Author Topic: Dash Question - Fairly Urgent  (Read 4130 times)

Offline 69ChargerRT

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Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« on: January 24, 2003 - 12:20:22 PM »
ok im at a crossroad here.  i found a challenger that is a possibility.  unfortunately it needs work in the one area we dont want to deal with and thats the dash.  i know many of you have been down this road before though.  it has some minor cracking in the dash.  so whats the deal to fix this?  if i wanted to get a Just Dashes replacement, how hard to pull it out and fix myself?  worth doing or should i hold out for a car with a better dash?




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2003 - 03:17:06 PM »
the dashes can be repaired & will look fine , no idea how long the repair lasts though , the Just dsashes is a great way to go JUST make SURE you remove the serial # tag BEFORE you send it away they do not return the tag , not Cheap though !!

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Offline camjam

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2003 - 03:23:49 PM »
I was lucky with my dash. There was one crack in the vinyl surface. I had it repaired locally by a vinyil repiar guy.
Taking the dash out can be a little frustrating. There are about 10 nuts that have to be removed. They are all accessible with a bit of contortion from under the dash.
71 Challenger R/T 383 4spd - 1 of 10 known to have been built for canada - restored
70 Charger R/T SE 440 auto - restored


Offline Rev-It-Up

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2003 - 03:38:14 PM »
I checked Just Dashes website, www.justdashes.com but they don't give out prices there.  There # is 1-800-247-3274.  We took our dash out just fine.  It was a little back braking, but your young...you can handle it!
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Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2003 - 04:28:04 PM »
 ;D From what I've seen, the going rate for a new dash is around $750-$800. There are the dash-caps out there that can be had for less than $100 and don't look too bad. I recently went down this road and it's no day at the beach to take one out. I was lucky in that I had my new dash to look at so I knew where all the nuts were. I could get to them all but the one right between the defroster ducts. I couldn't see it or get my hand back there. I just grabbed each end of the dash, lifted up, pulled, twisted, cursed, and BAM... out it came. Obviously that was the one nut I left off when I put the new one on. I don't know if any of those patch kits work or how they look. Good luck.

  Mike

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Offline rchurch

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2003 - 04:34:40 PM »
I have asked this question to many people (not online) and most said that the windshield must be removed to pull the dash.... NOT TRUE according to my friend's dad (the one with the 72 factory sunroof Cuda). He said that he and his brother removed a few dashes in their various e-body restos over the years, and while it is easier if the windshield is out, it is not necessary, I know this does not answer your question, but I thought it was pertinent to this discussion. Since I am in the same boat with my dash, let me know the cheapest place you find. The cheapest I've seen stateside is $425.00 to have it completely redone. However a different friend's boss (from Austrailia has a resto shop here) says there is a place in Austraila that does it for the equivelent of about $350.00 US (the kicker is shipping, which I have no idea how much that would be) I haven't looked to seriously yet, I'm doing other projects on mine right now.

Offline stwheels

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2003 - 05:06:47 PM »
I am assuming you don't have a service manual for your year and model of Challenger .

They are worth every penny and are available from many automotive liturature dealers and you can even buy reprints as the originals are quite expensive . E-bay is another place they show up from time to time .

You will find all the exploded veiw illustrations you need to locate all the hidden studs , nuts , screws ...etc . Unfortunately as I don't have an E-body at this time , I lent my manual out to a friend . I'm sure someone out there can scan and post the illustration for the dash  from their manual .

The best tool I've found for removing the hidden nuts from under the dash is a really cheap ratchet with a flexible cable / shaft that is stiff enough to make it go where you want it yet manouver around obstacles . I got it for Christmas a few years ago ( you know , one of those , draw a name from a hat deals where you don't spend more than $10.00 ) It has a ball shaped handle that ratchets and the shaft is about 12 inches long .

Just Dashes is the way to go , it's not cheap but the dash is guaranteed for life and they look awesome . If you have a 1970 Challenger you know about the "one year only" stitching they had . Well Just Dashes has duplicated it perfectly .

Your other option is to install one of those dash caps . It will do the job , but it's just a temporary fix that doesn't look right when you compare it to the rest of a nice interior . But it all comes down to personal choice and finances .

As Chryco said , make sure you remove your dash VIN before you send your core to Just Dashes . Put it in a safe place and then reinstall it on the restored dash pad .

 From time to time you can find the original style pop rivets for sale but I've always just drilled out the original rivets from the back side of the dash pad . Now just drill the center of the rivet enough so you can squeeze the flared portion of the rivet tight enough to pull it up through the dash pad and VIN plate . When I reinstall the original rivets , I force them back through the VIN plate and dash pad , then by carefully backing the exposed ( top of dash ) portion of the rivet head with a peice of wood , I flare out the backside of the rivet on the under side of the pad . For extra strength I put a blob of 5 minute epoxy on also .

It's all under the dash where you can't see it so neatness isn't as important as if it was exposed .

I hope that helped , Good Luck and if your serious about working on your vehicles get a proper Chrysler / Dodge or Plymouth SERVICE MANUAL .

Have a Great MOPAR Day , Doug

Offline camjam

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2003 - 07:55:32 PM »
I scanned in the page for the instrument dash pad from the 70 service manual. I think I am going blind I can't see any indication as to where the nuts are at the back of the dash.
The 71 service manual doesn't show a picture of the dash pad.


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« Last Edit: January 24, 2003 - 08:06:50 PM by camjam »
71 Challenger R/T 383 4spd - 1 of 10 known to have been built for canada - restored
70 Charger R/T SE 440 auto - restored


Offline 69ChargerRT

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2003 - 08:04:23 PM »
email me any files you have.  ill take a look at them
rolney@dslextreme.com

Offline camjam

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2003 - 08:16:01 PM »
Well in the exploded view that I was able to download you can see where the attachement points should be. I guess back then they had better eyesight.
71 Challenger R/T 383 4spd - 1 of 10 known to have been built for canada - restored
70 Charger R/T SE 440 auto - restored


Offline js27

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Re:Dash Question - Fairly Urgent
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2003 - 09:26:01 PM »
It's no ride in the park but it's not that bad either. You should be able to do it in one afternoon. I have changed out 4 of them so far. The best way is to remove the glove box liner,radio,heater box,and instrument panel. You could try to work around them but in the long run you will end up taking them out anyway.
Good Luck,
JS27

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