Dash removal question
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New User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Johnson City Tn
Dash removal question
I am finally getting around to working on my '79 Ford F-150 4X4 351m, straight drive, 4 speed. I bought a '78 for a parts truck and now the fun begins. I have not done a restore / rebuild before and will probably have a lot of questions over the next months / years. I hope no one gets too bent outta shape if I ask a "stupid" question from time to time. I figure with the experience you guys have, this will go a lot smoother for me. So, first off, thanks for all the help and info. My first project is to swap the dash from the '78 to the '79. Get me started here if you can and when that is completed, I'll be back for the next stage. Again, thanks a lot and please over look my ignorance.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 811
Likes: 4
When you say dash,how muchj of it are you talking about changing. The dash pad? Face, etc?
I have a 76 so I would expect that it is pretty similar. There is a trim piece attached with phillips screw that come out from above. The dash pad has studs that you need small hand to remove. Hint. Be really nice to your wife or girlfriend. Dinner, roses help.
The dash itself is bolted in held in with bolts. just when you think you have them all, you find a couple more. Best advise is to go slow, and don't try to force anything.
Good luck.
I have a 76 so I would expect that it is pretty similar. There is a trim piece attached with phillips screw that come out from above. The dash pad has studs that you need small hand to remove. Hint. Be really nice to your wife or girlfriend. Dinner, roses help.
The dash itself is bolted in held in with bolts. just when you think you have them all, you find a couple more. Best advise is to go slow, and don't try to force anything.
Good luck.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 868
Likes: 3
From: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Hi there, are you removing the dash or dash pad itself.? For the pad you will ned to remove the glove box , the guages & the radio/heater mount. Then there are about 6 + or - minus one or so , speed nuts on the underside of the dash pad and one in the center of the pad facing the windshield that need to come off , and the pad will lift off. If it is the steel dash , remove the same stuff plus there are another 5or 6 phillips screws ontop of the dash that bolt and there are some more under the dash that need to come out. That's all I can think of so look carefully before getting out the hammer. Enjoy
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 522
Likes: 1
From: Harrisburg, OR
A nut driver works well. For the dash pad all the nuts are on top. 2 in each corner 2 over the instrument 2 over the glove box and one inbetween the heater control and glove box. There is a nut holding the front of the dash where the pads drops down by the heater control *****. Do you know how to take the ***** off for the heater, lights, and wipers?? Oh by the way you will probably draw blood 
Just scratches.
Just scratches.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
There are also two bolts on each inside of the dash that mounts it to the cab. They should come off pretty easy, but if they seem like they are unscrewing but not easy, take your time and just losen a little bit and then take a break. The heat that builds up plus the tension will cause the mounting tab for the bolt to come lose and you don't want that. It could fall down inside the cab. That's what happened to me.
You can sort of see where the bolts will be. Two in the center where the steering column and brake pedal mount goes and one on each side directly down from that rubber plug.
You can sort of see where the bolts will be. Two in the center where the steering column and brake pedal mount goes and one on each side directly down from that rubber plug.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Canyon, TX
I'm in the middle of a dash pad replacement and figured I'd add to this thread (rather than start a new one.) I consulted a few other older threads and at the first two I read and bookmarked said there were about 8 nuts/bolts. I saw the five along the top of the pad and thought, "Yeah! I'm more than halfway there!"
Wrong...in addition to the five bolts along the top, there are ten nuts (used an 11/32 wrench) along the inside. I almost thought I wouldn't have to take the instrument cluster out, but in the end one nut made it necessary.
I already had the glove box out and there's no radio, so that made things a bit easier. Not much, but the old one is out and I'm halfway there! I purchased the new pad from NPD...they were the only place I found (OK, I didn't look that hard) that had the dark blue pad and it was the best price. Shipped to me in like three days, which was extra nice.
Wrong...in addition to the five bolts along the top, there are ten nuts (used an 11/32 wrench) along the inside. I almost thought I wouldn't have to take the instrument cluster out, but in the end one nut made it necessary.
I already had the glove box out and there's no radio, so that made things a bit easier. Not much, but the old one is out and I'm halfway there! I purchased the new pad from NPD...they were the only place I found (OK, I didn't look that hard) that had the dark blue pad and it was the best price. Shipped to me in like three days, which was extra nice.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 377
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From: Canyon, TX
The old dash has had it...the original, based on the tag on the back 
A pic of one of the nuts that has driven me nuts this past hour. And another shot of some of the studs on the bottom of the pad.
I don't have pics of the new dash, but will post when I get it installed. I also got door panels from NPD and I'm pleased with the color (I was worried.)
A pic of one of the nuts that has driven me nuts this past hour. And another shot of some of the studs on the bottom of the pad.
I don't have pics of the new dash, but will post when I get it installed. I also got door panels from NPD and I'm pleased with the color (I was worried.)
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 111
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well ive owned a few of these trucks and ive never removed a dash pad that had a paper tag with it....my 73 had the mnf.date painted on the underside of the foam as well as my 78 that has the date of mnf. painted on the underside of it as well. usualy in white paint......and if you want to save a lil money..{200+}...you can redo your dash pad with some wood filler, sand paper, and a lil fabric and upholtery glue....
i did mine looks like brand new......and it only cost me 15 bucks in all..yours looks better than mine did before i started, so yours would be cheaper...
i did mine looks like brand new......and it only cost me 15 bucks in all..yours looks better than mine did before i started, so yours would be cheaper...
where can you get the flexible a/c ducting in the bottom right corner of this picture?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 1
From: Huntington WV
does anybody know were you can get a complete dash. I am going to install A/C an need the 3 other vents an will replace the whole dash if I have to to get them. Mine just came with heat only an it has a place on the left side of the dash right above the switches for a A/C vent an thats all.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
I have a 75 F100 that I'm parting out with the complete AC vents, hoses, controls, and bezel pieces if you interested, shane@sandenwood.com.
New User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Odometer removal
Iam also in the process of removing the dash from my 77" ford. During the removal of my odometer the bottom left screw started giving me issues withy comming out.
From what I can tell the nutplate on the back is letting the screw spin but will not let it be removed. Besides drilling the screw out is there any other way to remove it.
From what I can tell the nutplate on the back is letting the screw spin but will not let it be removed. Besides drilling the screw out is there any other way to remove it.
