Purpose of cavity in scuttle/cowl?

[PeterAllen]

After inspecting ever square centimetre (I thought) of the shell in all the time I've had it I just discovered this cavity in the scuttle/cowl. Does anyone know it's purpose?

 

I'm trying to work out a new placement of the fuses, relays, etc on the firewall above the passenger's feet.

[NZeder]

That is for the out side air/recyc part of the heater. There are few race car that I know that have just close off the hole, not installed the heater and do just as you are thinking. I have seen MSD, fuse and other items install in this area aka GPS track mapping/data logging etc.

 

Does that help?

[PeterAllen]

Thanks - I'm installing a Vintage Air a/c system as well so I think I can just ignore it.

[.]

I had problems in that area because of rust in the panel. I thought I had sealed it when I restored the car but I obviously failed. Once the car is back together it is almost impossible to fix holes in that area. So what I did was make a copy of the cover minus the vents. This eliminated the ability for rain to get into that cavity. Yet the fan still operates and pulls air through the remaining gaps around the edge. Just something to consider.