I don't have the exact pic but it's visible from the underside. You have to remove all the accessory pieces like the steering column support. Good luck.

 

[AHS]

Thank you both. I can see the 2 screws that hold the left piece to the center piece, but the wood hits on the inner panel as Keith said before it gets low enough to access those 2 screws. So, if I notch that panel about 1/2" I think I can get to the screws, and it's in an invisible spot no one will ever see. Bruce, are you saying there's no glue, so once I remove those 2 screws it will come out easily? if so, I think that's what I'll do. BTW Bruce, your excellent pictures on this site have been an immense help to me so far and I'm still just in the body work phase. Your attention to detail is stunning and I'm sure the car will be too. I hope I have the chance to see it some day. Thanks, Andy

 

[CJD]

Bruce, that has to be a new piece you used. It looks very nice. Was it hard to fab/bend the curve into the end pieces?

 

[luke44]

Nope, it was the original.

 

[AHS]

Update: The wood is out. I flexed the metal up a little at the defrost outlet to access the 2 screws, removed them and gave it a few hits with a hammer to separate the wood pieces. Everything is still in good condition. Thanks for the help.

 

[luke44]

Great! A few holes to fill with wood filler and then on to the next step.