Any Tips for Dash Removal?

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JDPdart

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I’m going to be removing the dash out of my 1970 Dart in preparation for installing a roll cage. I already have the windshield out. Is there any electrical wires I should unhook first or any other things?

Thanks JDPDART
 
sir, you need a FSM ~ it's all going to have to be disconnected to take that dash out ~ including the steering column, the air ducts, heat controls
 
Wiring can remain. Disconnect at bulkhead connecter, left kick pad and right. Disconnect heater cables and wires at the box. Speaker wires. Bolts= 6/7 along top by glass, two large bolts bottom of dash in kick pad area, couple more in column support. Should rotate out supported by bottom bolts.
 
Have a helper. And don’t be In a hurry. Wiring comes out with the dash so disconnect everything from the car to the dash. Remove steering column. Removing any studs that the column mounts to will greatly help you.
 
Seats are already out and so is the rest of the interior, wipers are disconnected, and battery. So disconnect bulk head wiring, remove steering column then pull the dash.
 
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Put the dash back in so you don't have to remove the windshield. Put the sheet metal nuts in upside down, you may have to use shorter screws and put them in from the bottom.
 
It really depends on how many bells and whistles your car came with. There were subharnesses for light package, AC etc. that need to be disconnected in some locations. LABEL EVERYTHING YOU DISCONNECT AT BOTH PLUGS. There's a big disconnect in the drivers kickpanel that goes to the back of the car (lights, fuel gauge, etc) and maybe some others there if you have a back speaker or rear window defogger. and the dimmer switch plug is there. Look above that for the horn relay. You have to take the passenger side switch in the door jamb out. There are some ground wires to the body. Big disconnects to get the column out that attach to the dash (2). Plugs for emergency brake and brake lights (at the pedal). I know I've missed some. If you start to lift the dash out and it's still connected to stuff it's a real problem! Here is a well labelled 1970 dash harness, with none of the sub harnesses, but of course half of those connections can stay in place as they all come out with the dash.

connections can just be l
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As said before, check your service manual. That is what it is for. Don't have one or looking for easy answer ?
 
Thank you guys for all the advice and tips, I have a service manual that I’ll look though as well as your guys comments
 
There is a lot more than bulkhead wiring:
Heater Wires & cables
Defrost ducts
Dome lamp & jamb switches
Brake light switch
Radio antenna
Dimmer switch
Taillight wires
Speedo cable
Parking brake
Etc

Now with a race car many of these may be off already.
But for folks wanting to do this on a complete car there are many connections to consider.
 
^^But most of this unplugs fairly quickly^^ Biggest issue is likely parking cable or you can unbolt the entire brake assy from the dash, and speedo cable.
 
I wish you well on putting the clips on upside down then installing the dash. Yes it can be done. But you will hate yourself for listening to us. Do it correctly. It's not that bad.

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I want to repaint my dash. Sounds like I would be better painting it in place, rather than try to remove it??

I guess I could sand it down in place, but what a mess! either way, in or out
 
Remove it. Your making a big deal out of nothing. Hardest thing is the heater control cable. After that? Your golden.
 
yeah, take it out... I can't imagine taping around the bezels and having it turn out well. There's plenty to do, but you also would have the chance to check all the wiring, which is a common problem. Clean all the connections on both sides of the bulkhead connector and pack it with dielectric grease before you put it back together, it a weak link that never gets fixed until it burns up... sometimes along with the whole car.
 
Any ideas what it would cost to powder coat the dash after it is removed???

I am not looking for a quote, just a reasonable ballpark guesstimate
 
I wish you well on putting the clips on upside down then installing the dash. Yes it can be done. But you will hate yourself for listening to us. Do it correctly. It's not that bad.

I don't know where this nonsense is coming from. I'm officially an old man. I was about 69 when I re-installed my dash--from inside the car. No problem. One reason I did it is I was thinking about a custom dash built on the "different" Valiant style cluster which is easier to deal with, or maybe even accidently scored a Ralley dash/ cluster.

"Correctly?" The "correctly" way was done by the factory for ASSEMBLY LINE EXPEDIENCE. With no windscreen in the car, they just tossed it in, threw some screws in through the windshield, and zipped them down.
 
I was about 69 when I re-installed my dash

67Dart273, I sure would like to have the option of major dash surgery without removing the windshield down the road. Did you have to cut down or alter the factory screws? The nut clips then go on the dash frame, and get covered with the windshield gasket, correct? Does it look any different once you are done?
 
I just used some slightly shorter screws. They were difficult to start because everything was "loose and not compressed" so I used some factory length screws to get things started and cinch it down a bit, then pulled them out and put in the shorter ones. I don't remember I'm guessing the final screws were ?1/2"? long. The screws impinge into the gasket slightly, but not much.

Redfish (member here) is the expert on this deal, he is the one got me interested

On my 67 I did not have to destroy anything because the windshield leaked. So I pulled the glass, removed the dash screws, then had the windshield gasket replaced. Later I re-installed the clips upside down and re-installed the dash.

I had the dash powder coated, but unfortunately it developed a large "rust gash" which so far as I know must have been from damage under the powder coat. It has sat now for several years, so at some point I'll have to do it all over to fix the dash
 
Any ideas what it would cost to powder coat the dash after it is removed???

I am not looking for a quote, just a reasonable ballpark guesstimate

Absent a bunch of reconstruction / repair work, factory dash frames are usually around $150.
 
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