Topic: Dash cover off and trying to get the original dash off!
in Forum: C3 Interior
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Joined: 12/3/2007
Posts: 292
Vette(s): 1978 Corvette Light Blue
Pulled from the swamps of Miami!
Its a driver and back on the road!
Well the dash covers off and it's ugly.And now trying to get the dash off. I have all the screws out and I know there are clips in the back and trying to get them free, everything else is in-hooked.
I have the 2 bolts out for the steering wheel to drop but not happening. I thought the metal plate that the screws came out of would drop down and the steering wheel but it is not budging.
Will try to post some pics but I guess I cannot go back now. I have not even thought about the heater core yet might just leave well enough alone, don,t want to mess with the ac evaporated either, doubt I will evere get or use the ac even if it works.
Ok back to work, any nits on the steering or dash clips pass them along.
BB 78
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Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
Most of this is off the old memory so if someone else come
up with something different take notice.
You really do want to replace your heater core when you get
your dash off. Even if you did not
connect it up but bypassed it. I would
replace it. It is easy enough to do with
the dash off. All the hard work is
really done.
I attached some drawings for
both heater core and dash removal. If
you need a pdf I can email them to you just cannot do it through the forum as
far as I know.
First and foremost keep the old dash you will want to use it
to mark where the screw hole go for the dash gage and the center console as
well as the glove box, and the placement of the side screws marked as number 3
on the drawing.
You must remove the front pillar plastic to get the dash off
as far as I know and to get those off you have to remove the top and to get
that off you have to remove the t-top center cover, etc. Thinks are kind of put together like a
puzzle.
By the way the pillar plastic on
passenger’s side (I had to purchase new ones as mine were broken) I had to file
some metal off of the pillar to get the new one to snap on. Not a lot but about a 1/32 along one
side.
Without a better idea of where you are at I cannot be much
help. I assume you took out the dash gages, the center dash console gage setup and the glove box.
By the way you will need to take of the
retaining clips listed as “retainer B01-15” on the drawing. They will be rusted on to the connector and
will give you trouble with getting the dash off.
If I was closer I give you a hand it is a lot easier with
two guys the new dash will have to be bowed a little to get it out as will the
old one.
I'm getting an error when I try to up load an image. I recommend you put up a Gmail or some email address on your profile as I will need to send these to you via normal email. You can go to my profile if you like and send me an email. Make sure to remind me what I'm suppose to do.
Standard Member
Send PM
Joined: 12/3/2007
Posts: 292
Vette(s): 1978 Corvette Light Blue
Pulled from the swamps of Miami!
Its a driver and back on the road!
Ok not sure about the t-top and dash connection. All plastic around the windshield is removed and everything else, other that cannot get the steering wheel to lower?. My email address is in my profile for anyone to send i nfo. Will be looking at it again tomorrow morning and give an update.I feel the clips at the back of the dash are rusted and holding it on. Question when I open up the heater core box can I just replace that or am I getting involved with the ac evaporator also since I have air?, or can I just remove the core and replace and back together. Thanks
BB78
Standard Member
Send PM
Joined: 12/3/2007
Posts: 292
Vette(s): 1978 Corvette Light Blue
Pulled from the swamps of Miami!
Its a driver and back on the road!
Ok the dash is off! the two clips were hanging up and I removed the clips and it fell right out!
Still the question why the steering column will not lower I must still be missing a bracket?
And second can I remove the heater core withlut messing up the ac evaporator since I have AC? are theynot co-located where I need to attend to both if I open up the door?
Also are the bolts removed from the inside or the firewall/wheel well, have not looked close at it yet but I am assuming the bolts.nuts remove from the firewall and then slide the box out from inside.
Ok still decideing wheter to do the core, it looks good now but?????????????????????
later. BB78
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
As I remember mine did not lower a lot but did come down some. I will look up the drawing on the wheel and send it along to you with the others. By the way I just checked your profile and your email is still hidden even though you said you set it to show.
I will sent it to the one that you PM's me with.
The steering wheel column can be lowered and removed after you have removed:
1. The rag joint in the engine compartment.
2. The two nuts and bolts at the firewall.
3. The two nuts under the dash gages.
4. Electrical connections.
Yes, your upper dash pad looks beat, but the stuff below still looks pretty good.
I replaced my heater core in my '73 with A/C, and it didn't have anything to do with the A/C Evaporator. I also used a hand operated vacuum pump(Mity-Vac) to check all the heater controls and found two leakers. The whole heater assembly looks complicated, but once you get it off and on the bench, it all makes sense. Take lots of digital photos before disassembly!
John
1973 BB 4-Speed Coupe Project Car
2009 Z06 Mostly Stock
If you are going to upgrade your radio, this ios the time to change the speakers to match the new radio (impedence)
Dave
Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82 
Lifetime MemberManteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold
1975 L48 4 speed
Hi Mark, judging from your pics I can't see any reason why the column shouldn't drop down 2-3". That's the way I remember it.
Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again. 
Click to see larger views!
Now that you're this far, without a doubt replace the heater core! They're not that expensive and I would hate to see you have to tear it out again! The cores may look good but you can't see the inside. When the core lets loose it may damage the passenger's side carpet (and try to explain to your wife or girlfriend "It's just antifreeze, hun, don't worry about it!"). You've went this far, don't skiimp now!
Barry
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
And do not forget to change all of the light bulbs. Go to this site and you can get all that are required for less than $5. Any place else will cost you $20 or more.
|UPDATED|7/17/2012 1:47:09 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
I will send you a pdf on my research on dash lights. I purchased all of mine from this guy took only about a week to get them.
Adam I sure wish we could attach a pdf to something either a PM or something.
What a bummer I just check the web site and he is closed up for vacation until the 14 August.
I really do not want to but I have 17 ANSI Bulb Number 168 Made by CEC. that I purchase a year ago from him for $.23 each.
But be aware that he now advertise them for $1.99 a box of 10. It looks like the price dropped. If you want mine you got to pay what I paid for them. Anyway that is the deal plus first class postage. PM me with your address if you are interested.
|UPDATED|7/17/2012 1:47:09 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
in Forum: C3 Interior
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