What degree of difficulty is it to replace the dash pad in a 71? There is a break in the speaker grill area and am going to try a temporary repair by attempting to glue it in the broken area. I have started to think about a winter project to replace the pad.

I did not find too much in a search for this.

 

rich
these are the steps i used when i did mine on my 1977. remember to heat the dash pad up so the vinyl covering stays pliable i used my wife's hair drier. also to disconnect the negative battery post as you wil need to reach behind the dash to unclip a few plugs. here goes:
1. remove all interior winshield trim (this will give you the extra room you will need)
2. remove the side tunnel trim panels
3. remove the 2 screws connecting the lower console to the center gauge cluster
4. remove the lower steering column cover and remove the 2 bolts that hold the column up in place then let the column "relax"
5. remove all lower dash pads screws including those in the forward door opening on the side. let the driver's side relax with the column, remove the passenger side all together unclip the flasher and disconnect the speakers if equipped.
6. let the center gauge cluster relax (after screw removal you can leave the radio in the bezel just take care and support it while removing) or remove that as well for additional room make a note as to what wire went where.
7. on the upper dash pad to the right of the defroster grille is a bracket with one screw remove this screw.
8. reach behind and disconect the left side speaker if equipped.
9. with gentle pressure pushing upward in the center remove the dash pad from the car. a second pair of hands goes a long way here with eyeballing and help.
installation is the reverse. i hope you have as much luck as i did but remember to go slow and make notes, take photos whatever you think you will need to help you reassemble. any other questions feel free to ask.
........................................ chris

 

the pad isnt that bad to take out as far as mechanically but they have to be bowed to remove,thats where the problem for 30+ year old sun bleached pads..it may crack,, new pads are plyable,,and the difference is night and day worth the money,,, after spending hrs upon hrs repairing those speaker holes,i went thru this 2 winters ago and posted photos,,,,do a search on dash pad speaker hole repair,,i posted tons of photos on all interior parts repairing redying ect ect,,,, t top head liners map pockets door panels,, before and afer photos 2 yrs ago this coming x mas...remove the screws on the passenger side door for the map pocket the screws on the passenger guage cluster into the map pocket,,all the pillar post trim by the mirror the screws in the frt of map pocket,,, you gotta get the map pocket out,,,then theres a 45 degree angle bracket mounting the dash pad to the birdcage,, get that screw out of the dash then there's screws along the drivers side dash and map pocket like 6 or so... thats most of it from memory,,my advise but the al knoch dash pad,,the fit and the quality are like g m orgional and bow right in,,,after fixing those holes the things gonna crack putting it in,.,,,, i glued plastic phony credit cards you get in the mail inside first get the foam off with goof off glue the cards in then you gotta drill all the holes its a pain and i got photos if you dont find them on the search,,,,,,,carl