Dash bezel removal

[Omaha Bill]

I want to replace the wood applique on my rallye dash bezel on my '70 Challenger RT. I have removed the thin nob for the clock so there is nothing else to hold bezel in place except that the rounded right corner is tucked behind the dash pad. Is there any other way to get this bezel out without removing dash pad? If pad has to come off, is it easier to take entire dash out and then remove pad?

Also, I can not find the horn relay under the dash. I know its suppose to be mounted on left side kick panel--- can it be anywhere else?  Thx - Omaha Bill

[burdar]

Welcome...

You have to take the light bar off to gain access to the bezel screws.  There are also screws on the under side right by the heater and radio bezels.  It would probably be best to remove the left side lower dash plastic trim piece as well.  It won't be easy but you should be able to work those plastic bezels out from behind the pad.

The woodgrain is glued to a metal backing plate.  There are little tabs punched into the backing plate that go through slotts in the plastic gauge bezel.  That's what holds the woodgrain on.  The plastic bezels have to be removed and the metal tabs bent back in order to remove the woodgrain.

If you get your new woodgrain from PG Classics or BE&A, you'll have to bend the corners since it comes flat.  I think BE&A's woodgrain comes with new metal backing plates.  PG Classics does not...you'll have to remove the original woodgrain from the backing and reuse it. 

PCG also sells woodgrain.  It's a lot more expensive but it comes prebent and ready to install. 

[Grec]

Do yourself a huge favor and drop your steering column as far as it will go. This makes getting the dash pieces out infinitely easier. (loosen 3 bolts at firewall and the two bolts that hold column to underside of dash)

Also, and this is more for when you remove this later after you refinish yours, put a piece of wide masking tape over the left edge of the main long piece. Ever notice that most rallye dashes have scratches here? It's because people scratch them up getting out the short right piece. (which you remove 1st before the big piece.)

[burdar]

I completely forgot about the column.  I did mine on a bench so it slipped my mind.  I don't think you'd be able to get it out with the column up inplace.

[Omaha Bill]

Guys, thanks for help on dash bezel. I had also asked about placement of horn relay. New question- replay is multi pronged --- does one plug plug into relay of a couple?
Thanks,
Omaha Bill

[burdar]

There's a relay at the base of the steering column.  There is another relay above the ash tray.  Then there are other relays on the extreme passengers side of the dash frame.  I'm sorry, I don't know what each separate relay is for.

[Grec]

Horn / key-in buzzer relay is definitely the one at the bottom of the steering column

[Chryco Psycho]

the horn relay / buzzer plugs into the fuse block