Dash help

[luvs2splooj]

I've read other posts about taking out the tach/speedo and the dash and some give me basic steps but i'm about a quarter of the way into it and its EXTREMELY hard. I have no idea how to do some of these things. IF anyone could post a very detailed run through of how to remove both the dash and the tach/speedo that would be much appreciated

[timsz]

Label where everything came from- Nuts, bolts, wires, etc. and just do it. That's what i did. When the dash is out, you'll see how the speedo/tach is attached. Learn by doing. I put numbers on the wires. Like number 5 on the male wire socket and number 5 on the female wire socket. I also drew pictures and attached them. Manuals will help. Mine is a 71Z. Good luck, TimsZ

[Kurbycar32]

Like timsz said label everything and pull the dash out. If this is the first time the dash has been removed you should take your time and do everything correct. repair bad wiring, check your heater core for leaks, replace your firewall insulation etc. Dash removal isnt necessarily difficult but it can be time consuming so make it your goal to only do it once.

[bhermes]

I am about at the same point. I am just trying to see if my dash lights are blown. I have removed the center console, the small piece behind the dash that meets with the windshield, the 6 hex screws under that piece, the heater controls, and the small piece under the glove box. Not sure what else needs to be removed prior to the dash coming out. I really just want to check the bulbs. They do not work and I expect they blew when I was running about 19V at the battery.

I am going to keep hacking but it would be nice to know at least what else needs to be removed or disconnected.

Regardless I am committed now and hopefully everything will go back together. I usually have parts left over after something like this though.

Side note: I am a high school math and engineering teacher and my students had to tear down a refrigerator and put it back together. They plugged it in and the compressor did not come on. One of the kids, holding a small wiring harness, said maybe it is this piece that is causing the refrigerator not to work.

Thanks.

[Mikes Z car]

Remembering from when I took the dash out of my parts car there are two screws, both at the very bottom of the dash, one on each side of the dash a few inches from each side of the car. The screw points up. Might need a mirror to see it.

[AZ-240z]

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/interior-s30/31214-dashboard-removal-help.html

[bhermes]

I am going to attempt to remove my dash via the FSM and try and document the process and anything different or with clarification from FSM. I have tried to include the steps in the post.

I am struggling some with the terminology of parts but will try and figure this out.

I feel like I am already 75% of the way there but just not sure what all needs to be removed.

I will update when finished with photos and hopefully a step by step procedure with photos that is easy to follow. I guess I am a visual person and it is hard for me to follow a lot of words. I have two masters degrees and I am a teacher but I have never read a book.

I will keep everyone posted.

[bhermes]

Ok, the dash seems to want to come off except for something holding on the driver side. I took off one screw on the bottom on that side but something is still holding it in.

Any thoughts from those who have successfully removed their dash?

I will keep at it. Not really in a hurry just want to get back together by next weekend.

[siteunseen]

My dash lights quit too but it was in the combo switch. You could take the cover off and jump a wire from constant hot to the green with white stripe dash light wire to see if they come on.

You've never read "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

Edited March 23, 2014 by siteunseen

[bhermes]

Where is the combo switch located? Nope on the book.

[Pat Carr]

On the steering column. The combo switch controls the headlights and wipers.

[Kurbycar32]

I have done 2 combo switches. Both of them were completely "refurbished" by cleaning the hell out of them, applying dielectric grease and bending the contacts back together. This was on a 260 model so i cant speak specifically for the 240 switch (i'm not even sure if its different) but no actual parts needed replacing.

I had to drop my steering column to get the dash out, but it was pretty uneventful. If its stuck you probably missed a bolt. Some of them are hard to access if you still have a windshield in place. The bolts on the far right and far left side need to be lifted out of position, they are kind of placeholders for reinstalling the dash. Not mentioned in the instructions are the heat/ac ducting tubes. Mine were a fabric type material that disintegrated in my hands, i replaced them with later plastic style 280 series tubes from a junkyard.

Replace all of your dash lights, its been 40 years and if they aren't dead yet you don't want to pull the dash again to change them later. Dont bother with LED's. Its a whole separate threads worth of information but take the short version and buy regular light bulbs.