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Thread: How do I remove the dash top?
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brad
Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
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posted February 05, 2003 06:24 PM |
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How do I remove the dash top?
How do I get the vynal padded dash top off? I removed the four screws on top of dash, four screws below dash top. Even removed two screws for the radio/ashtray panel. Tugged on the padded dash top and it won't come off. I can pry the metal dash in front of the vynal padded dash top, but not enough to budge it.
Help?
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-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge
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dhood
Hauling
Posts: 134
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posted February 05, 2003 08:10 PM |
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There are two more nuts, one at each end where the dash returns downward. There is a stud coming out from the dash pad, forward towards the windshield. Try seeing them through the windshield in that very dark little space. There must be a special tool because its almost a 180 degree turn to get them from either under the dash or from the topside. The flexible driveshafts don't work for me. There is a little bit of stubborness too, after all the dash has been cooking under the windshield for 25 plus years. Maybe you can figure out a better way to get to them and let us know. I've always removed the windshield, a real pain. I have a new dash and would like to install but these two nuts are stopping me too. -dan
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nwaco
Redlining
Posts: 407
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posted February 05, 2003 09:45 PM |
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it's a 10mm...
Use a 10mm socket on a 1/4" drive with a 3" extension. Use one hand under the dash to hold socket and with the otherhand use your finger through the hole on top and forward of the dashpad to steady the socket and apply pressure to break it loose. It just takes some patience and a few seconds. Once loosened they usually spin right off.
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wankel_dreams
Redlining
Posts: 293
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posted February 06, 2003 10:00 PM |
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took me several months to find those 2 bolts on the sides. I just thought it was so rigid and brittle from age that it wasn't coming off. accessing and removing the bolts with the windsheild in takes ALOT of patients. very awkward angles and no room to work. Passenger side i had to put the socket on the bolt, then wriggle the wrench onto the socket. Driver side, i put the socket on the bolt and used a mini adjustable wrench to turn the sockte.
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74 wankel panther
77 REPU
79 rx7
89 Vert
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dhood
Hauling
Posts: 134
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posted February 09, 2003 09:18 AM |
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OK! Thanks for your idea, got me motivated. Now have my new dash installed and it looks great. Helps a lot to drop those footwell vent knobs to get better access to the dash nuts. I had to drop the AC unit on the passenger side too. Used a 10 inch extension with ujoint, 3/8 to 1/4 adapter and 10mm 1/4 drive socket, easy! Got the dash reskinned thru a vendor in Hemmings, cost $250 but it is now worth it. Now to replace those oil cooler hoses.
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wankel_dreams
Redlining
Posts: 293
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posted February 10, 2003 12:00 AM |
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quote:
Got the dash reskinned thru a vendor in Hemmings, cost $250 but it is now worth it. Now to replace those oil cooler hoses.
what vendor?
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74 wankel panther
77 REPU
79 rx7
89 Vert
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Fd3BOOST
Hauling
Posts: 114
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posted December 21, 2003 07:01 PM |
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Yea really, got a phone number you care to share?
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brad
Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
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posted December 21, 2003 08:59 PM |
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I redid my own dash cap
for $25.00
gf went to the upholstery store and bought some rubber cement, spray adhesive,1/8" thick foam pading, and black vynal.
The rubber cement filled the cracks in the dash. Everything else went on top of that.
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-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge
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Fd3BOOST
Hauling
Posts: 114
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posted December 24, 2003 07:23 PM |
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Fd3BOOST
Hauling
Posts: 114
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posted December 26, 2003 09:38 PM |
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Well , I took mine out today as well.
The tip on them two 10mm nuts helped alot.
I would have never seen them if I had not known what to look for.
I got it all out in about 20 min,
I took the guages out as well so I could clean the glass on both sides, replace the bulbs and roll back the odometer to 0.
Anyway Ill post pix up of my newly covered dash by Sunday..
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brad
Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
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posted December 29, 2003 11:21 AM |
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PIX in a week or more
my repu is at the paint shop; i'll stop by and drop off some stuff and snap pix time permitting.
i was very prowd how the dash recover turned out. especially for the price of $25!!
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-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge
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