What ORDER do you put Dash back together ?

[69CHARGERMD]

Sorry if this is a dumb question....
i am restoring the dash in my 70 challenger.
I bought a new dash pad,,,new wiring harness,,,,,
I restored the cluster,,,,,,

What order do you guys reassemble it ??

Do you mount the cluster into the frame first ?

Can the dash pad go on last ??

Can i put the wiring in,,,with the dash pad off ??

thanks for any comments,,,,

[anlauto]

Pad first

[Topcat]

There's a mutitude of ways to go about this. do pre test fits of the dash onto frame that all the studs line up.


I actually took my pad off and put it back on with everything assembled to add a cross over harness and outer speakers last year so it can be done.

All the acorn sheetmetal nuts that are used to attach the dash pad onto the frame are easily accessable if the complete dash pad assembly is off the car.

Paint the dash first.
All connecting point areas need to be bare metal so you have good grounds
Rallye cluster and switch panel
harness all connected and arranged.
Radio
lower bezels
Last things are ash tray inner frame and glove box

[burdar]

I think the radio interferes with installing the right lower dash trim.  I'd install that right after the pad.

Pad(reassemble with the assembly upside down on a bench)
speaker(not the plastic grill)
right hand lower dash trim
harness(get all the wires running to where they need to go
gauges
radio/heater controls
gauge bezels/switch panel
light bar
ash tray
left hand lower dash trim
flip the assembly right side up
attach and adjust glove box door/install liner
finally, attach plastic speaker grill

[69CHARGERMD]

THANK YOU GUYS !!!

Very helpful...... dash is out of the car at the moment,,,so easier to work on,,,,, I just wanted to do it the right way the first time.....

[PlumCrazyChris]

Put the whole thing completely together on the bench including stereo, speakers, wiring harness, that will save you a ton of grief, then put just a few bolts to put it in the car, with the windshield removed.