Cover for hole under Gas Tank and Seal around Steering column?, Wondering what fills the hole and gap Options

[sketchc13]

I have my gas tank out and under it there is a ~100mm hole on the passenger side and a gap around the boot where the steering column goes through the body on the way to the steering rack.

Is something missing? Coming from Wisconsin, the hole and gap are very inviting to garage invading squirrels to store their nuts and more in the fall and winter and it seems like something should go there....

Are there OE parts that go there or did any one fab something up for the hole and gap?

See attached pic... I have since cleaned up the surface rust.

Cheers,
Andrew

[sketchc13]

Thanks Gents - no cover for the hole and a gap around the steering column boot to the bulkhead it is.

It just kinda surprises me thats the original solution cuz that steering rack cover doesn't really seal up the area from below. Definitely enough to keep the water and debris out, but not really dust and critters.

Anyway, mystery solve for me. Thanks!

[bbrock]

Thanks Gents - no cover for the hole and a gap around the steering column boot to the bulkhead it is.

It just kinda surprises me thats the original solution cuz that steering rack cover doesn't really seal up the area from below. Definitely enough to keep the water and debris out, but not really dust and critters.

Anyway, mystery solve for me. Thanks!

Well dangit, I was hoping you'd come up with a clever solution because I agree with you this is a problem. Where I live, leaving a car outside just 30 minutes after dark is guaranteed to get rodents in the car. I've been looking at those gaping mouse portals and wondering how to deal with them myself.

[mepstein]

Thanks Gents - no cover for the hole and a gap around the steering column boot to the bulkhead it is.

It just kinda surprises me thats the original solution cuz that steering rack cover doesn't really seal up the area from below. Definitely enough to keep the water and debris out, but not really dust and critters.

Anyway, mystery solve for me. Thanks!

Well dangit, I was hoping you'd come up with a clever solution because I agree with you this is a problem. Where I live, leaving a car outside just 30 minutes after dark is guaranteed to get rodents in the car. I've been looking at those gaping mouse portals and wondering how to deal with them myself.

You can’t seal most cars against mice. They can get through a 1/4-1/2” opening.

[bbrock]

Thanks Gents - no cover for the hole and a gap around the steering column boot to the bulkhead it is.

It just kinda surprises me thats the original solution cuz that steering rack cover doesn't really seal up the area from below. Definitely enough to keep the water and debris out, but not really dust and critters.

Anyway, mystery solve for me. Thanks!

Well dangit, I was hoping you'd come up with a clever solution because I agree with you this is a problem. Where I live, leaving a car outside just 30 minutes after dark is guaranteed to get rodents in the car. I've been looking at those gaping mouse portals and wondering how to deal with them myself.

You can’t seal most cars against mice. They can get through a 1/4-1/2” opening.

Yes, but that opening is particularly inviting. I'm a wildlife biologist and the shape and size of that area would make a darn good design for a nest box or shelter designed to attract many small mammals. I actually had a weasel living in that area of my car before I pulled my car out of hibernation. I like weasels, but less so in the car. I totally agree with the futility of making a car rodent "proof", but rodent "resistant" is doable.

[mepstein]

Thanks Gents - no cover for the hole and a gap around the steering column boot to the bulkhead it is.

It just kinda surprises me thats the original solution cuz that steering rack cover doesn't really seal up the area from below. Definitely enough to keep the water and debris out, but not really dust and critters.

Anyway, mystery solve for me. Thanks!

Well dangit, I was hoping you'd come up with a clever solution because I agree with you this is a problem. Where I live, leaving a car outside just 30 minutes after dark is guaranteed to get rodents in the car. I've been looking at those gaping mouse portals and wondering how to deal with them myself.

You can’t seal most cars against mice. They can get through a 1/4-1/2” opening.

Yes, but that opening is particularly inviting. I'm a wildlife biologist and the shape and size of that area would make a darn good design for a nest box or shelter designed to attract many small mammals. I actually had a weasel living in that area of my car before I pulled my car out of hibernation. I like weasels, but less so in the car. I totally agree with the futility of making a car rodent "proof", but rodent "resistant" is doable.

Is there anything to put in or under the car that keeps them away, other than a cat.

[bbrock]

Thanks Gents - no cover for the hole and a gap around the steering column boot to the bulkhead it is.

It just kinda surprises me thats the original solution cuz that steering rack cover doesn't really seal up the area from below. Definitely enough to keep the water and debris out, but not really dust and critters.

Anyway, mystery solve for me. Thanks!

Well dangit, I was hoping you'd come up with a clever solution because I agree with you this is a problem. Where I live, leaving a car outside just 30 minutes after dark is guaranteed to get rodents in the car. I've been looking at those gaping mouse portals and wondering how to deal with them myself.

You can’t seal most cars against mice. They can get through a 1/4-1/2” opening.

Yes, but that opening is particularly inviting. I'm a wildlife biologist and the shape and size of that area would make a darn good design for a nest box or shelter designed to attract many small mammals. I actually had a weasel living in that area of my car before I pulled my car out of hibernation. I like weasels, but less so in the car. I totally agree with the futility of making a car rodent "proof", but rodent "resistant" is doable.

Is there anything to put in or under the car that keeps them away, other than a cat.

There are a few rodent repellents that can work but they don't last very long. I was using a product called Fresh Cab in my work truck that is always parked outside with good results for awhile. The stuff only remains effective for a month or two though and isn't cheap so I gave up and now my truck smells like mouse pee again. That was really asking too much from a repellent though. For a car stored inside, it would probably provide enough deterrent to keep the occasional mouse away.

Steel wool is excellent for plugging holes because rodents won't chew it, but of course, not good for nice cars where you'd rather prohibit rust than promote it. The two problems with cats are that they like to jump up on cars and they kill 1-4 billion birds in the U.S. every year so not an environmentally friendly form of pest control if allowed to run free. They're great inside garages and barns though.

Beyond a well-sealed building to store our cars in, I think just keeping seals in good shape and rust holes plugged so the mice at least have to work to get in the car is the most practical bet. Overall, I think our 914s are an excellent design from a rodent resistance standpoint. The only real problem spot I've seen is that stinkin' hole under the fuel tank. That's just a welcome mat for mice to set up shop in a spot that is a real PITA to clean out.

[sketchc13]

Thanks Gents - no cover for the hole and a gap around the steering column boot to the bulkhead it is.

It just kinda surprises me thats the original solution cuz that steering rack cover doesn't really seal up the area from below. Definitely enough to keep the water and debris out, but not really dust and critters.

Anyway, mystery solve for me. Thanks!

Well dangit, I was hoping you'd come up with a clever solution because I agree with you this is a problem. Where I live, leaving a car outside just 30 minutes after dark is guaranteed to get rodents in the car. I've been looking at those gaping mouse portals and wondering how to deal with them myself.

You can’t seal most cars against mice. They can get through a 1/4-1/2” opening.

Yes, but that opening is particularly inviting. I'm a wildlife biologist and the shape and size of that area would make a darn good design for a nest box or shelter designed to attract many small mammals. I actually had a weasel living in that area of my car before I pulled my car out of hibernation. I like weasels, but less so in the car. I totally agree with the futility of making a car rodent "proof", but rodent "resistant" is doable.

Is there anything to put in or under the car that keeps them away, other than a cat.

There are a few rodent repellents that can work but they don't last very long. I was using a product called Fresh Cab in my work truck that is always parked outside with good results for awhile. The stuff only remains effective for a month or two though and isn't cheap so I gave up and now my truck smells like mouse pee again. That was really asking too much from a repellent though. For a car stored inside, it would probably provide enough deterrent to keep the occasional mouse away.

Steel wool is excellent for plugging holes because rodents won't chew it, but of course, not good for nice cars where you'd rather prohibit rust than promote it. The two problems with cats are that they like to jump up on cars and they kill 1-4 billion birds in the U.S. every year so not an environmentally friendly form of pest control if allowed to run free. They're great inside garages and barns though.

Beyond a well-sealed building to store our cars in, I think just keeping seals in good shape and rust holes plugged so the mice at least have to work to get in the car is the most practical bet. Overall, I think our 914s are an excellent design from a rodent resistance standpoint. The only real problem spot I've seen is that stinkin' hole under the fuel tank. That's just a welcome mat for mice to set up shop in a spot that is a real PITA to clean out.

I too was hoping a solution that didn't require an ongoing investment in a cat, critter repellent, or extra attention to sealing up the garage... which... when renting is not so appealing.

One idea I did have was to see if one of the lids, see picture, would be the right size.... but I'm not sure of the diameter of this one or the other "lids" throughout the vehicle which are mysteriously placed for some seemingly unknown reason....

(Image sourced from Auto Atlanta)