69 Dash Pad Removal??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
69 Dash Pad Removal??
Hi all,
OK! so my defroster vent needs to be replaced...plastic curled up...SO I am trying to remove the pad...BUT need to know the magic procedure!
removed the nuts and bolts...and a-arm pillars...totally free and moves, but does not seem to allow itself out...
bring on the magic!
R
OK! so my defroster vent needs to be replaced...plastic curled up...SO I am trying to remove the pad...BUT need to know the magic procedure!
removed the nuts and bolts...and a-arm pillars...totally free and moves, but does not seem to allow itself out...
bring on the magic!
R
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 413
Likes: 22
From: Justin TX
Checkout the Wilcox Corvette Help Pages.
One of the great resources on the forum.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=105
Hopefully your pad is still pliable does not crack when you bend it to get it out. I have been fortunate with my 69 and have had it out a few times.
One of the great resources on the forum.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=105
Hopefully your pad is still pliable does not crack when you bend it to get it out. I have been fortunate with my 69 and have had it out a few times.
Last edited by TX-Techman; Aug 20, 2014 at 07:20 PM. Reason: added content
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
There should be a fastener that is holding the dash pad onto a bracket that is behind your map pocket.
Once that its removed...BE CAREFUL because lifting up on the dash pad in the center can crack it. I usually heat it with my heat gun first and get the vinyl softened a bit.
With the map pocket out of the way...if your gauge cluster is still in place....you can easily break it if you are not careful.
DUB
Once that its removed...BE CAREFUL because lifting up on the dash pad in the center can crack it. I usually heat it with my heat gun first and get the vinyl softened a bit.
With the map pocket out of the way...if your gauge cluster is still in place....you can easily break it if you are not careful.
DUB
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
Good info!
wilcox recommends sitting in the pass side...reaching to the driver side edge and lifting...while pressing upwards on the middle...thus bending and pivoting off the pass side...
thoughts?
thanks,
R
wilcox recommends sitting in the pass side...reaching to the driver side edge and lifting...while pressing upwards on the middle...thus bending and pivoting off the pass side...
thoughts?
thanks,
R
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 413
Likes: 22
From: Justin TX
That is exactly how I get mine off. I have never used heat, if you do be careful it will not take much.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 413
Likes: 22
From: Justin TX
Pro
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 657
Likes: 99
From: Slidell Louisiana
Here is the fastener DUB was talking about. On passenger fire wall behind map pocket.
It also helps to unscrew the two screws in the door jambs that hold the tach/speedo trim and passenger map pocket trim and drop them a bit as the pad will have to raise over the trim by the window pillars. Then as stated, flex the pad in the middle and work one of the sides out from under one of the window pillars.
It also helps to unscrew the two screws in the door jambs that hold the tach/speedo trim and passenger map pocket trim and drop them a bit as the pad will have to raise over the trim by the window pillars. Then as stated, flex the pad in the middle and work one of the sides out from under one of the window pillars.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
The reason I wrote about apply some heat...and was confirmed in a different method of getting the dash pad heated up....is that old vinyl that is had to the touch in the middle of the dash pad can crack so easily when you bend it upwards. If it is softened by heat...from the sun or other common sense approach ( no torches) to heating it will take that variable out of the equation..somewhat. Also...warming up the corner that you are trying to get past the pillar post would not hurt either. Also...if someone reads this and it is winter time....sometimes the sun will not work when it is cold as all get out outside. I do this for a living and I do not have time to wait all day or how ever long it will take for the dash to warm up. For me...time is money.
And knowing that this does not apply in this post...BUT...if removing the later design dash assembly...the triangle shape sections of the dash assembly that go around the pillar posts need to be heated up well so they can bend....because if you don't...it will snap like a burnt up dried french fry.
DUB
And knowing that this does not apply in this post...BUT...if removing the later design dash assembly...the triangle shape sections of the dash assembly that go around the pillar posts need to be heated up well so they can bend....because if you don't...it will snap like a burnt up dried french fry.
DUB
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
68-69 have that goofy cross bracket support .. you'll need to take it loose too.. 
It isn't listed on my paper, I'm sorry.. I'll have to make a change for the 68-69 dash pads..
I'll try to post a picture of this later tonight or tomorrow morning..
Willcox
It isn't listed on my paper, I'm sorry.. I'll have to make a change for the 68-69 dash pads..
I'll try to post a picture of this later tonight or tomorrow morning..
Willcox
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 12
From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
Worked great!
actually sat on the pass side and used the driver side to pivot. it was much easier to use my left hand to bend middle and right hand to manage the corner.
Thanks all!
actually sat on the pass side and used the driver side to pivot. it was much easier to use my left hand to bend middle and right hand to manage the corner.
Thanks all!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
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
They added a brace on the passenger side and some support rods for the a/c cars. That's pretty much it. They didn't use the long brace under the pad.. which honestly made it easier to get the dash out of the car.