I want to remove my dash. Should I remove the metal substructure or not? Which is easier? Do I need to pull the windshield to do either?

 

no you don't have to remove the windsheld.
just take of ALL plastic parts around the dash, like ceter concole, instument pannel, metal window dimister strip along the window etc
then if u look from under you will see a fair few gold nuts. undo them all as well as all the bolts along the winshield and it should come out.

 

No windshield removal neccessary..

You can pul the dash either way... Depends on how much work you have to do to it...

I got a lot experience with the 79-83 dashes. Only pulled one 84-85 one off and i did it entire dash structure (which I think is the only way?)

On the 79-83, to remove all of it at once , you need to remove steering wheel, cluster etc, remove 2 10mm bolts at each end of the dash, 3 across the top by the windshield, and 2 down by the console... Theres a couple of big harnesses you have to disconnect. and I think Im missing a few small things like the AC drain hose and ****.. But anyways, I think its about the same amount of work either way.

 

Yeah, most the the dash structure comes out when you pull an 84-85... And the screws in the front are a pain in the ***.

 

Yeah the 4 5/16 (9mm?) nuts under the glove box and the behind the cluster are a BITCH Thats if you pull only the dash..

 

You need a right angle skewdriver, fits on the end of my cordless 18v drill and its a BREEZE

 

I realized, I shoulda said this before because most of us don't check profiles for this sort of thing... (I usually forget that it's there.)

It's a 1985.

 

It'll all come out in one piece. I just did it on my '85 a few weeks ago. Might want to cover or remove the parking brake handle if possible, I chewed mine up a little bit while wrestling with the dash and it's hard not too. Having the seats out would of made life easier as well. There are tons of screws and to keep track of them all and where they went I'd remove a part, then wrap the screws for that part in masking tape and label the tape so I know where those screws go. There are three bolts underneath the plastic windshield vents, two bolts on either side near the door jam, two bolts on either side of the metal bracket behind the stereo, two bolts holding the steering column to the dash structure (fairly long) and the two screws that attach the dash structure to the center console (beneath the power window switches), and thats only the screws that secure the dash into the car. Good luck.

 

yeah just remove steering wheel , the bolts across the top and the sides, the 2 by the console and theres a few harnesses that have to go. Youll see when you get there

 

i know this thread is old, but i just want to say thank you for it it just saved my ****

 

You searched Awesome

 

new to this site, but I know from my years on places like pirate4x4.com and coloradok5.com that the fastest way to **** the senior memebers off is to not use the search button.

LOTS of info i have already used. But that thread in paticular saved me and my friends *****

Just wanted to say thanks

 

You would've really liked this Link even more

 

damn!

that would have been a bit better with the pics. We used some different approaches to a few of those areas. Its a race car in training, so old parts not in resellable condition are removed any way possible.

We had the biggest problem with the screws at the dash/windshild area. took us about an hour before we tired to sqeeze a ratchet in there. We didn't have a swival socket, but a 1/4 ratchet did work.