removeing the dash pad

[bigblock4speedman]

I need a little help with memory again, to remove the Challenger dash pad, do you have to unbolt the steering column and take the whole dash out, then take the dash pad off?  I have unbolted the dash pad, but it's still hanging in there, there may be some more small bolts in the center that I can't get to without takeing the whole dash out, can't remember.  It's an a/c dash if that makes a differance.  I haven't taken a dash out in years, but I know the dash pad and lower dash come apart.  I just need to know the easiest, best way to do this.  Does anyone know where to get a molded dash cover to make it look good again, and how good do these dash covers look?

Thanks
Jeff

[MEK-Dangerfield]

It's been a couple of years, but here is my agonizing tale. There should be a screw outside on each end. Remove the glove box liner, ash tray assembly, and gauges. You might have to lower the steering column to get the gauges out. When you look inside, it should be pretty obvious where the speed nuts are(3/8th inch in size). The only one I couldn't get to, was the one right smack dab in the middle of the defroster ducts. I just lifted up on each end of the dashpad, did the twist while I pulled... and I eventually ended up in the back seat with the dashpad in my hands. Oh to have had a camera!!  The dash covers they make now can be had for less than $100, they don't look bad, but they feel like hard plastic.

  Mike

[Alaskan_TA]

There is lots of great info in this thread;

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=17658.0

Best of luck!
Barry

[bigblock4speedman]

Thanks yall, well it must be the nut that threw mike into the back seat that's still holding mine in.  One thing I want to do is clean and paint the underside of the cowel. Can this be done if I just pull the dashpad?  Since I am going to do this, would it be better to go ahead and take out the whole dash?  I saw in the diagram posted by Alaskan TA, there looks like some metel that would be in the way for doing that if I left the lower part of the dash in, can't remember.  How much does it usually cost to get the dashpad redone?  How long does it usually take to send it and get it back?

Thanks
Jeff