How to remove the the dashboard parts down the the gauge cluster.

tools:
1/4 drive ratchet or similar
9/32 1/4 drive socket
7/32 1/4 drive socket
T 10 torx bit (non safety)
needle nose pliers

start by pulling of the radio face place, this part just pulls off. Then once the radio face plate is off you can start unbolting the upper dash cover using the sockets. take note of all the "brass" colored holes in my pictures, this is the location of all the bolts you are removing.
You are removing these bolts


once those bolts are off you can start on the dash area.
so far it should look somewhat like this.



there are 3 more tucked under the dash cover in front of the gauges, the middle one is tricky to get at. once you get over to the headlight switch the fun begins...

the headlight switch pulls out by itself, there is a "slide" on the the side closest to the drivers door. Part of the dash cover near the switch will pop out, but BE CAREFUL there is a bolt hidden behind the headlamp switch, you pull too hard and you may break it. push ithe slide on the headlamp switch in to let that side become free. Pull the part out carefully from the side you just freed up. you can now remove the hidden bolt.

here is a pic of where the bolt is hiding behind the headlamp switch

 

once everything is out it looks like this



the red tabs pull out, dont lose them! once out you can remove the pigtails from the switch.

now your dash should look like this.



you can now move on to the ashtray/ cupholder. there are a few more black bolts here but you dont really need to take them out. there are two more "slides" holing this in. simply push down on them and oull out on the ashtray. the bulb is a PITA to remove, needle nose pliers help alot here. Just grab the back of the bulb assembly with the pliers and twist gently, the bulb should come right out.
this is the bulb


the gauge cluster removes using the torx bit and should come off pretty easily.
heres a pic of the area

 

what'ch doin

 

painting the dash, and added in a chrome bezel for the gauges. the bezel is installed in the last pic. after getting everything apart i noticed insane amounts of dirt in the vents and inside the dash area, gonna give that a good cleaning too. I may also solder the odometer connection while its all apart. (intermittent odometer problem)I figured it would be helpful because when i started this idea i couldnt find a walkthrough anywhere. My dash was light tan and dark brown, the area i removed was the only dark brown area, black looks better IMO. once i get it all back together ill post up some pics. should be next week sometime, i want the paint to be fully cured before i install anything.

 

oh I see I would like to do the same type thing I would like to paint my dash like built54 did but using my body color I have a DGM carbon dash kit but cant really get into it ...what about the vents are you leaving them stock or painting ??? Please let us know how the install goes

 

since they were dark brown, i left them in the dash when i assembled it so they got painted black too ill take some pics tomorrow

 

here are the pics of what i painted. this is krylon fusion with no clear yet. I wasn't going for show quality gloss so the rattle can was plenty for me, mostly i was getting sick of the puke brown against the tan.

radio cover

gauge cover


all parts, dash cover, gauge cover, steering wheel plate, ash tray, cup holders, radio bezel


dash cover

 

heard that painting will make them peel?

 

krylon fusion is designed for plastic, it bonds with it on a molecular level. besides if the prep is good it wont peel. I know how to prep plastic to paint it.

 

good choice with the fusion paint.. it almost has an etcher in it that bonds to the plastic... plans to clear it?

what are you doing about the vents though? painting them as well?

 

vents got painted with everything else, yeah i plan to clear it once the base coat cures. im in no hurry so prolly in a few days i will clear it.

 

Lookin good please post a pic or two when your done

 

Yo Phoenixx, Do you have to remove the steering wheel to take off those pieces on the column and the gauge cluster? If so, how?

 

nope, the piece surrounding the wheel just pops out, the others are held in with the black bolts i have pictured. the clear part covering the gauge cluster has a bunch of brass colored screws holding it in, theyre all hex/ torx bits. Once you get the large section off (after the radio bezel) you can pretty much see every bolt you need to remove, except the one behind the light switch. basicly do it slowly, and if you feel the piece not popping loose from a specific spot peek around and see if theres a pop out or a boly holding it in. honestly once you remove the radio bezel pretty much everything but the bolt behind the lightsqitch and one above and to the left of it is really ovbious.

 

BTW i got it all reinstalled, should have some pics up tomorrow.