Replacing Dash

[60K T/A]

What is involved to replace the dash pad? Does the whole dash board need to come out?

[shawge]

http://www.justdashes.com/2011/08/instructions-1970-74-mopar-e-body-dash-pad-removal-and-replacement/

I can be done. I found it much easier with the entire frame out of the car.

[anlauto]

Do you like your knuckles ?

About 80% of the dash needs to come apart to get at the attaching hardware for the pad. You will save yourself a lot of headaches and skinned knuckles if you take it out as a unit and restore it on a bench

[1 Wild R/T]

When I was younger I changed 3 or 4 from under the dash.... The thought of pulling the whole dash was scary.... Then I wound up pulling my first dash... Wouldn't do it the old way again if I could... And I can't between being considerably larger than I was as a teenager & considerably less flexible....  Pull the whole thing, it's surprisingly easy.... 

[60K T/A]

Thanks for the link shawge. How many hours to remove it?

[HP_Cuda]

Another sad fact is once you are done redoing your dash you will have to pull the windshield to put her back in.

Otherwise you will have the most amazing tiny flexible tools to mount a couple of dash screws near the middle vent.

[1 Wild R/T]

Another sad fact is once you are done redoing your dash you will have to pull the windshield to put her back in.

Otherwise you will have the most amazing tiny flexible tools to mount a couple of dash screws near the middle vent.

The center bolts are easy with the windshield in.... If you don't own 1/4" drive flex sockets nows a good reason to buy them.... I use them allot.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GearWrench-7-Pc-SAE-6-Pt-Flex-Socket-Set-1-4-Drive-Low-80310D-/401122395950?hash=item5d64c2072e:g:Fq8AAOSwVcFXOzSb&item=401122395950&vxp=mtr

[crash340]

I took my dash pad off to take a dent out of it and put it back on in a good half day, I did have the heater box and glove box and passenger seat out which mad it easy, used a 1/4 flex drive, took the instruments out, pretty easy actually but your call

[60K T/A]

I fear messing with a 40 year old wiring harness the most. Some how you can agrivate those little gremlins and have intermittant electric issues.

[CudamanTom]

I took mine out a couple years ago to replace the dash pad and also go through everything else while it was out.
It was my first time and was pretty simple. And it takes an hour or so (at least from what I remember) to locate and remove/disconnect everything required to pull the dash.
So if my memory serves me right...
Remove everything you can first. Glove box, ash tray, lower trim, anything to make it lighter and easier to handle.
Disconnect wiring harnesses to the steering column and firewall. Disconnect climate control cables at the control bezel.
Remove 2 nuts to the steering column under the dash so it will lower some and relax.
There are 5 1/4 bolts (if I remember right) towards the front of the dash that mount to the body. Remove them.
Then one nut under the dash on each side (can't remember the size), one behind the glove box and one to the left of the climate control bezel. These two nuts just need to be loosened only, the dash rides on the studs and serves as a tilting point (at least from my experience). The dash assembly can be pulled up once everything is disconnected.
I'm sure I'm forgetting other little stuff.

Here is a few pics in a thread on my build. it doesn't go into full detail but gives an idea of the process.
And windshield stayed in the whole time.

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=97175.45

Hope that helps.

Tom

[67vertman]

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 pillar 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 column 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 

[1 Wild R/T]

I didn't read the whole post, but I did edit the 22nd step...

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 pillar 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 column 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)Do notRemove 2 bolts at door pillars Just loosen them so the dash can swivel out & be lifted as the holes are slotted....
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

[Katfish]

I guess I'm the exception, always just taken the dash off by itself.
Never had a problem.  I don't however, put all the nuts back on during reassembly.

[rUNCHARGER]

Ha, ha that's why restored cars quite often don't feel as solid as unrestored ones. May I add that use contact cleaner on all connections and dialectric grease before reconnecting them all. Inspect all wires and connectors and replace what's bad. It's a good chance to clean it all up after 45 years and save problems.

Sheldon

[dodj]

I guess I'm the exception, always just taken the dash off by itself.
Never had a problem. 

Me too.