Mystery rattle

[ianfey]

I have a series 1 OTS whic has developed a rattle which sounds like ametal tray full of loose spanners behind the dash when I go over a bump or am on a rough road. Stripped out dash nothing loose. Checked wiper linkages in double skin bulkhead and cannot find anything loose under the bonnet. Any suggestions please as I am at the end of my tether. Many thanks Ian

[rswaffie]

Are you sure it’s from behind the dash/bulkhead?
It could be a rattle from under the car (heat shields/exhaust) or even something like bonnet locks or window winder mechanisms that resonate up through the bodywork.

[ralphr1780]

Did you check engine stabilizer rod?

[Mich7920]

Hi,
For me this rattle was the iron pipe comming from the reservac.
It took a long time to discover the origine.
Purhaps the same for you
Mich

[Geoff Allam]

I second the stabilizer rod. When I bought my fhc the whole rod mechanism was ubdone. It sounded like The engine was falling out.

[Tony]

Where us the stabiliser rod fitted. Not noticed one on my car.

[politeperson]

I have had-

Old bolts inside the front bumpers left over from the Amco bars rattling

Worn shock absorber bushes

Interference between the plenum and the air filter canister through misalignment

Carbs touching the frame through worn engine mounts

Poorly adjusted center mount on the gearbox.

All of these were diagnosed by someone enthusiastically pushing the car up and down at the front with me listening with the bonnet open.

[malcolm]

Mine was the bottom bolt adrift under the airfilter at bottom of canister

[ralphr1780]

Tony,
Check in the centre of the bulkhead, underneath the bonnet latch, it links the bulkhead to the bellhousing.

[ianfey]

not able to test drive car yet as I have to put the dash back together but just after I posted I thought about the stabiliser. Took 2 turns to bring bottom slotted nut into contact with mounting so I am hoping this was it.Thank you to everyone who responded and all the suggestions. At least now I have a checklist to follow if the stabiliser is not the culprit.

[ianfey]

Tried all the above to no effect. Then drove over a speed bump and the noise stopped .Don't you just love these cars

[malcolm]

Have you checked under the filter inside the air canister?

[rswaffie]

Is it possible that whatever was rattling has fallen out/off the car when you went over the speed bump?

[PeterCrespin]

The stabilizer washers are stepped. It is possible they were adjusted slightly out of position and a bump jumped one or other into place. Check the adjustment again.

Have you got the rubber buffers on the locating pins that drop into the angled receivers on each side of the bulkhead?