Removing Glove Box Lid - Not So Easy!

[rfloz]

So, in my quest for the ultimate lightness/racer look, I decided to remove the glove box lid. No, it probably doesn't weigh much. I'll let you know. If I ever get it off.

A couple of screws - how hard could that be? Well, first thing is you need to remove the passenger side knee pad to access the glove box lid screws. My, that was fun. Just two 8mm nuts, from the backside of the dash. You know, the can't reach'em, can't see'em, gotta stand on your head sort.

Okay! The knee pad is off. Just two little screws left. Not. First off it took a few healthy whacks with an impact driver to loosen the first screw - and the nut behind it broke loose too. Time to get in a really awkward position, hold nut from behind with bent needle nose pliers and back the screw out. It keeps slipping but twenty minutes later it's out.

Now the other screw. Uh-uh. Five-pound sledge and impact driver and - nothing, nada. Okay, I'll grind the damn thing off since it is now buggered up anyway.

Ta-da - and, nothing. WTF? Well, there seem to be two good-sized rivets on the bottom edge still holding the glove box hinge piece to the dash. At least I think they are rivets since I can't feel the inner side except with the very tip of my pinky. (Why, yes. I did try to drive the pin out of the piano-hinge. Not happening.)

Our German friends really build these cars like the proverbial brick *****house!

So, I thought I'd ask, before breaking out the grinding wheel again - is there an easier way to get these rivet things out?

Before someone asks me - no, no pictures. But if someone wants to loan me a colonoscopy device, I could probably get some.

[Tom '74 911]

Well, I wish I could offer some help. . . but I can't. I am going to subscribe to your thread though, as I want to hear the answer!

Sorry,
Tom

[efhughes3]

I'm not sure that this is going to be anything close to an "ultimate-anything" look. You'd have been better off leaving it in place. Not on the same level as a radio delete plate, IMO.

[Peterfrans]

there are four screws on the glovebox lid. Two nuts are difficult to reach, they are in a 90 degree angle to the ones you got out.

btw the lid is heavy

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by rfloz

... the glove box lid... probably doesn't weigh much.

Actually, it is surprisingly heavy, because...

our German friends really built [it] like the proverbial brick *****house!

2.4 lbs. on a '71 911E (!!)

No wonder they removed the thing on the race cars.

I wish somebody would do a foam molded one using modern technology that looked like the original. You could save 2 lbs. right there.

[carrera turbo]

hello

if you remove the glove box it self it gives easy reach to all the screws there is no rivets, the glove box comes off by removing the screw that holds the strap around the whole box above knee pad behind piano hinge as i remember. once the cardboard box is dropped the glove box door will be a piece of cake.

good luck ed

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by efhughes3

I'm not sure that this is going to be anything close to an "ultimate-anything" look. You'd have been better off leaving it in place. Not on the same level as a radio delete plate, IMO.

Well, I already have the radio delete plate and the clock delete plate and the cigar lighter delete and the console delete and so the glove box lid must go!

That the driver could stand to lose 30 or so pounds is immaterial.

Originally Posted by Peterfrans

there are four screws on the glovebox lid. Two nuts are difficult to reach, they are in a 90 degree angle to the ones you got out.

btw the lid is heavy

So, those round things on the bottom have nuts on them? Maybe so, but they are almost impossible to reach. But, see below.

Originally Posted by RWebb

Actually, it is surprisingly heavy, because...

2.4 lbs. on a '71 911E (!!)

No wonder they removed the thing on the race cars.

I wish somebody would do a foam molded one using modern technology that looked like the original. You could save 2 lbs. right there.

2.4# - most excellent! Foam would add weight back in though and you would lose "the look".

Originally Posted by carrera turbo

if you remove the glove box it self it gives easy reach to all the screws there is no rivets, the glove box comes off by removing the screw that holds the strap around the whole box above knee pad behind piano hinge as i remember. once the cardboard box is dropped the glove box door will be a piece of cake.

good luck ed

Ahah! The impossible becomes a little easier. I'll be trying this next (sure beats the grinder).

I've worked on a lot of American and Japanese cars - these things are "different". I keep finding new and interesting ways Porsche has done things. It reminds me somewhat of my air-head BMW motorcycle in that respect. There's a kind of "we know what is best for you" attitude about both of them.

Thanks for all the replies.

[RWebb]

I bet a skinned foam could be molded to look nearly identical. Or just cover it like stock.

But what you really need to do is get wt. off of the rear of the car -- and lots of it.

Changes to the middle tend to be mostly cosmetic. The sun-roof would be an exception b/c of its ht. and consequent effect on roll and pitch, but then you lose some open air feel.

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I bet a skinned foam could be molded to look nearly identical. Or just cover it like stock.

But what you really need to do is get wt. off of the rear of the car -- and lots of it.

Changes to the middle tend to be mostly cosmetic. The sun-roof would be an exception b/c of its ht. and consequent effect on roll and pitch, but then you lose some open air feel.

Yeah, it is mostly cosmetic. But, I got this car for fun and, to me, fooling around with stuff like this is fun. Sick, huh? Hell, I may even try this:



Or this:



FWIW, the car is a factory sun-roof delete and a fiberglass duck is ready for mounting as we, er, speak. That's about 25# off the rear (I have a 35# Turbo spoiler right now). I will probably get a f-glass rear bumper and an M&K muffler as time and funds permit. Those two items should lose another 40# or so of the rear.

A lot of other weight reduction stuff has been done. Current weight is about 2550 w/ 1/4 tank of gas and no driver - shooting for less than 2400#. It's a Carrera Factory Turbo-Look, so it started off as a real Ms. Piggy. It's never going to be one of those 1800# wonders, but less is more.

[MrPerkles]

blimey those hinges are mine
ditch the govebox cover rfloz its a pile of crap and yes a pain to remove,I got underneath the dash and removed the whole box compartment.
If I remember correctly its two bolts that hold it in place,i was shocked at how heavy it was
I did try to refurb mine but ended up binning it and I think it looks better without

[RWebb]

toss the deck lid and rear bumper and put on FG parts

toss the deck lid grill & use R type Al mesh

R deck lid hinges are where the real wt. savings are re hinges

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by MrPerkles

blimey those hinges are mine

Indeed they are, Mr. P. You are an inspiration to us all.

Originally Posted by MrPerkles

ditch the govebox cover rfloz its a pile of crap and yes a pain to remove,I got underneath the dash and removed the whole box compartment.
If I remember correctly its two bolts that hold it in place,i was shocked at how heavy it was
I did try to refurb mine but ended up binning it and I think it looks better without

I almost got it out last night - had to partly remove the ducting to the footwell blower. Then my garage mate, aka wife, got home and insisted on parking in the garage. The nerve of some people! It better be heavy after all this angst.

Originally Posted by RWebb

toss the deck lid and rear bumper and put on FG parts

toss the deck lid grill & use R type Al mesh

R deck lid hinges are where the real wt. savings are re hinges

As noted above, a f-glass deck (mit burzel) is on deck (heh, accidental pun, that). I hope to find a stock appearing f-glass rear bumper. Since one goal is to maintain a stockish external IB appearance, I'll take your other ideas under advisement.

I seem to remember Dave B. at TRE or someone else was going to make plastic stock looking tail light housings - I need to search around for those. They would be a bit subtler than the R-style housings and more period correct for an IB car.

[rfloz]

Alrighty then, that sucker is finally off - 2# even according to my trusty food scale.

Assuming about 12#/rwhp that's equivalent to 1/6 rwhp!

What is fascinating (to me, at least) is that the the thing is built like a bank vault. I mean, there is just no need for such sturdyness in a glove box. Unless they actually meant for it to be secure. Those wacky Germans.

Speaking of wacky - I got my first look at one of the footwell blowers (since I had to take off the kick panel). The heating/ventilation/air conditioning system in these cars is a maze. My eventual goal is some passive heat, some actual ventilation and no a/c with no fans/blowers (presently, I have no heat, no a/c, no ventilation and no working fans). That is going to be interesting.

Thanks to all for the pointers - I'd still be grinding away without them. Long live the way of the Pelican!

[efhughes3]

Wow, I'm amazed that that sucker is 2lbs.

[RWebb]

couldn't possibly be secure as the glove box itself is just pressed felt...

wacky is right

[MrPerkles]

told you
I have a great simple lightweight heat set up I will post some pictures when I organise myself

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by efhughes3

Wow, I'm amazed that that sucker is 2lbs.

It's nicely balanced when fitted so it seems fairly light. Once it's off, it has quite a heft.

Originally Posted by RWebb

couldn't possibly be secure as the glove box itself is just pressed felt...

wacky is right

Of course, by the time someone gets to the pressed felt part, they will likely have given up in despair.

Originally Posted by MrPerkles

told you
I have a great simple lightweight heat set up I will post some pictures when I organise myself

That would be smashing. Mr. P for president, er, prime minister.

[johndglynn]

Originally Posted by rfloz

That would be smashing. Mr. P for president, er, prime minister.

Put him in charge of cake - all will feel right with the world no matter what the reality.

Bit of a saga but great job Bob!

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by johndglynn

Put him in charge of cake - all will feel right with the world no matter what the reality.

Bit of a saga but great job Bob!

Thanks, John. I placed a link in the Church of the Lightweight thread over on IB.com so that others might follow a straighter path towards salvation. I hope the miscegenation will be overlooked.

Sorry, I'm not following the "cake" reference. Perhaps it's an ESL thing. I thought MrP was an engineering sort. Mayhaps he could be put in charge of your MOT. Or at least night manager of a JiffyLube.