6 replies to this topic

[Jim Hardesty]

Trying to get the dash out of my race car so I can get the heater core and the rest of the HVAC stuff out.  And also to make it easier to build a gauge panel.  and maybe i'll paint the thing because it is pretty nasty with a flaking layer of old paint.

 

3G hatchback.  I've removed the 4 bolts across the bottom, one at each end and the two in the middle that go to the heater or something.  and I removed the 1 at the top in the middle behind the exploding vent piece.  I also removed the screws attaching the vent control cables to the dash.

 

When they put the cage in they cut away parts of the side of the dash so I don't see the end caps.  But i can see behind where they would have been and I don't see any bolts there. 

 

the only thing left I can see are two phillips head screws thru the far outside of the defroster vents. Of course they are so rusted they immediately round off and won't come out.  They don't actually attach to the car do they?

 

When i try to pull the dash out the entire bottom seems loose, it will flop around and pull up.  but the top along the windshield seems to still be connected to something.  Could it just be gummed up with windshield sealer or can it still be attached to something?

 

Other than the two phillips screws i just don't see anything that could be connected that I could disconnect.  WTF am I missing here?

Edited by Jim Hardesty, 04 January 2016 - 12:53 PM.

[1985 CRX SI]

http://www.redpepper...22/acq.png.html
This might help.
Jeff

[Jim Hardesty]

Yeah, that's what I'm following.  The car thinks it is an 86, the dash looks a little different, it has a space for a clock, even wired up, just no clock.

 

1. Hmm, when they say remove steering wheel I didn't bother, but do they mean steering wheel or steering column?  My memory is that the steering column is not connected to the dash, but to the dash support, but i could be wrong.  But clearly both the right and left side of the dash are still attached so doubtful it is the steering column.

 

2. I better check the ground wire, not sure if it is still there.  same issue though, the right side doesn't move either.

 

3. Seems like the best bet is the bolts behind the side caps.  it's hard to picture where those are since the side piece has been cut for the cage just about exactly where those would be.  It sure SEEMS as if I would be able to see a bolt if it were there, but I don't even see a place where a bolt would have been and is now no longer necessary, so maybe I'm just missing something.

 

I think I'll whip the side caps off the other car and see what is behind them.  I didn't yesterday because I swear there simply isn't anyplace left on the white car for those bolts to be hiding.  Maybe I'm wrong...

[OG-TJ]

Jim, here's a shot of my CRX - should be similar.  There are 3 M8 (12mm head) bolts across the top.  You can see them (I left them threaded in so they didn't get lost).  One to the left of the steering wheel, one above the mounting post in the center, one off to the right.  About a foot below the right bolt, you can see another lower mounting bolt.  I don't think the drivers side lower is visible here.  If you've got all the bolts, you just need to pull it back off the center mounting post - it's a couple inches long.

 

[Jim Hardesty]

Thanks.  Comparing the red car to the white car it looks like when they put the cage in they cut away the part of the dash where the outside upper attachment bolts were.  I feel as though I can see that are on the white car and the dash is missing there.

 

So what I think they did is attach the dash to the cage dash bar, that runs under the dash.  It might just be zip ties or worm clamps.  I'll have to crawl under the dash and hopefully I'll be able to see what is going on.

[squareback]

There is one tricky bolt that I've always found the easiest to forget. It's in the center of the firewall, just above the tunnel. If you look at your firewall from the engine bay, you'll see the threads sticking out with a nut attached. It's been a while since I've pulled a dash, but I'd say it's about a 6-8mm bolt. That one would cause the issues you're describing. No pictures, so hopefully my description is good enough. The biggest thing is that you have to remove the nut from the engine bay side. Let us know if you figure it out.

[Jim Hardesty]

Well i think i found the issue.  The two screws that are on the far outside of the defrost vent, up near the windsheild, were replaced with what looked like 2.5 inch deck screws that went into the firewall.  So yes, the top of the dash was actually attached to the firewall.  And of course the screws were rusted so bad I couldn't even get a screwdriver in there to strip them. 

 

I'm not sure about the nut that was inside the engine compartment, I did take it off, but with the top still screwed to the firewall, nothing was moving.

 

It's out now.  and working on the rats nest of wiring.  and moving all of the mechanical gauges into a flat panel inside the stock pod.  and i'll have to make some kind of plate for the switches.  I think I only need lights, wiper, motor fan at this point.  the others, helmet blower and heater blower are no longer needed.