I did it 2x so I learned from the first time. Put all guages in prior to
putting the dash in as you will be able to see where you will have to ground
the gauges to the dash. Before bolting the dash up also try to hook up all
the wires you can by supporting the dash and pulling the wire harness
further out from the firewall. The Dash pad has to be put on last. Don't put
in the glove box till the interior is almost done as it gives access to
heater fan and some other stuff. The chrome trim ring is easy to install if
you have new clips.
It also helps to have the windshield frame off the car - a lot easier!
And have patience!
'66 Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: nruff <nruffcorn@prodigy.net>
To: datsun list <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 9:25 PM
Subject: Dash resto progress
> Well all, its getting closer. Two weeks ago I removed the entire dash
from
> my 67. To be honest with you, at first I was a little intimidated,
thinking
> the wiring harness was more complicated than it really was. I looked at
> the dash with its big hole and split right in the middleof the dash pad,
the
> crusty gauges, the less than desirable paint and knew I would never be
happy
> if I didn't do something! (this is truly an affliction, and is probably
the
> reason rebuilding this car is taking sooo long <g>).
>
> The pad was probably the most challenging. I would love to purchased one
of
> Stans great fiberglass dash repos but even with his really reasonable
> prices, I couldn't justify it as I need to spend my budget getting the
rest
> presentable. Instead I repaired the heaved pad with fiberglass, a DA
> sander, new vinyl, and LOTS of time. It looks really good now, but my
> fingers are crossed as to how it will hold up in the sun. I painted the
> gauge rings gloss black and clearcoated the dash panel metalic silver.
The
> irony- replacing those really "dangerous" chrome bezels with black paint
and
> substituting the really flat colored dash with one of the more reflective
> colors in the spectrum--whats the motor vehicle saftey board think of
those
> apples! :-)
>
> Now to a question (would a post of mine be complete without one?-thanks
for
> all the previous replys!).
>
> Can the pad and chrome trim ring be installed on the dash panel BEFORE
> installation on the car? It's easy to see that originally the panel was
> mounted first and the pad afterward. I think it would be amazingly
> difficult to install all of the push clips for the outer chrome trim ring
> after the dash was installed, especially with all the gauges in. I find
the
> seven screws under the front of the pad to be sufficient to take the place
> of the one bolt in the center that attaches the dash to the body. Am I
all
> wet?! What have the rest of you done and what problems have you
> encountered? I wouldn't mind doing a test fit, but with the new paint, I
> would like to make the chances for a scuff, as minimal as possible.
>
> Thanks again!
> Nathan
>
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