How-to: dashboard swap.

[Garageaholic]

FTR, it's not my writeup, but I thought it could be really helpful for anybody attempting to swap their cracked dashboard with a new one.
Good luck!

http://home.comcast.net/%7Ecdeegan9/dashboard/dashboard_6.html

[Jean]

FTR, it's not my writeup, but I thought it could be really helpful for anybody attempting to swap their cracked dashboard with a new one.
Good luck!

http://home.comcast.net/%7Ecdeegan9/...shboard_6.html

Yep, it's not that difficult of a swap.

[Jand3rson]

THis is the one I used:

http://strictlyeta.net/technical/dashboard.html

[pogiboy9]

yeah fred just has sexy write-ups :P

[ian e30 318is]

how long does the dash install take?

[Turf1600]

What a freakin pain. I could not get my dash over the steering column. I had to take the entire thing apart. Well worth the effort, though. I changed the heater valve and heater core too. Be sure to buy a bunch of new bulbs. Even if none are out, the filaments will break easily because they are so old and fragile. Replace everything.

[Jean]

Little tip, remove the a-pillar left and right mounts before installing the dash, it gives you just a little more room. Just mounted mine back in place last night, I can do it with my eyes closed now ... lol

[grk325]

hey whats up with page 3?

same as page 2.

gonna do this right now...

[Jean]

http://home.comcast.net/~cdeegan9/dashboard/dashboard_2.html

[e30eta]

just did this this afternoon. Not as hard as it would seem. I didnt even have to take off the steering wheel.

[doucy2]

I took off the wheel (i suguest doing it), only tricky part is the cluster removal and re-install, and re-installing all the crap on the drivers side underneath. Really should only take a few hours if you don't run into any problems and are patient. lol I wanted to scream at times, but its well worth it.

[JGood]

I just spent 3 hours removing a dash from a parts car, and when I looked at it from the windshield side I saw a crack (not yet visible from in the car).

FTMFL.

Anyway, what everyone says about ripping up the pillar panels with those metal tabs is true. It helps to have someone else so you can NOT fuck up your car. It's possible by yourself, but not really worth the risk, one slip and your got yourself a multi-piece pillar.

[doucy2]

yea i did it myself didnt have any trouble and left the pillars in but i did manage to scratch up the trim interior pieces by the windshield so be creful of that. with a friend that is probabally avoidable.

also remember when removing not to force anything too quickly, if it isn't comming out or budging it's likely that you missed a screw, doubble check. ;)

[MikeE30325i]

damn, i am lucky my 50 dollar car came with a no-crack dash.

[Dent]

This thread needs some attention, and in honor of the valuable insight it made available to me during my dash swap, here's a timelapse video of said dash swap. At least, what I got done of it (it's a pretty rough edit).