Radio dash
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Radio dash
Hi guys,
Starting to fix things in the 1980 I just bought. Question. The dash area around the stereo with the gauges is loose at the bottom. There looks to be fake screws. How is the dash held in? Clips? And if so, do I need to replace the whole dash or are the clips available. I want to replace the factory radio and didnt know if I can fix this at that point or if I need to buy the whole unit. Thanks in advance. Brian
Starting to fix things in the 1980 I just bought. Question. The dash area around the stereo with the gauges is loose at the bottom. There looks to be fake screws. How is the dash held in? Clips? And if so, do I need to replace the whole dash or are the clips available. I want to replace the factory radio and didnt know if I can fix this at that point or if I need to buy the whole unit. Thanks in advance. Brian
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 182
Likes: 27
From: Somerville Alabama
This should help: http://www.californiastingrays.us/Ar...tts/Radio.html
After the side panels are off you can get to the screws holding the lower console to gauge bezel.
After the side panels are off you can get to the screws holding the lower console to gauge bezel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Yes, all of those Allen heads are fake.
The bottom of the gauge pack (the dash panel with all of the gauges) is attached to the shifter plate. The screws (#2 Phillips or technically #2 Pozi) come in from underneath through a tab in the shifter plate. You really need a flashlight to see them. Not uncommon for the tabs to be broken or the screws missing.
To disassemble:
Remove the carpeted trim at each side of the tunnel. There are three screws in each, one near the front, one in the middle, one near the rear. The heads are a bit hard to see in the carpet.
Remove the emergency brake cover/arm rest. One screw on each side and two screws going forward into the shifter plate.
Remove the hex head screws holding the shifter plate.
Remove the two screws going up (at an angle) from the shifter plate into the gauge pack bezel.
Slide the shifter plate rearwards.
Remove the four screws in the gauge pack bezel (one at each side, two at the top).
If an original radio there may be a support bracket at the rear--probably attached on the passenger side. If so remove.
Remove the gauge pack bezel being careful not to damage the dash at the top where you will find a light fixture that illuminates the HVAC panel.
-----------------------------------------------------
Failure to disassemble in this order (and reassemble in the opposite) is the main reason for broken tabs, other damage and poor fitment of the carpet tunnel trim.
Replacements for the panels (to include with DIN-sized opening for modern radios) are easily available.
The bottom of the gauge pack (the dash panel with all of the gauges) is attached to the shifter plate. The screws (#2 Phillips or technically #2 Pozi) come in from underneath through a tab in the shifter plate. You really need a flashlight to see them. Not uncommon for the tabs to be broken or the screws missing.
To disassemble:
Remove the carpeted trim at each side of the tunnel. There are three screws in each, one near the front, one in the middle, one near the rear. The heads are a bit hard to see in the carpet.
Remove the emergency brake cover/arm rest. One screw on each side and two screws going forward into the shifter plate.
Remove the hex head screws holding the shifter plate.
Remove the two screws going up (at an angle) from the shifter plate into the gauge pack bezel.
Slide the shifter plate rearwards.
Remove the four screws in the gauge pack bezel (one at each side, two at the top).
If an original radio there may be a support bracket at the rear--probably attached on the passenger side. If so remove.
Remove the gauge pack bezel being careful not to damage the dash at the top where you will find a light fixture that illuminates the HVAC panel.
-----------------------------------------------------
Failure to disassemble in this order (and reassemble in the opposite) is the main reason for broken tabs, other damage and poor fitment of the carpet tunnel trim.
Replacements for the panels (to include with DIN-sized opening for modern radios) are easily available.
Last edited by SwampeastMike; Aug 23, 2016 at 04:49 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Go to page 4 on this page, there are some great diagrams that will help you.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/w...stallation.pdf
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/w...stallation.pdf
