OBS dash removal questions.

Dirtleg

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Posts
1,319
Reaction score
577
Location
Cloverdale VA
I searched a bunch, read a lot and watched numerous videos and well I still got questions.

I've got to pull, repair and re-install my dash before the rally. Due to the situation I'm in I have to do it without removing the big aluminum column support. I'm not on flat ground and need the Ebrake on through this process.

So anyone got any insight on what to do and not to do to try and make this a success.

Thanks.
 

Thewespaul

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2015
Posts
8,796
Reaction score
8,058
Location
Bulverde, Texas
I would put blocks behind the wheels, let out the ebrake and drop the column. You’re gonna make it a lot harder on yourself not trying to damage it removing around the column. It’s hard enough with it out of the way.
 

Dirtleg

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Posts
1,319
Reaction score
577
Location
Cloverdale VA
Thanks. I'll drop the column just not the support.

And while I'm good at some things others, mostly involving plastic, tend to give me fits.

So how do you remove the blend door cable. I've got the cable housing end loose from the white surround but cannot get enough flex on the cable to remove it from the blend door arm. If I could get the surround off it would be no issue but I know I'll break it trying to remove it.

Thoughts?
 

Thewespaul

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2015
Posts
8,796
Reaction score
8,058
Location
Bulverde, Texas
Try turning the knob on the temp control to move the cable out more to unhook it. You could even remove the ac control panel and unhook it from that side.
 

Dirtleg

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Posts
1,319
Reaction score
577
Location
Cloverdale VA
Try turning the knob on the temp control to move the cable out more to unhook it. You could even remove the ac control panel and unhook it from that side.

Yeah done all that. Can't get enough flex in the cable to clear the retainer on the blend door arm. The white cable housing end retainer is what's stopping my success. It's too close for the stiffness of the wire. Feels like I'm going to break off the blend door arm post that the cable attaches too.

Picture for reference.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Thewespaul

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2015
Posts
8,796
Reaction score
8,058
Location
Bulverde, Texas
You can remove the white arm if it wont clear, the retainer should be able to tilt backwards to clear the cable. If it breaks (pretty likely) you can put a small hose clamp on the pivot pin to retain the cable. Most the retainers Ive seen are already broken off
 

IDIoit

MachinistFabricator
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2014
Posts
13,318
Reaction score
3,879
Location
commiefornia
be very careful with that column support to dash mounts, they are more fragile than an egg
 

Dirtleg

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Posts
1,319
Reaction score
577
Location
Cloverdale VA
Okay I got it. Was able to remove the white cable end retainer from the airbox and the cable came off without issue. Didn't break anything somehow.

Idiot, thanks for the heads up. Seems every connection point on the dash is brittle at the moment. One of my reasons for taking it out is to reinforce the weak spots in addition to adding the passenger side support.
 

Dirtleg

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Posts
1,319
Reaction score
577
Location
Cloverdale VA
Back on dash today. Damn good thing I put a 10'x20' easy up over the truck. Every time I get any chance to work on it, it rains.

So next question. Dash is by every measure I can tell completely unbolted and ready to come out. Except it won't.

Seems something on the very far left side is still attached. I've removed all 4 of the column support bolts, made sure all the cable connections through the firewall are loose and disconnected all the wiring retainers from the column support.

When I try to lift the dash it hangs up but I cannot find anything causing it.

Did I miss something? I'm afraid to pull on it too much. Don't want to make it worse than it is.
 

ifrythings

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2011
Posts
734
Reaction score
485
Location
BC
You removed the 4 top screws, two bottom middle bolts, the bolt on the very right of the dash holding to the A pillar, antenna, heater control cable, several plugs and ground wire on the right side kick panel, vacuum hose block, the 4 big bolts holding the aluminum to firewall, 2 firewall plugs and 2 plugs on the aluminum piece.

I believe that is everything to remove the dash, that’s assuming you already pulled the column out.
 

Dirtleg

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Posts
1,319
Reaction score
577
Location
Cloverdale VA
Column is dropped. I'm not pulling the aluminum column support. Dash is physically loose.

I tried prying it up and I may be able to get it that way but won't have another pair of hands to help again before Saturday.
 

Dirtleg

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Posts
1,319
Reaction score
577
Location
Cloverdale VA
Okay well some of you may have been following my rehab thread and know the dash came out, I fixed the janky stuff, repainted it and now it's going back in. Except one issue.

I seem to have screwed up the wiring routing for the steering column. Not sure how as I didn't physically remove that from the inner dash but it is keeping the dash from sitting down on the aluminum support bracket any way I can conceivably try and run the harness.

Wires are getting pinched by the black abs part of the dash while it is still a 1/4" from being seated.

Anybody have a picture of how it's supposed to be routed over the aluminum support?

Also there's a plastic tab with a push pin deal on the harness that goes in a hole somewhere but I cannot find any place it's supposed to go.

Thoughts?
 

Dirtleg

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2007
Posts
1,319
Reaction score
577
Location
Cloverdale VA
Nevermind. I got it. Once I located the hole for the pin on the harness, it was on the black plastic abs part, it dropped in. The harness is still sandwhiched between the bracket and dash but itxs always been like that so oh well.
 
Top