79-83 Dash Removal

[Pilgrim]

This is a post originally shared in 1996 on the old Z-car list which ended about 2008.

Re-shared for your pleasure....

24 Apr 96 16:42:56 CST6CDT

KEEPER - DASH REMOVAL PROCEDURE: 79-83 ZX

I have removed the dash numerous times in 82 and 83 ZX models.

Thought I'd post this...can't find my original post in my archives.

NOTE: The steering wheel should be removed. It makes the process

much simpler.

"Par time" to remove dash and steering wheel is @2 hours first time,

@75 minutes thereafter. Re-installing is about 1 hour longer.

Special tools:

Steering wheel puller

#2 (large tip) Philips screwdriver (optional)

Large metric socket to fit shaft nut on steering wheel.

Steps:

1) Remove kick panels in both footwells. Store panels and screws.

Remove trim around radio and A/C center vents, storing all screws and

trim pieces.

2) Protect the center console with a shop rag to avoid scratching it

during the next step.

3) Remove radio console, complete. This starts with small plastic

triangular panels on the lower sides of radio console (1 screw each) then

four bolts each side, two top, two bottom, on each side of console.

Turn the bolts one turn with a rachet, then use a #2 screwdriver to

remove them. It's faster. Unclip all electrical & antenna connections.

4) Lift out radio console; store out of the way.

5) Look under A/C control box and you will find two screws thru

the dash into the console. Remove these with a stubby Philips and

store them.

6) Remove glove box door and inner box. Store the screws. (Memory

tells me this is necessary but I don't recall why. Don't do it if you

don't need to....)

7) Remove steering wheel with following procedure: (Disconnect

battery first unless you mind blowing the horn a few times.....) There

are two screws holding on trim on the back (dash) side of your steering

wheel. Remove them with a stubby Philips. Remove soft cap from

center of steering wheel (it goes back on with pressing and

fiddling) and remove center assembly. You will see one wire coming

out of the shaft and screwed to the wheel. That's the horn.

Disconnect and don't short to ground or you get noise!

MEMORY IS A BIT VAGUE HERE -

but I recall you don't have to take all the trim on the center of the

wheel off. Check it out. Your goal is to loosen the large nut on the

shaft, MARK THE WHEEL AND STEERING SHAFT (if not already marked)

SO YOU CAN PUT IT BACK IN THE SAME POSITION!; loosen the nut but

leave it on the end of the shaft and mount your steering wheel puller on

he nut, using the two threaded holes in the wheel for the puller's support

bolts. Tighten puller until wheel pops loose; then remove puller, remove

large nut and wheel; store parts in safe place and don't scuff up the wheel.

8) Remove upper and lower plastic steering wheel trim from steering

column behind the wheel. Various screws are involved, all of which

are standard Philips head.

9) Remove the connections from the turn signal assy. and

loosen the large screw which clamps it on to the shaft. Pull

outwards GENTLY until you can drop it down and out of your way. Now

you have all the obstacles cleared. NOTE: when re-installing the

turn signal assy. it's easy to push it TOO far on the shaft. Check

the location closely, looking at the hole in the shaft housing where

the clamp tip locates, and be patient - you will get it located correctly.

10) Reach under dash and disconnect speedometer cable at the

connection in the center of the cable - usually the housing connection

is hand-tight.

11) Remove all electrical connections to dash. These are ALL located

on the passenger side above the footwell - they're color coded and

multi-pin connectors. If in doubt - you'll find out which are the

necessary ones when the dash comes loose.

12) Remove four flat plastic plugs on top of the dash, exposing the

top screws. Leave these screws till last.

13) Remove four large screws across the bottom of the dash. These

are readily visible - two are located immediately next to the radio

console, two further outboard.

14) Remove the four screws across the top of the dash. IT'S READY

TO COME OUT! Double-check electricals and speedometer cable.

15) This can be done by one person, but is sometimes easier with

two...wiggle dash and lift slightly, pulling toward you. It will

come loose when you lift it out of the support notches on the

brackets which the lower four bolts screwed into.

16) Remove dash, trying not to scratch up the trim on each side of

the windshield. Some lifting and wiggling is required.

17) Look over such neat stuff as heater controls, cables, etc.

Replace or adjust now to avoid doing this later.

To re-install dash is the reverse of removal - BUT be careful to

locate the speedometer cable correctly! There's a body brace under

the dash which it can go above or below. I recall that below is

correct. As soon as the dash is in place, CHECK THE SPEEDO CABLE

FIRST. If you located it incorrectly, you'd better pull the dash

back out far enough to get it right BEFORE you get everything

else connected!

NOTE: make sure to locate steering wheel correctly to keep it

centered.