Re: tips for install! (archive)

Dashboard installation hints:
(It's been a while since I've done this. This is not a complete procedure- just some things I remember that I wish I'd known before I got started.)

1) Start in the morning, not the late afternoon.

2) If you believe in anti UV goop, now is the time to apply it to the new dash. Let it dry while you work on the old one.

3) If you buy a new dash, it may not come with the left, right, and steering column mounting brackets. These will be riveted to your old dashboard. You'll have to drill the rivets and pop-rivetool the brackets to the new dash. Invariably you won't have the right size rivets. Careful you don't drill a hole through your nice new dash as you're expanding the mounting holes to work with your available rivets. If you do, you could try filling it in with some black silicone. It's not great, but it's not bad.

4) Getting the old dash out is half the fun. Do this before you get started: remove the A-pillar covers. To do this, you need to drop the front part of the headliner, and to do that you need to remove the visors. You might want to open the sunroof so you can completely remove the front headliner.

5) I didn't remove the steering wheel, but it probably would've been easier if I had.

6) Remove the instrument cluster and OBC panel (after you disconnect the battery, which you do after you make sure you have your radio code and presets written down).

7) A lot of the ventilation ductwork is screwed to the dash. Don't try to remove it in place- just take it out with the dash. There are two clips, similar to the ones that hold the air filter box together, which hold the ventilation system together- One clip on each side of the center console, under the dash. Unclip 'em.

8) Unbolt the left, right, and steering column brackets.

9) There's a retainer at the base of the windshield. This retainer should just pop out.

10) Start grunting.

11) Hey- you can see your stereo wiring from here! Now you can route it correctly, fix all those burnt out bulbs, clean all that fast food residue from the ventilation system, remove dead rodents, etc.

12) Swap the ductwork, brackets, and little bits of rubber over to the new dash.

13) Installation is (ugh) the reverse of removal.

14) You may find it hard to get the A-piller trim between the brackets and the dash. I used a metal rod and a big heavy mallet to pound the brackets until the trim would fit.

Good luck!

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