1978 dashboard removal

[Bill Wilkins]

I need to take the entire dash out of my car. Has any one out there already done this and want to share some helpful hints or insights? At the moment I am kind of afraid of breaking a 25 year old piece of expensive plastic.

Bill

[Tom R.]

Re: 1978 dashboard removal

Bill:

I nearly got into it when I was replacing the heater core...but stopped short of dash removal. I did loosen the dash with the next step being to drop the steering wheel. My suggestion is to get the service manual which you'll find confusing initially because they refer to the map pocket style dash which was changed in 78. You also have the two part upper dash in contrast to the one part dash of earlier years. I loosened mine but did not remove it. I'm also curious if you find the braces, installed on earlier cars but my 78 did not have them. Manual said to remove them. Other than that it should be not unlike earlier years.

You will find yourself, pulling ductwork out, center console and gauges, console panels, steering wheel (drop), instrument cluster (tach & speedo). Use baggies and mark for the nuts, bolts and screws you remove.