dash pad removal

[farmtruckman]

How hard is it to remove the dash pad? Any difference between a 67 and a 72?

[FORDification]

You'll find it much easier to do gain access to the speednuts holding the dashpad to the dash if you first remove the instrument panel, ashtray radio and glovebox insert. There are small studs embedded into the bottom of the dashpad that extend through holes drilled in the dash, and then held onto the dash with speednuts. There are 13 of them total IIRC...most aren't very tight, just snug. In the front, there is a speednut located at the far left corner, one above the ashtray, another above the radio, another above the glovebox, and one more on the very end on the right. In the back there should be 8 more to remove.

Once the speednuts are removed, you can remove the pad. However, it's very likely it'll be slightly stuck to the dash, so don't just start tugging on it or you'll risk pulling the studs out of the pad. Starting from the front of the pad, slowly work the edge up until it's loose all the way across. If you have trouble getting it loosened up, double-check to make sure you have ALL the speednuts removed.

All '67-'72 dashpads are identical.

[xxxtina63]

As long as you have all of the nuts removed, it should be easy.

[71 LONG BED]

If removing the radio sounds like to much work, you can shimmy your fingers in there and work the nut loose. I didn't remove my radio.

[wildcard]

If you're trying to keep from scratching the paint underneath, it helps to have extra hands.

Trust me on that.

[67merc]

I got some rags up under the edges too. I was worried my "helper" would yank the thing and scratch my shinny "new" paint underneath.

[19FORD67]

I just pulled mine out a couple days ago and it shore is purty. Mine had
a couple of those anchors along the front edge also.

[ezernut9mm]

there are 14 nuts. removal is pretty straigh forward, but like was said earlier, i will probably be stuck to the dash. mine was up towards the windshield and in the corners by the doors.

[jor]

Here's what it looks like under there.
jor

[69F110]

Jor,

I take it you have yours apart right now...or do you kepe the references handy?

Either way...good photos...answers the question for me.

[Big D's 69]

I just removed mine and it was slightly stuck. I just pushed on teh studs and kept pressure on teh dash pad to keep from stretching the pad where the studs were located underneath. Lots of big holes to look at under there.

[Supermike]

However, it's very likely it'll be slightly stuck to the dash, so don't just start tugging on it or you'll risk pulling the studs out of the pad.

This might be a silly question, but why would it matter if the studs pulled from the pad? That is, assuming you are permanently removing and/or replacing the old cracked up pad with a new one?

Just curious...

[ExplorerNC]

What I learned while removing mine, was just when you think you have all the nuts off, there will be at least one you missed!

[Supermike]

Iceman... that makes sense... which is why I said it was a silly question. I wasn't thinking of removing one to preserve and install it in another truck. You would have thought I would have, considering I need one...