I am redoing my interior (along with just about the entire car). I have to remove my windshield to get to the chrome I am changing. I'd like to remove my dash to change speedo cable and to make sure there are no leaks in my vent system. Anyone know if it is any easier with the windshield out?

 

I'd think the dash would be a lot easier to remove with the windshield out. With the windshield in, you have to manually bow the dashboard to get it past the left and right birdcage pillars. Bowing an old dashboard is a risky procedure since it will easily crack. I was very gentle and slow removing mine to prevent cracking, but in one nonthinking moment, I clamped the dashboard between my thumb and forefinger to forcefully, and my thumb punctured/cracked the old vinyl covering. With the windshield out, I think you can angle one end of the dash forward and simpley remove it without bowing.

I'm going to remove my 70 windshield (where's my baseball bat?) since its sand pitted and scratched by a windshield wiper. I'm going to do that before I reinstall my front dashboard/ speedo-tach/ and passengers front panels. One reason is that I want to install an interior with the windshield out to determine if the interior is easier to install. (I'll be doing this with the engine out also). I'd like to know how the factory was able to quickly install C3 interiors when it takes me many hours. I think they did it by sometimes standing in front of the engine firewall and leaned over through the glassless windshield opening to install a lot of stuff on the interior firewall.

 

None of the local auto shops had the glass removing tools. I ordered one off of ebay and will try to remove it next week. I'll let you know if the dash came out easier. I don't care if the window breaks, it's cheap enough that I plan on using a new one anyway.

 

I removed the windshield and then tried the dash. I couldn't get it to come out any easier without the windshield. The dash started cracking and I said to heck with it and just ripped it out. Just bought a new dash off ebay for $350 so am replacing it and the windshield with new.