Hello all, I'm at the point in my 69 convertible project and I want to start installing the entire dash and console. I started from a stripped empty shell that the previous owner tore out. I have a complete new wiring harness and vacuum system installed and working. I also have the entire drivers side dash assembled as well as the center gauge cluster. What's the best approach to getting everything installed. Should I drop the steering column and try to install as a big chunk or go small. Any help would greatly appreciated.

 

You are in for a lor of fun! Putting the driver's panel in place is a real PITA. Being that you have a convertible means you also have the dash/frame supports to deal with also. You probably don't have to remove the steering column, but you will have to lower it. You might want to have the seats out to give you more room to work. It might be easier with it out. 68 thru mid 70 is much more fun because they ran the wiring harness under the speedometer, over the steering column and then under the tach. With the support for the pedals there, there is almost no room for the cables. In mid-70 they lengthened the harness and ran it over the gauges. Since you have a new harness, it is probably more flexible than my original harness which might make easier to get the panel back into position. What I did to try to get the harness closer to the correct shape was to take a ty-wrap (zip-tie) and put a bend into the harness (See photo) so that it was closer to the shape it needs to be in and leave it for a couple of days and then remove it just before trying to get the panel back together. I never removed the top panel of the dash because apparently you need to bend it a little to get into place and I didn't trust it not to break while I was getting it into place. Getting all of the light bulbs into the dash and getting it into place without any of the bulbs coming out is fun. Before you finish closing it up you should turn down the lights in the garage and check that all of them are working. It's easier than trying to pull it apart again. DO NOT try to force the dash panel into place. If the harness isn't exactly where it needs to be you can break the panel and then you probably would have to replace it. Expensive and I have heard that the quality might not be that good. It will probably take you a number of tries to get the panel into correct position. 20 tries might not be an exaggeration. People around you might hear some unusual vocabulary words! There is a notch on the side of the pedal support that the tach cable fits into. Don't know exactly why it is there, but it makes getting the tach cable inserted into the tach much easier. My tach cable in the photo is in that notch. When I got mine back together and started the engine, I found out that my tach was not reading correctly. I was lucky in that I only had to tip the dash down from the top, with the steering column lowered, enough to get my hands in to remove the tach. After having it corrected, I tested it on the bench to make sure it worked correctly. Putting the center panel in place is not so bad, but still not a lot of fun. Getting the two lower bolts into place and tighten the nuts take time. Putting the factory radio in place can be done with the panel in place. I eased the radio in the location and had a plastic piece that I used to slightly press the selector buttons to get them under the central bezel. it's tight, but it does fit. Hopefully I never have to work on it again.

 

 

Wow, I didn't realize the harness get bent into the upper column support. This is what I'm dreading. What's right and what's wrong. Not having disassembling the car really put me at a disadvantage. The AIM shows a lot but still leaves a lot of grey area's.

 

Thank you I watched that yesterday, I'm starting to realize my situation is a little different with a new harness and vacuum hoses. All his stuff was pretty much there.

 

I can guarantee you that it will not be a lot of fun, but when you are finished the satisfaction helps a little. I have had my 69 a long time and have had the dash apart twice. I think the second time was worse, but I am also a lot older and not as flexible as I once was. I have always wondered what the assembly lines thought about the installation of the dash panel while the car was moving down the line and they only had a short time to get things into the car. I'll bet that until that had done a number of cars and figured out exactly where everything had to go for a quick installation that there were a few angry words heard. I installed my panel with the gauges installed. On the video he has them separated, but it is difficult to get your hands in there. Apparently, you can do it either way, but I like to make sure that I have the gauges perfectly clean when I mount them in the dash panel.

 

The steering column is actually easy to remove.....that is if the shaft of the steering column is not rust welded into the steering box rag joint. Removing the column makes everything a little easier.

 

Even if it rusted which it most likely is, give it a good shot of liquid wench and let it set overnight

 

Took my dash out 2 years ago for some upgrades hope I remember how it goes back together. I’ll be using that video.

 

I just put the column in a couple of weeks ago. This car was an empty tub with nothing. The column was the first thing i refurbished and put back in.