How many speed nuts hold the dash pad on and where are they ? is there a diagram showing location ?

second question - the body guy working on my truck swears it has been hit - because the metal doesn't line up . I have posted a picture but I don't think it shows well. in the area pictured where the fender door and cowl come together they don't line up very well. the cowl seems wider on both sides. doesn't seem to be enough adjust left to get everything to line up. is this typical factory fit ? some are better than others.

thanks

 

For you second question I want to say yes, it's common for things to not line up perfectly in that area. I think it varies from truck to truck. I've read threads on here of guys considering cutting the cowl and shortening it to get that perfect fit and perfect gaps. I'll give you an idea of what that are looks like on mine with some of the pics from my album. Not the greatest shots, but you'll get an idea.

 

You can adjust a fender to match the cowl width, then the hood and door line will be gone. IMO best to match the fender to hood width and fender to door skin line. Cowl is a fixed point to start setting gaps you can live with.

Dash pad...10 nuts on studs, if I remember right. Far left and far right side there are 2 close together. IMO WAY easier if you remove the dash bezel/dash cluster, environmental control panel (just take the 4 small bolts and then pull it and the radio out a bit, no need to disconnect cables ect)... and remove the glove box liner. FYI edges of dash with glove box liner out are SHARP, tape them. One nut is on the middle drop down tip of the dash pad. 2 behind cluster, 2 behind glove box.

Do you have an a/c dash? If you do, you will have to pop out the adjustable vents and vent box to get to the ones on the far right. Unless you have a friend with REAL small hands and long fingers. Either a 7/32 or 11/32 ??? 1/4 drive socket on a palm ratchet, or a shorty ratchet or a finger ratchet, the nuts are not that tight, just a PITA to reach.

Almost impossible to reach them all from up under the dash. The only pic I can find that shows the 2 close dash nuts on dvrs side. Taken from under dash, looking up with cluster pulled fwd a bit. You can see the steering column bracket with a zip tie. Top r/h corner of the pic to see the 2 nuts, looks to be almost above the w/s wiper switch.

 

Or maybe just 8? NOT my pad, but a pic I found. See the the one in the middle on the drop tip?

 

Rough idea, red pretty sure, red/yellow strips? No a/c dash go in the glove box hole turn right, looking for 2 nuts/studs close together. With a/c the vent box or the adjustable fins will be a PITA and in the way.