Dash Removal
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Minneapolis, MN
Dash Removal
I'm going to be taking the dash out of my 86 that I'm using for parts. I'm sure it can't be that hard to remove, but I've never taken one out before. Can anyone give me some direction as how to take it apart, or maybe some pics, any help would be appreciated.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
Depends on what you want to do - take each piece out individually or take the whole dash out in one piece. But either way you have to remove the dash pad, which has several screws near the windshield as well as some holding the instrument bezel on, the radio bezel on, and a few above the glove box. Then you have to drop the steering column, or preferably remove it. The parking brake handle must come off. Glove box out so you can get to things. There are a couple of braces that go to the firewall, Heater controls have to come out. Instruments out or at least the speedo cable disconnected.
At that point you decide which of the two ways I mentioned. I took one out piece by piece, but when I pulled the one out of Dad's truck I took the dash out with the wiring and as much as I could leave on. One of the reasons for that is that the wiring harness is like an octopus and has its tentacles wrapped around a lot of things in the dash. So I unhooked it from the passenger's side fender under the hood and pulled it back into the cab as the dash came out. Ditto the driver's side. That left the wiring harness intertwined with the dash and I'll have an example when I go back together.
At that point you decide which of the two ways I mentioned. I took one out piece by piece, but when I pulled the one out of Dad's truck I took the dash out with the wiring and as much as I could leave on. One of the reasons for that is that the wiring harness is like an octopus and has its tentacles wrapped around a lot of things in the dash. So I unhooked it from the passenger's side fender under the hood and pulled it back into the cab as the dash came out. Ditto the driver's side. That left the wiring harness intertwined with the dash and I'll have an example when I go back together.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Arcadia, Fla
The wire harness is attached in the back side of the dash. Of all the trucks I taken apart(84 to 91 years, the harness has to come with the dash. Once the dash is out, then you fight the wires....
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From: Northeast, OK
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Senior User
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I'm going to start taking it apart tomorrow, doesn't look too difficult. I'll take pic's and let you guys know how I do.
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The ones I have done I leave the wires in. some things you might wanted too consider while your dooing this are; cutting the resistor wire for the ignition out and replacing with an appropriate sized wire and resistor (these wires get extreemly hot), adding any map or courtesy light harneses that you dont have also speaker wires and head unit wires, and replacing the heater core if you have across.if not its on the other side of the fire walls some no big deal. Other than that its pretty easy to remove the whole thing it definatly helps to have a second hand when pulling the whole thing out, its aquard and brittle not the best two combinations.
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