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I've tried a search on this, but cannot find anything. I am trying to remove the padded dashtop from a 1980 Spitfire and need some advice. I've removed the six nuts from the retaining screws that are under the dash, but the dash will not come off. Am I missing something? It seems to be tightly wedged against the windshield. Surely I don't have to remove the windshield. I removed a dash top from a Mark IV and do not recall a problem, but it may have just been a lot more deteriorated. I've bought one of the dashes from TRF and am getting the car ready for when it comes in.
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Spitfire Removing Spitfire padded dash
- Thread starter billspit
- Start date
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eejay56
Jedi Warrior
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According to Bentley you need to remove all three dash panels, remove the 2 bolts holding the heater control.remove the 4 nuts holding the demister (defroster), remove the defroster vents. Then the 6 nuts you removed. Remove the ashtray and straighten the tabs to remove the ash tray retainer. Then you can lift out the crash pad.
Scott_Hower
Luke Skywalker
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Please let me know what you think when the pad arrives. I'm on the fence with buying one. The Weekend Ad said the pad needs to be stripped/reglued. Just curious what it entails.
V
vagt6
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Removing the demister vents is much easier if your hands are the size of a six year-old kid's. It's tight in there, so take your time and expect skinned knuckles.
If you're referring to the dash pad overlay (which glues on top of the old pad), I don't recommend these. They just don't look right IMHO.
Teglerizer has an excellent tutorial on how to re-cover the old dash pad, and it's worth the effort.
This project also will afford you the opportunity to clean up the gauges, maybe clean up your behind-dash wiring, too.
Good luck, please tell us your version of how to remove the dash pad. Most Spit and GT6 owners face this task, so it helps to hear how others tackle the project.
If you're referring to the dash pad overlay (which glues on top of the old pad), I don't recommend these. They just don't look right IMHO.
Teglerizer has an excellent tutorial on how to re-cover the old dash pad, and it's worth the effort.
This project also will afford you the opportunity to clean up the gauges, maybe clean up your behind-dash wiring, too.
Good luck, please tell us your version of how to remove the dash pad. Most Spit and GT6 owners face this task, so it helps to hear how others tackle the project.
I bought one of the TRF dash kits last week on one of their sales. It is not the plastic overlay, but is supposed to be the real padded dash. (And its on backorder) It goes onto the old metal base though, so I don't want to bend it getting it out. The nuts retaining the demister vents are off. Do I have to remove the vents completely?
I took a day or two off, but will give it another try maybe today.
I had seen the Teglerizer site, but wasn't too keen on trying that. I wasn't sure I could find the padding and the proper vinyl. TRF put the dash on such a good sale I could not pass.
I took a day or two off, but will give it another try maybe today.
I had seen the Teglerizer site, but wasn't too keen on trying that. I wasn't sure I could find the padding and the proper vinyl. TRF put the dash on such a good sale I could not pass.
V
vagt6
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I'd think the demister vents would have to come all the way off. Unscrew the tiny retainer nut on each vent (two on each vent), be VERY careful not to drop the tiny nuts, and simply lift the demister vents up and off the dash pad.
Sometimes, the windscreen rubber gasket surround gets bonded to the dash pad, but can be carefully pried loose. If this occurs, let the car sit out in the sun for awhile to soften up the windscreen rubber, then take a plastic scraper (i.e., something that won't tear the rubber) and work it around the base. It'll come off.
Let us know . . . :thumbsup:
Sometimes, the windscreen rubber gasket surround gets bonded to the dash pad, but can be carefully pried loose. If this occurs, let the car sit out in the sun for awhile to soften up the windscreen rubber, then take a plastic scraper (i.e., something that won't tear the rubber) and work it around the base. It'll come off.
Let us know . . . :thumbsup: