Gettin' that rallye bezel off....

[cudacharlie]

Arrgh.  Okay, so does one have to drop the steering column to really get the rallye dash woodgrain bezels out?  Not just peeling off the thin aluminum plate with the woodgrain, but removing the whole plastic piece it mounts to to get at (and remove) the clear plastic lens behind?

Where the bezel curves towards the back of the car, on it's right side, it seems to hook under the dashcap itself.  My dashcap may have been reskinned and have bigger 'flanges' on the edges than usual, but I'm short by like an inch.

Anything to look out for before dropping the column to make more room to work?  Two bolts hold the column up, but what else do I need to loosen or remove?  Those bolts where the column enters the firewall?  Anything else?

Got the radio out anyway...

[MEK-Dangerfield]

The light bar has to be removed first, but I assume you have done that. The switch panel comes out before the gauges. This will allow you to kind of slide the gauge bezel to the left. You are right, they do get hung up on the right end. It takes some manuevering. 

   Mike

[cudacharlie]

Yeah, I had the light bar off already... but I still want to drop the column, so I have room to put the fresh bezel in without scraping.  How do I drop the column without damaging anything?

Do I have to mess with the bolts at the column/firewall connection?

Is it possible that dropping the column will screw up anything in the steering, like the u-joint or firewall gaskets?

Don't wanna break it... Thanks!

[MEK-Dangerfield]

You had it right. There are just 2 bolts underneath that hold it up. You'll need a deep-set socket to get the nuts off. The column will drop a couple of inches at that point.


  Mike

[cudacharlie]

Kewl!  Thanks, Mike.... a late night wrestling with the dash ahead...

[hemi71]

I always put a towel or rag on the top of the column to prevent scratching it.