Time To pull out the Dash...

[JayBee]

I did mine like Mike did (frame stayed in) just last November. It wasn't that hard, 11 speed nuts and the 2 outer screw. I did find it easier to remove my bucket seats(they need new backs anyway) so I could contort under the dash and get at all the nuts.

[gkring]

Just make sure you take your Vin tag off the dash before you send it, they will not refit this for you.  So you will have to get some rosette rivets aswell.

I heard somewhere to drill or cut the rivets out from the backside, then just glue the plate and rivets back in place on the new dash. Saves you from having to buy "correct" rivets. I wish I had heard or thought of that before taking mine out. Aren't the correct style rivets pretty expensive?

Also-take the whole dash out, it's not that bad.

[Topcat]

This is just personal preferance but I feel it makes sense.

When you put the new one back on...the mounting dash to frame. Leave the one's in the middle not as tight. Let the dash have some flex in the middle so that it can expand and contract to heat and cold.

Many years ago I cinched a nice down all around and it didn't take long for it to crack.

[HemiOrange70]

I drilled my VIN tag rivets out from the bottom and I am going to use them again, but I will have to glue them in. You can buy two factory rivets for 35 for a pair of use regular rivets and grind the sides flat

[gkring]

Having just spent the weekend putting one in I double vote for taking the whole asembly out. You will need to do much trimming and "adjusting" on the pad to get it to fit nice. Much easier to do that outside the car on a bench than trying to test fit in the car.

[472 R/T SE]

Having just spent the weekend putting one in I double vote for taking the whole asembly out. You will need to do much trimming and "adjusting" on the pad to get it to fit nice. Much easier to do that outside the car on a bench than trying to test fit in the car.

Just ordered mine from Nick Sunday.  Did you have to yank the windshield?

[gkring]

Nah, swivel, long extension, and a 7/16 deep 1/4 drive socket was pefect for getting to the bolts in the defroster vents. I really see no reason to pull the windshield. Stuff some rags in the defroster vents before trying to put those bolts back in, however. Don't want to drop one down the defroster vents.

[buzzard]

 I've done them both ways. I would only do it again, taking the dash out. Use a loooong philips on the vent screws [Snap-On]  Caver the L-R sides where the pivot bolts are so you don't scratch the paint taking it out. Build a 2 by 4 stand to hold it from the pivot points to work on. It works well and gravity is on your side. Good luck