How to remove dash pad?

[shoooter]

What's the best way to remove a dash pad on a 71 cuda? Do you have to remove the gauges with the dash or can it stay in the car?

[burdar]

You can remove the pad with the dash frame in the car but your better off removing the entire assembly. Remove the kick panels. Disconnect the bulkhead connectors, steering column wires, blower motor wires and door jam switch wires.  Drop the steering column down and removed the two studs.  Remove the four bolts at the base of the windshield.  The only thing holding the dash assembly in the car is a bolt on either side, behind where the kick panel were.

This seems like a lot of work but it isn't.  You can set the assembly upside down on a bench and get to all the dash pad nuts. You will have to remove the light bar to get to a few of them.  Doing it this way will save you a lot of time.  It can be done in the car but it will take you a lot more time.  If you are installing an aftermarket pad, it will need some trimming.  It would be easier to do on a bench.

[blown motor]

Darren, roughly how long would it take two guys to remove dash, replace pad and re-install?

[anlauto]

Takes me about 20 mins to remove a dash assembly...however I've done it about 25-30 times

[67vertman]

Stole this from somebody.......sorry I don't remember who.

1)Open Hood
2)Remove four plugged wire harnesses from bulk head
3)Remove two nuts holding bulkhead in place
4)Open doors
5)Remove A piller trim and associated trim
6)Remove Kick Panels and associated trim
7)Unplug both door jamb light switches
8)Unplug E Brake warning wire
9)Unplug tail light harness
10)Unplug dimmer Switch
11)Reach up and unplug heater box
12)Unplug console light
13)Disconnect antenna
14)At the heater control, disconnect both heater cables
15)Unplug both steering coloumn harnesses
16)Unplug brake pedal switch, both wires
17)Undo both vent cables and let them hang
18)Remove 3 steering column bolts at firewall
19)Remove to nuts on steering column at the dash
20)Lower column and allow to hang
21)Remove 4 bolts at windshield using a 1/4 drive flex
22)Remove 2 bolts at door pillars
23)Prepare for a heavy dash to fall on your lap
24)Yell to wife for help
25) Have a cold beer, you're done

See 25 easy steps....It sounds like a lot, but with the dash assembly out and on the bench you can do a hundred things that you can't easily do in the car....Most important: INSPECT ALL THE WIRING 

[shoooter]

Thanks guys. I didn't see anything about removong the gauges so they must stay in. I will try and pull it theses days off

[shoooter]

Thanks! I got the dash out today. I imagine putting it back in will be harder haha

[RzeroB]

I have never attempted to remove the entire dash assembly before. For some reason I always thought that since the factory installed it before the windshield was put in that the windshield had to be taken out to remove it. I haven't seen any mention of removing the windshiled so can I assume that it's not required and just an "urban legend"??

[anlauto]

The windshield stays in place on an E Body. Not the case on most B & A bodies.

[RzeroB]

Thanks! Now I know. What's the rule of thumb on the A-bodies? With the high cost of E-bodies I'm now considering a possible '67-'69 Barracuda fastback as an alternative. Does the windshield have to come out to get the dash out on them??

[anlauto]

YES

[shoooter]

It was very easy for me as my windows are out of the car right now.