I actually found some free time this weekend to work on the Cougar so I decided to tackle a project that I have been dreading (more nervous really) for a while. Removing the dash and doing it without putting any cracks in it.
I took my time and when frustration set in, mostly from those darn locking tabbed electrical connectors, (I don’t think I have ever cussed at anything more in my life than when working with those) I took a breath, walked away for a few minutes and sipped on a cold beverage in the nice shade of the yard before heading backing in. My patience was eventually rewarded though as it came out crack free. 8)
Glad it worked out...that is not a fun project. Imagine having to do that PLUS the 5-speed pedal swap.
Years ago, I was doing a pedal swap in my first Thunderbird. My dash was already cracked, so that wasn't my concern. I did, however, end up cracking my windshield. That wasn't a good day.
One day after I got my car all put together, I stopped by the car was in a hurry before work to just vacuum the car out. Had the windshield sper sitting in the front seat. When I got done vacuuming out the back seat, I went to push the seat back and somehow the sper flipped up into the windshield and spider webbed the whole windshield. I was so pissed.
The big question is why did you take the dash out in the first place?
Thanks Eric. I can see where doing the pedal swap would be a lot easier with the dash pulled out.
One winter storage season I had a mouse make a home in the cowl and in the trunk. I found the one in the trunk but I didn’t find the mess in the cowl until much later and all of the droppings had turned to a hard tar like substance.
I cleaned it the best I could, and most of the time it's fine, but every once in a while, you get a whiff of it.
It has been a struggle to keep them out ever since. I’ve tried everything (except moth balls because I can’t stand that smell) but they keep coming back. It’s like the car is a magnet for them.
I spoke with an exterminator several years ago and he told me that mice are a territorial animal and if they catch another’s scent they will make a home there too.
So my thought is to do a full power-wash of the interior and cowl area and try and get every possible crevice cleaned out. It may be extreme, but after having to deal with this problem for 30+ years I’m willing to try anything at this point.
Memories....
Well that sounds like a not fun time. Good luck, and I hope cleaning solves the issue.
The one thing that *seems* to work great (and you may not want to if your factory smell is still there and you worry about ruining it)....are the Black Ice scent Little Trees.
All I know is where I am there are plenty of field mice, across the street my buddy and his dad share the same two-stall detached garage. Dad's '65 Falcon had like 3 or 4 of 'em in it, no mice. Friend's '90 Vette, no trees, they went right in there.
Factory smell is long gone. :frown: I've never smelled the Black Ice scent trees, but I'm not opposed to trying them if it deters the critters.
I can tell you the Bounce dryer sheet idea did not work. I spread several of those around the interior one year, but still found evidence of them so I went and used a whole box of Bounce. All it did was made it real easy to spot the droppings sitting on the white dryer sheets.
How do they get in there? Is there not a screen over the fresh air intake for the HVAC? I would try to properly seal the cabin, wherever the "hole" is.
I hate mice, fortunately I haven't had any problems, but funny thing is, I use a lot of little tree freshners also. Maybe he's on to something. LOL
Black Ice is very strong....the smell is nice in small doses but it might offend. If you've ever smelt Axe deodorant it'll remind you of that :rollin: but I also tried dryer sheets and other home remedies that have been passed around...I think it's the chemicals and strong odor that keep them away.
Makes you wonder what impact those air fresheners have on *our* health :dunno: