I'm going to be taking out my dash tomorrow and need as much info as you can give me. From what I see in the manuals there are bolts on the side of the dash and one behind the windshield. Is that all that's hanging the dash to the car?

 

You need to remove the steering column plastic shell (both halves), as well as a couple of panels underneath the dash to gain access to the bolts (can't recall how many-- might've been four or five) that hold the lower portion of the dash. The upper portion is held in by clips; you have to pull it firmly straight back to disconnect them. Don't go too gorilla on it, though; remember that you've got all the wiring/plugs for the instrument panel behind there that you've got to disconnect.

I don't recall a bolt "behind the windshield" for the dash.

 

Kento, sounds like your talking about the guage cluster.

Removing the dash...

Take the center console out
Take shifter off
Remove the 3 bolts that hold the 3 brake handle to the body, rest on the floor
remove endcaps, 2 bolts are behind them on each side
remove the covers on either side of the center of the dash sides, 2 bolts hold the dash to the tunnel.

Remove steering column cover, remove the 2 bolts that hold the steering column to the dash, unplug the two connectors first!
remove the center bolt that holds the top of the dash to the firewall, right in between the defroster vents
Remove hood release cable from dash, leave on car

Pull the dash out a few inches, there are 3-4 big plugs that you should see. They are on both sides.

The stock stereo can stay in place, the antenna will need to be unpluged. Heater controls, glove box, and guage cluster can all stay on the dash

 

thanks jeff, more work than I expected. I'll let you know how it goes

 

Dont forget to remove the harness that plugs into the junction box(fuse box). I almost ripped the wires out of the plug last time.

 

Tangential question: Can intact defroster vents be removed from the dash when the dash and windshield are all in place?
I want to replace mine because the plastic vents are broken; I can remove mine, but don't know if that is because the plastic is broken or not.

(making the quiz tougher for turbojeff...)