Need to pick your brains again

[caddyo]

We are planning a complete interior retrim and painting the lower dash panels. My question is how much needs to be dismantled to remove the lower dash panel after the removal of the dash pad? and will the car still be able to be steered around the trimmers afterwards?

Has anyone done this?

Any help much appreciated.

Craig

[Dale]

What's the car Craig?

Dale.

[caddyo]

Oops sorry it is a 60 sedan deville

[60cdv]

There's no easy way out, but if you follow the manual (and get help when removing the top dash pad, definately a 2-person job) it can be done. Iv'e done it a couple of times and you have to loosen the 2 bolts under the steering column to drop it down a touch to clear the instrument cluster as it comes out.I reckon you can then bolt it up secure again. I would have a good look at painting it in situ  before I would remove it again.

[Bruce Reynolds]

Also helps to remove the Steering Wheel.

Bruce. >:D

[caddyo]

There's no easy way out, but if you follow the manual (and get help when removing the top dash pad, definately a 2-person job) it can be done. Iv'e done it a couple of times and you have to loosen the 2 bolts under the steering column to drop it down a touch to clear the instrument cluster as it comes out.I reckon you can then bolt it up secure again. I would have a good look at painting it in situ  before I would remove it again.

I can remove the dash pad and will be in order to get it restored as part of the retrim but I do have to also remove the lower dash for access to the piping either side and to get a better result from painting the steel lower part of the dash.

Craig

[caddyo]

so back to the brains trust here. Is it a monumental job to remove the lower steel part of the dash in a 60 model?

I am nearly at the point where the car will be going in for trimming and have to work out with the trimmer which way to go with this?

Cheers

Craig

[Dave & Deb]

 Is it a monumental job to remove the lower steel part of the dash in a 60 model?

No, it's not too bad.  If you've already got the dash top off and you're going to all the effort and expense of a re-trim then it's definately worth doing.  Just keep undoing bolts and screws until it all comes out.  You'll need to drop the steering column out of the way or even better, remove it all together.   

I did this job on my '59 a couple of years ago and it wasn't a monumental job, just a bit time consuming.  Don't expect to drive it around the trimmers shop while it's apart though!

Dave

[caddyo]

thanks Dave I kind of thought it may be like that but just wanted to know if there were any demons lurking under a job like this.

Craig

[kaddykid]

my ('57) dash was painted while still in the car.
just let the steering column hang down out of the way a bit.

[caddyo]

The piping along side the dash is being replaced and is held in under the side of the dash on a 60, not sure how it is done on a 57 though.