Loose heater box?

We find push nut keepers for cables at heater box ends. We might find screws added to the cable clamps at heater box also. Failure at manually operated mechanical controllers can be by design.
So would anything go on up at the heater controls though it seems like the cable would just pop off if not? Also the one rod that comes up between the heater core Inlet and return does that look like it's in the right spot the rod feels extremely loose? Not sure what kind of damage this guy might have done taking it apart he doesn't look like he was too gentle... also there's a disconnected ground wire somewhere by the blower motor the other end of it runs down to what would be behind the passenger side kick panel but not sure where it hooks up on the heater box?

Screenshot_20190617-174240_Gallery.jpg

Screenshot_20190617-174249_Gallery.jpg