can anyone tell me what this is?

[bitsumishi]

Hi,

Have just got hold of an '80 (I believe Holdsworth conversion) 2L Automatic van. It is in a state of disrepair and is currently being welded etc.

Anyway, just wondering if any of you guys on here have any idea what this thing is on the dash. I assume from the red and black wiring it is some kind of electrical (12V) hookup, but was wondering if it is OK to remove as it really does look pretty rubbish! At the rear there are connection pins and cables are going to it. Photos attached.

09122011325_12-09-2011.jpg

09122011326_12-09-2011.jpg

Cheers

Rob.

[Cruz]

Aircold? Could be for a heater to melt the block of ice around your feet

[zed]

It is for keeping the passenger awake. You hook their toes up to the terminals and every time they start nodding off you press the red button

Certainly does not look standard, but would be interesting to see what t is actually hooked up to

[billybigspud]

look at the size of the cables feeding them. might give you a clue.

[KamperKev]

The terminals are what are usually found in electrical test equipment, the type that you can swap leads (probes) or what its connected to by just pulling them out and pushing new ones in. The Red switch is just push for on and the smaller black switch is to turn it off (reset) whatever it is Total HOMEBREW ( homemade not bought from a shop )that someone has knocked up with bits at their disposal. Maybe at some point there was a Fan on the dash plugged into it in the past. You should be able to remove it all easy enough and disconnect the wires, make sure you remove them from where they originate from if you can. Wouldn't want a loose live lead flapping about behind the dash. I had some unsightly holes in my dash, so I glued some plastic on the reverse filled the hole with a bit of filler and painted with black paint. Hardly noticeable .
Best of Luck
regards Kev

[kevtherev]

what ever it is.. get rid of it.