Dash Mounting Ideas

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Smcomanche

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I have finished rewiring the dash in my 64 dart, and have it in place as I finish the body and engine harness. To remove the dash the windshield needs to be removed. While I am finishing the wiring, I have the two lower bolts attached so I can hinge the dash forward to keep working. I was thinking it would be pretty cool if I always had this ability all of the time. Has any one devised a method to do this or have any other thoughts?

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yeah I had my dash out last winter and was thinking the same thing it is really nice just taking those 5 bolts out and teetering it back and being able to see in there. I was thinking about putting the bolts in from behind? May be cutting them a little short and making them a little blunt so they don't work their way into the seal? I'm sorry I don't have experience for this but it certainly has crossed my mind also.
 
So I did this when I took may dash out and left the windshield in. The two middle bolts are the toughest . It honestly wasn't that bad overall though, but I'm also younger in years and I don't have any other seats in car. If you were an older gentleman and a little less nimble with seats and other stuff in the way I could see how it may be a bit more difficult.
 
440seven said:
So I did this when I took may dash out and left the windshield in. The two middle bolts are the toughest . It honestly wasn't that bad overall though, but I'm also younger in years and I don't have any other seats in car. If you were an older gentleman and a little less nimble with seats and other stuff in the way I could see how it may be a bit more difficult.
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Look here whippersnapper LOL I'll get under that Dash come hell or high water seats or not LOL were you able to put the bolts in from the other direction?
 
440seven said:
So I did this when I took may dash out and left the windshield in. The two middle bolts are the toughest . It honestly wasn't that bad overall though, but I'm also younger in years and I don't have any other seats in car. If you were an older gentleman and a little less nimble with seats and other stuff in the way I could see how it may be a bit more difficult.
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Yeah, I don't "mind" doing some crazy yoga moves to work under the dash, but I would be more willing, and probably do a cleaner job if it were hinged.
 
Smcomanche said:
Yeah, I don't "mind" doing some crazy yoga moves to work under the dash, but I would be more willing, and probably do a cleaner job if it were hinged.
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I do believe that's our thinking behind this to do a quick yoga move or two and have the dash out in front of us instead of it all being yoga moves.
 
j par said:
Look here whippersnapper LOL I'll get under that Dash come hell or high water seats or not LOL were you able to put the bolts in from the other direction?
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Yea I put them in from the bottom. I took the sharp point off the bolts and everything seems good, but mine also stays in a garage.

j par said:
I do believe that's our thinking behind this to do a quick yoga move or two and have the dash out in front of us instead of it all being yoga moves.
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In keeping it simple I bet you could leave the bottom bolts in and loosened up for a hinge point and make use of a small limiting strap. Kinda like the glove box doors are. While it's out weld some small tabs for a small locking pin. Then all you have to is pull a small pin or two and voila, the dash folds down!
 
440seven said:
Yea I put them in from the bottom. I took the sharp point off the bolts and everything seems good, but mine also stays in a garage.



In keeping it simple I bet you could leave the bottom bolts in and loosened up for a hinge point and make use of a small limiting strap. Kinda like the glove box doors are. While it's out weld some small tabs for a small locking pin. Then all you have to is pull a small pin or two and voila, the dash folds down!
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That is along the lines of what I was thinking, just making sure I'm not totally crazy.
 
Smcomanche said:
That is along the lines of what I was thinking, just making sure I'm not totally crazy.
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I'm really hoping when I was under there that I really took care of a lot of the problems so I wouldn't need to go under there, but it would always be nice to know I could easily. I'm sure if there's a next time that's when I'll definitely invent something to make it so there won't be another time.
 
Do the older cars use the same type clips / nuts as 67/ later? If so you can reverse the clips and pay attention to screw length, and insert them from the bottom. This is the way my dash was installed.........after the windshield

In fact, I removed one dash frame in another car with the windshield installed, by using a small air grinder and cutoff wheel to slice through the clips. It was gutted, no radio/ glove box/ cluster or column, and no heater
 
I flipped that hardware in my 67 also. The 'U' nut didn't stand much taller than the bolts head. The bolts weren't long enough to stick out effecting the gasket lay. In hindsight... those 5 bolts are sooo difficult to access from underneath that there would have to be a catastrophe for me to remove them again.
 
^^I think you are where I got the idea from^^. I don't recall that access is a real problem. I think I used hex head screws but not for certain
 
You callin me old......lol
440seven said:
So I did this when I took may dash out and left the windshield in. The two middle bolts are the toughest . It honestly wasn't that bad overall though, but I'm also younger in years and I don't have any other seats in car. If you were an older gentleman and a little less nimble with seats and other stuff in the way I could see how it may be a bit more difficult.
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question.. Is the dash of early A supposed to be so glossy? If I thought I might need to take it back out and repaint it, I would be glad the bolts were installed in my favor.
 
Smcomanche said:
I have finished rewiring the dash in my 64 dart, and have it in place as I finish the body and engine harness. To remove the dash the windshield needs to be removed. While I am finishing the wiring, I have the two lower bolts attached so I can hinge the dash forward to keep working. I was thinking it would be pretty cool if I always had this ability all of the time. Has any one devised a method to do this or have any other thoughts?

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A lof guys with early A's take the bolts that go in to the dash from the windshield and reverse them. Using speed clips on the windshield frame and shorten the bolts so they don't hit the rubber or windshield frame. I'm thinking of doing that to mine for easy of re-wiring stuff later on. As far as the dash gloss most of them are but the tops are satin finish (well all of the ones I have seen or worked on). I've never looked close at the ones that don't have a dash pad (haven't seen one in a couple years) but satin finish keeps the glare down on the top of the dash
 
............And choose screws you can stick on the end of your tool/ extension and poke up in there. Deep hex, phillips, maybe torx. Shallow head hex, "NOT!!"
 
Silly option but if you were to use a magnetic strip along the top leading edge under the dash (just got mine in after paint so I am familuar with this.
Where the dash bolts to the A-pillar under neath just drill in another bolt to keep dash from rolling fwd while driving. I would think just the windshield gasket alone will hold the top of the dash in place (sandwich)
and the 2 bolts on the sides plus the steering column bolts would reinforce this.

Just an opinion. I dont plan on removing my dash again with out the windshield being removed. $100.00 to a mobile glass guy and its back in and done. It may seem like a lot of money, but sticking my hands under the dash and upside down, with those sharp edges- ill spill my beer for sure.
 
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