Any direction on the removal and install of the padded dash would be appreciated.

 

They are held on by nuts across the dash. They seem to be a little bit of a pain but I have never removed mine.

Check this thread out: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...or-redone.html

And welcome to the Forum !!!!!!

 

gauge cluster & glove box have to come out then their's like 10 or so little 11/32 nut's that you have to take out. It can be a a little hard on the hand's but it's to bad to do

 

there is 8 total.

2 nut in each corner.
2 in the midlle

and one in the midsection on each side.

if you take the glove box, and your instrument cluster out. piece of cake.

I just pulled mine out on Sat. I got a new one from crsweet78.

real nice

 

It's a good idea to start this job on a nice day when you can swing both doors wide open and you have time to get up close and personal with your old truck. Don't rush! have some zip-ties, electrical tape, get a little bottle of Fluorescent Speedo & Gauge Needle Restoration Paint - HiPo Parts Garage and have some fun. get out the shop vacuum also. You have no idea how good you will feel knowing that the beast under your dash is tied up! Small things like repainting the needles will make your dash pop!
Good luck.

 

Most have 8 fasteners,all of the 78/79s i have removed did. But when i removed the 73 one to replace with a 79 one,it had 10 fasteners. Had me fooled and i was ready to just rip it off ,but i found all of them. A couple were real hard to get to. I guess they decided the extras were not needed,which they were not.