Okay, I've pulled the automatic transmission, and I'm now at a bit of an impasse... I can't get the automatic shifter out. It's welded to the insulation plate cover and this apparently can't be removed without lifting the dashboard up.

I've pulled an 81-83 style dash and it wasn't too tough, but the 84-85 style seems a lot harder. I've removed the four 10mm bolts on the sides and the three on the radio-console center bit, but the dash doesn't budge much. I need to find the others so I can lift it a few inches to get this thing off.

If they're behind the instrument cluster... just how the heck do you get this thing out? There's a metal plate that is screwed down behind the cluster that keeps it from sliding out.

I haven't located a shifter-insulation cover [the metal thing with five bolts through it] for the manual trans yet.. can this thing be put in and out without tilting the dash?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

BTW, I've pulled about as much of the interior apart as I dare.

If the end of the tunnel is not in sight, I'm going to cut the damn thing in half with a dremel... IF i can get the 5-speed equivilent in without lifting the dash. Anyway, any help is still appreciated!

 

Check your PM buddy.

 

Thanks! So the cover for the standard insulation should slide in without any trouble? I really don't want to break my dash

I think I'm going to end up cutting the plate in half [or something close to half] and taking it out in peices.

 

Got about half of it cut and ruined my dremel's grinding wheel. My last wheel. So it'll have to be tomorrow before I can get back to this one. I'm nursing a miserable cold so the rest will do me good.

 

Also, man, don't these things remind you of your last dental work? My teeth were hurting the whole time!

 

Did you remove the two bolts under the center console?? There are also two bolts on bolth the left
and right side of the dash and under the defoger grill inserts if that helps you any.

 

geeze I should have thought of a dremel. After three hours of frustration, I just ripped the ****** out, and broke part of my dash doing it. Now my trim piece keeps poping out... Oh well.

 

Ah, cut it in half and pulled it right out. It's a shame, as I hate to destroy useful parts and I would think that this shifter could be used with another auto-tranny... like maybe for something like a v8 swap. Oh well, they can't be that rare; Autozone says something like 18% of the '85s came with auto-trannys. Shame

 

Hey, anybody want an '85 automatic transmission, flexplate, torque converter, driveshaft, etc? 89k miles. If you come get it, it's yours for $75

 

What have you done to my poor car Bouis?
I should have kept that car, my girlfreind could drive it when I had too much to drink. lol
It'll be worth another 500 now though.
Keep those miles down.
good luck.