Hi I have a 1975 F250 Ranger XLT and I am trying to figure out how to get my old ripped and cracked dashpad off and how to access the screws??? Anybody can help with explaining what I need to remove in order to get it off? I don't want to end up breaking parts of the dash. Of course all my Haynes Manual has to say is: Installation is the reversal of removal...big help there.......

Thanks....I am sooooo close of getting my truck done....

c.

 

Pull the instrument cluster, pull the glovebox and remove the center A/C vents flexible hose if you have A/C. This is the easiest way to reach all of the nuts. IIRC there were a total of 8 nuts holding the pad on. Don't forget to remove the nut in the center of the dash pad as well.

 

Thanks ranger429 what is the best way to remove the instrument cluster, I guess I will have to get all the dials and ***** off in order to do it?

c.

 

The wiper **** pulls off. The headlight switch requires knowing the trick. Reach around under and feel the box that makes up the headlight switch. There is a little lever on the exterior that you feel for and depress. This allows you to pull the headlight **** shaft out. Now your head lights are on, until you put the shaft back in after you've gotten the plastic dash panel off. If you're not familiar, it might be useful to inspect a new headlight switch so that you can see, feel, and understand how the shaft comes in and out. Otherwise just locate the handful of screws that attach the plastic front cover. The instrument cluster is held in by a screw on each corner. You need to reach around back and pull out the speedo cable, and the instrument cluster wiring harness. Squeeze the ears on either side of the wiring harness and pull out. The nuts screwed onto the dashpad studs, are fairly small. The radio/heater control framework has scews on the corners, it needs to be undone so it can be pushed aside to access the middle stud/nutz on the dashpad. It helps to have a both a hand wrench and a small socket with short extender. I just took mine off a couple of weeks ago. Years ago I swapped one and miscalculated. I counted the studs on my replacement pad and apparently my original had one additional stud that I didn't see. I ended up putting a small dent in the passenger side dash because I started wrestling up the dashpad with one stud still attached. Take your time. Its a good opportunity to do some deep cleaning. I took my sun visors off (off-white saddle color) that were dirty, and cleaned them in my bathtub with a stiff dishwashing brush and some kitchen/bathroom cleaner. I was amazed how clean I got them. They look brand new now. Once you discover that lever on the back of the headlight switch, takeing the instrument panel off becomes an easy operation.

 

Old Brown Truck did most of it. Just wanted to add that the nuts are bigger than a 5/16 and smaller than a 3/8. A 11/32 or a 9mm fits well.

 

just did my 77 and it wasn't too bad, a trick i learned from a older guy was after you pull the light **** and if you have a extra one i broke the little tab on the spare where it locks into the switch and you can use it to shut the lights off, i keep it for later use, works great,handy tool to have

 

And if your really good you don't need a broken one. The original one will turn the lights off as well, just don't push it in so far.