Alright, how the #$@% do you get the dash skin off??

[jb89coupe]

I'm stripping my car, painting the interior, body, and wheels.. and I've got everything out but the dash. First I thought I would just remove the skin from the dash frame.. about 30 torx bolts later it still wouldn't come off. Then I figured I'd just pull it out frame and all, and I pulled the two bolts by the kick panels, but it still won't lift out. Has anyone done this before?? pics?? I really don't want to paint it while it's in the car, I won't be able to clean and prep it right if I do..

 

[stang22]

There are a ton of screws holding that thing in. Have you removed the speedo and tach yet? Make sure the get the screws in top vents used for the defroster.

View attachment 513414
View attachment 513415

 

[jb89coupe]

Yeah those are all out.. I can't find any more screws, but it feels like it's still held in there pretty good. I must be missing something..

 

[stang22]

Mine was a pain also. If you are positive that you got all of the screws out, you have to take it out the passengers side and kind of lean it out the door. Hard to explain it. Pull all of those wires through to make sure they are not getting hung up on anything. Did you take the dimmer switch out already?

Tim

 

[jb89coupe]

Got it. It was getting hung up on all the vent plumbing bolted to the back of the dash skin. I'm gutting all of the hvac equipment now.. there's so many plastic boxes, tubes, hoses, vacuum lines, and gadgets back there it's scary!

 

[Car RamRod]

have fun getting it all back together lol.

 

[Mustang5L5]

If you are sure you have every screw out, just pull.

Mine took a little persuading but it eventually came out.

Putting the dash back in is a little easier.

 

[jb89coupe]

have fun getting it all back together lol.

None of the hvac stuff is going back in. I've had no a/c and no heat since I bought the car so it's not worth having all that crap in there for just a vent. So far I got about 30lbs of plastic out from the front of my car.

 

[89MustangGX]

What are you doing for the cowl vent and the holes in the firewall?

 

[1Bdazzstang]

Im about to do exactly the same thing. Im redying all of my interior and I wanna take out as much BS under the dash as I can while I have it out, I dont have A/C or heat either. Let us know how it goes and what problems you might have.

 

[jb89coupe]

I'll post some pics later today. I'm just going to rivet pieces of aluminum over the holes in the firewall, and the cowl vent is raised so no water should get in.. I'm not going to worry about it.

 

[Killer50stang]

You usually have to detach the harness in spots too. I hated doing this part. Sucked.

 

[04sleeper]

I'll post some pics later today. I'm just going to rivet pieces of aluminum over the holes in the firewall, and the cowl vent is raised so no water should get in.. I'm not going to worry about it.

I have a peice of polished stainless steel that covers the holes on the firewall for the heater and A/C if you are interested. Or if anyone is.

 

[jb89coupe]

I have a peice of polished stainless steel that covers the holes on the firewall for the heater and A/C if you are interested. Or if anyone is.

How does it attatch to the firewall? You have any pics of it (on or off a car)? I might be interested.

 

[04sleeper]

How does it attatch to the firewall? You have any pics of it (on or off a car)? I might be interested.

It can be attached with adhesive. It is off the car. It has never been on a car. It was supposed to go on my friends car but we never put it on so I still have it. Heres the car it was going to go on.

I'll get a picture of it. Give me a minute.....

 

[04sleeper]

Here's a picture of it. It still has the protective plastic covering it so it doesn't get scratched.
View attachment 513349

Here's is where it goes.
View attachment 513351

 

[89MustangGX]

That looks nice. Still leaves the cowl vent for needing a cover or something. Any ideas for that? If for nothing else, so you don't have air blowing in from there all the time.

 

[04sleeper]

That looks nice. Still leaves the cowl vent for needing a cover or something. Any ideas for that? If for nothing else, so you don't have air blowing in from there all the time.

How's this?

If you look close you can see it is a solid peice.

 

[jb89coupe]

That looks nice. Still leaves the cowl vent for needing a cover or something. Any ideas for that? If for nothing else, so you don't have air blowing in from there all the time.

I'm not sure why it would need a cover.. air blows in there all the time anyway. What's the difference if it hits a sheet of aluminum instead of a plastic door?

 

[jb89coupe]

Here's a picture of it. It still has the protective plastic covering it so it doesn't get scratched.

Looks nice.. do they sell those somewhere (maybe they'd have a pic of it installed)? PM me and let me know what you're looking to get for it.