I have done this a bunch of times but never thought to write it up, when I was looking around to find out whether carpet should/could be done without pulling the dash I came across lots of information but non REALLY explaing to someone how to do this or how to change the carpet for that matter. Also what you would be looking for when doing either of these things wasn't covered either, hopefully this can get stickied so it can stay for anyone needing/wanting this info.

Purely speaking here is the things that need to be removed for you to get the dash out, and in actuality I highly recommend taking the dash off to clean/dynamat/install audio stuff whatever you want really, because while the dash is off its very easy to get to anything you might want. ONE CAVEAT, if your car is a SUN BEATER meaning it sits in the sun all the time, no matter what anyone tells you DO NOT DO THIS, the literal mass of broken **** you will end up with will make you scratch your head and wonder if your dash can stay in the car again, its just ridiculous. Here is a small list of the for sure going to breaks this doesnt include the most likely gonna breaks:
Defrost long vents up top, Demist vents corners, main upper dash tabs, radio plastic to u bend metal connections, two lower main instrument cover connections, and so on.

Ok this thread is going to cover the dash removal/installation and I will throw up another thread about the carpet itself.


1. Remove the defrost vents
2. Remove the single 8mm screw in the middle of this long metal
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4885
3. Pull or Wedge up the long crescent metal guard for the defroster vents and take this out of the car.
4. Remove the side two vent covers and side panels covering them two screws here under the panels
5. Remove the console cover, shifter cover, a/c vents
6. Remove the Radio and anything else e/q etc
7. Remove the Gear Shifter itself and the surrounding things, I suggest putting a piece of tape on top of the gear shift/trans hole just to be safe.
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4891
8. Remove the Steering wheel ( you can do this without doing this part if you want but you WILL scratch your steering wheel, you were warned.
9. Remove the instrument panel cluster surround and the instrument cluster ( speedo cable and two plugs from behind, once you have the speedo cable you can see the two plugs )
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4888
10. Remove the glove box door and glove box
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4889
11. Remove the Idiot surround and Idiot light box
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4886
12. Remove the lower two foot heater push vent plastics one connects to the back side of the dash on the passenger side one is phillipsed to the steering column.

Ready ?

1. Remove the two bolts 12mm holding the steering column from the dash
2. Remove 4 10mm bolts 2 on each side holding the side of the dash to the car
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4884
3. Remove 3 spaced bolts 8mm on top of the dash (Keep these safe they are specific to this area!!!!)
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4887
4. Remove 4 14mm bolts 2 on each side of the radio console area, behind two phillips held plastic covers
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4604
You now have 13 bolts, the dash won't fall but lift slow and toward you just a little then pause.

Unplug the passenger behind the glove box long white plug
Unplug the Logicon white plug by the Windshield
Unplug the Green and Blue plugs by the drivers a/c vent
https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?al...pictureid=4890

Pull carefully while lifting and you got it, it can be lifted easily by one person.


As a side note I suggest having the seats out of the car if you care about them whatsoever, I have done it with and without them in the way, doesn't matter if your seats are poo.

Installing it is the reverse obviously just go slow and don't over torque lining up the bolts at the top and sides before you do the radio bolts, line it up slightly, tighten a little, line it up, line it up then tighten the rest of the way.


Final note, In viewing others notes someone said we should see how fast we could do this, I Had my seats out and nothing else, with a dewalt 14.4 a single pry bar a small phillips and 8,10,12,14 sockets 1/4 drive it took me 27 minutes this time and I wasnt really hurrying per se. It seems like a daunting job but it isn't really don't be afraid to get in there and do it!!!



C

 

wow, thank you! i've read other instructions and i never understood what they ment by "3 front screws". the pic helped alot!

 

You got it

 

im going to change out my carpet and I shudder to think what would happen if I remove the dash- think im going to leave it alone!

 

I would not suggest attempting to replace carpet without removing the dash honestly, but if you think the dash is super dry'ed out cracked I guess do without but your carpet will never be right, I can assure you of that.

 

What do the top three screws that go into the dash look like? I seem to have mixed up all of the screws since I removed my dash and I don't have three that stand out from the others.

 

Top 3 screws are just black phillips short to medium length its a stock type mazda screw.

 

Im about to pull my dash and re-do my wiring. This helped A LOT more than that stupid Haynes manual..

BUMP!

 

Thanks