Are there any repairs that require the dash pad removed?

[robroy]

Hi Folks!

I'm thinking of installing a dash pad in #50 since we can still buy them for a semi reasonable price. I think it'll make the interior look a little newer/nicer and could make it slightly safer.

Are there any repairs that require the dash pad removed? I don't want to unknowingly bury something that I'll be wanting to get to a short ways down the road.

Thanks!
-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

only think I can think of is maybe the heater vents and speaker. Dash pad is pretty straight foward and I think more stuff is in the way of installing/removing it, then the other way around.

[Ranchero50]

Windshield...

[fordman]

it would be nice to have the dash pad out to install a window i would think. but i don't know if its required. the only thing i can think of is to paint the inside of the cab or the dash. but it can be taped off during that process if it would be done later. so basically no nothing is in the way to put the dash pad on now. everything canbe gotten to with the dash pad installed. i think that will be one of the last things i put on my truck though. becuase it is so expensive and tender.

[robroy]

Hi Bill, Jamie and Fordman, thanks for the replies!

Bill, I see your point about more stuff being in its way than the other way around; that makes sense.

Jamie, is it really more difficult to replace the windshield with the dash pad installed? Since I've never replaced a windshield before I'm clueless about how this works, but I was under the impression that it installed from the outside. What's the whole story here?

Fordman, I know what you mean about not being able to paint or do other restoration work with the pad in place, so I'll only install the pad if I plan on keeping the cab as-is for a while. And I suppose it is delicate! Expensive? It's all relative I guess, but it doesn't seem too bad ($380 from Dennis Carpenter) compared to other cars. Dashboards for my project 1972 Datsun 240z are $800 or more, but I suppose they're more complicated.

Thanks!
-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

The dash pad is not that fragil imo. I don't know if you have removed yours to know what I am talking about, but the pad is supported and pretty stiff. I have removed mine a couple times with realtive ease and no extra damge. But the last time I took it out (during restore teardown), it somehow got stuck to the metal part of dash and I damaged it badly getting it unstuck. I didn't care it was trashed anyway and I need a new one. My advice with that when/if you get your new one, prep the metal part of dash to make sure it dosen't get glued or stick to it. So if you do have to take it off later, just loosen the bolts and easy out it goes.

[robroy]

Hey Bill! How do you think the metal dash should be prepped? You mean just cleaned up so it doesn't have anything potentially sticky on it? Or prepared in some other fancy way?

That's a good idea I think.

Thanks!
-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

sorry, yes make sure everything is clean on the dash so it won't stick. I guess the most important part to prep would be making sure the bottom of the dash pad is free of anything that may melt and stick to the dash in the hot sun. Perhaps you could put some sort of stripping as a spacer between the two to prevent contact and insure they don't stick together.

I haven't done this my self yet, these are just some ideas. If anyone else has some ideas, please chime in. I just know that mine had some how become super stuck the last time I took it off and that made it impossible to remove without damaging it.

[robroy]

Hey Bill, I see what you mean! And that sounds like a very smart idea that I would have never thought of.

Now that you mention it, I remember when I removed the factory dash ten years ago, I basically had to chisel it off like a dentist working on dinosaur teeth.

Maybe a couple sheets of wax paper under there? It wouldn't necessarily have to cover 100% of the surface area I don't think. Even 80% could make it dramatically easier to remove later.

Thanks Bill!
-Robroy

[MadMaxetc]

you could cut few strips of wax paper that would fit under there and then nothing would sick.

[Joe Kriston]

Wax paper wouldn't cause it to make weird crackling noises when you hit a bump, would it?...I'm going to be putting my replacement on one of these days (or years) and I figure it'll only come off again when it cracks like my old one, and I won't care if I ruin it taking it off...