Grommets, body sealing, and fume-exclusion components address the practical realities of body-on-frame construction, where bulkhead penetrations for cables, pipes, and wiring create paths for engine fumes, heat, water, and noise to enter the cockpit. Effective sealing of the bulkhead and floor is a structural and comfort measure, keeping the cabin dry, free of exhaust fumes, and protected from engine bay heat is part of any thorough restoration.
The Ash Frame Consideration
The TD and TF body uses an internal ash frame with steel outer panels. Water ingress affects both the steel through corrosion and the timber through rot. The ash frame dries and shrinks over time, opening gaps in originally-tight panel joints that admit water and accelerate timber deterioration in a progressive cycle. Replacing deteriorated sealing strips, rubber piping (covered under Body and Door Fittings), and bulkhead grommets is therefore a structural preservation measure, not merely cosmetic.
Bulkhead Grommet Set
A complete bulkhead grommet set of six is available, covering the principal penetrations in one set: main loom, rev counter and speedometer cables, oil pressure gauge pipe, and choke and starter cables. Each grommet is also catalogued individually for partial work, main loom, rev counter cable, speedometer cable, oil pressure gauge pipe, choke cable, and starter cable in bulkhead.
Additional Grommets
Two further grommets complete the bulkhead penetrations: the temperature gauge pipe grommet, and a model-specific wiper grommet, the TD uses a wiper motor extension loom grommet (for the TD's separate wiper motor), whilst the TF uses a wiper motor rack grommet (for the TF's centrally-driven wiper rack arrangement that runs through the dashboard to two wheelboxes). The TD and TF wiper grommets are not interchangeable.
Pedal and Steering Column Fume Excluders
Pedal shaft penetrations are sealed by a rubber fume excluder with a retainer plate, preventing engine bay fumes and heat reaching the driver's footwell. The steering column passes through via a leather fume excluder with plate and Supergrip clip, leather conforming to the column movement whilst sealing the penetration.
These items deteriorate with age and engine heat, and replacement is important for preventing exhaust fume ingress, particularly in modern traffic.
Wheelbox Sealing Bushes (TF)
The TF wiper installation uses two wheelboxes (one on each side of the dashboard), and rubber bushes seal each wheelbox where it passes through the dashboard. A bush set comprising two bushes is catalogued for the TF, with individual bushes available for replacement.
Floor Pads and Sealing Items
Several rubber pads complete the floor and lower-body sealing. A rubber pad seats between the floorboard and pedal box; two rubber pads seat between floor and roll bar at the front of the cockpit. A sealing cover fits the gearbox remote control housing where it passes through the carpet and tunnel. Driver's-side heel mats and floor carpet pieces vary by drive side and chassis number, see Carpets and Fixings.
Master Cylinder Inspection Plug
A rubber inspection plug provides access to the master cylinder for inspection and topping up, a small but important detail for cars with the brake master cylinder mounted in a position requiring an access aperture. The plug is catalogued for LHD TDs from chassis 4237 and all LHD TFs, reflecting the LHD-specific master cylinder mounting arrangement.
Soundproofing
The TD and TF were built when sound-deadening was minimal, engine, exhaust, gearbox, and road noise reach the cockpit directly through the bulkhead, tunnel, and floorboards. Modern self-adhesive sound-deadening on the bulkhead, floor, and tunnel during restoration provides significant noise reduction without altering appearance, particularly for long touring. Sound-deadening is customer choice rather than catalogued here, but its application during interior restoration is a well-established improvement.
Ordering Considerations
The bulkhead grommet set is the practical choice when replacing all six grommets at once. Individual grommets allow targeted replacement. The wiper grommet is model-specific, confirm model when ordering. Fume excluders, plates, and Supergrip clip are common to both models.
Wheelbox sealing bushes are TF-specific. The master cylinder inspection plug applies only to LHD cars from chassis 4237 onwards. Floor and footwell items overlap with Carpets and Fixings.