-
Hey Guest!
British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Upper Dash Pad
- Thread starter Cain
- Start date
Share this page
G
Guest
Guest
Guest
Offline
Cain,
Indeed you will have to remove the windshield frame to get to the dash pad cover. Technically you could rip the old pad out, maybe, but the new pad goes under the frame. Sorry.
There may be some aftermarket covers that go over the old pad, dunno.
Removing the frame is risky business. Be prepaired to replace the glass because torqueing the frame back down with an old, hard rubber seal could take it's toll on the glass. Not really that big a deal to change the whole thing. Glass is surprisingly cheap, less than 150. Good idea to look under the rubber anyway to check for rust.
Bill
Indeed you will have to remove the windshield frame to get to the dash pad cover. Technically you could rip the old pad out, maybe, but the new pad goes under the frame. Sorry.
There may be some aftermarket covers that go over the old pad, dunno.
Removing the frame is risky business. Be prepaired to replace the glass because torqueing the frame back down with an old, hard rubber seal could take it's toll on the glass. Not really that big a deal to change the whole thing. Glass is surprisingly cheap, less than 150. Good idea to look under the rubber anyway to check for rust.
Bill
Greetings!
I replaced the top dash pad with the Moss replacement. The old one was tough to remove under the windshield rubber seal. I ripped the old one out and had to use a VERY THIN putty knife under that rubber seal to push out the old pieces. It actually slides out to the front of the car by the center outside vent. Then, I had to remove the wood dash front to get the new one tucked under in the front. I did put some clear silicone sealant/caulk between the metal top and the foam dash to keep it "down" snugly(weights added to hold it in place). It was a 2 day job in terms of taking out the old and letting the silicone setup.
It turned out very nice. I also re-veneered the dash before reassembly. Walnut veneer with brazilian rosewood center over the instruments. Cost $25. Satisfaction - priceless.
Good luck and keep us all posted - ok?
Jeff
I replaced the top dash pad with the Moss replacement. The old one was tough to remove under the windshield rubber seal. I ripped the old one out and had to use a VERY THIN putty knife under that rubber seal to push out the old pieces. It actually slides out to the front of the car by the center outside vent. Then, I had to remove the wood dash front to get the new one tucked under in the front. I did put some clear silicone sealant/caulk between the metal top and the foam dash to keep it "down" snugly(weights added to hold it in place). It was a 2 day job in terms of taking out the old and letting the silicone setup.
It turned out very nice. I also re-veneered the dash before reassembly. Walnut veneer with brazilian rosewood center over the instruments. Cost $25. Satisfaction - priceless.
Good luck and keep us all posted - ok?
Jeff
Yes, I left the windshield in place. Removing that had'nt occured to me when I started. I could see where it would be an advantage to have full access across that surface. Case/point, the defroster vents were tricky to line up with the tight working space at the inside of the windshield. The only real tough part overall was making sure the padded top would stay "down" after tightening up the dash fasteners. Sure didn't want the thing to look tilted.
The part I picked up from Moss was very good quality - same $$ as they have been selling for on Ebay.
Good Luck,
Jeff
The part I picked up from Moss was very good quality - same $$ as they have been selling for on Ebay.
Good Luck,
Jeff
OP
Cain
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Any tips on getting the windscreen out? I'm assuming mine hasn't been out since it was put in.
I removed the bottom nuts and loosened the three nuts holding the windscreen post brackets on each side of the car. However, the thing won't budge. Well it will budge, but only comes up about half an inch. I had a buddy trying to help me pull the thing out, but it won't come.
I sprayed some penatrating oil in there and hope that will work itself in. I also took a putty knife and broke the seal between the body and the windshield. After a couple of days of soaking it still won't come out.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks,
Cain
I removed the bottom nuts and loosened the three nuts holding the windscreen post brackets on each side of the car. However, the thing won't budge. Well it will budge, but only comes up about half an inch. I had a buddy trying to help me pull the thing out, but it won't come.
I sprayed some penatrating oil in there and hope that will work itself in. I also took a putty knife and broke the seal between the body and the windshield. After a couple of days of soaking it still won't come out.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks,
Cain
G
Guest
Guest
Guest
Offline
Cain,
You will have to loosen and expand the clamp bracket that holds the threaded frame post in. Obviously, remove the lock nut from the threaded post first, then completely loosen the bracket by removing the nuts holding it in. The bracket can be opened up with a screwdiver then some needle nose Vice Grips will allow you to wiggle the thing till it lets loose of the post. Been there too long to just let you pull it out without a fight! Patience...
Bill
You will have to loosen and expand the clamp bracket that holds the threaded frame post in. Obviously, remove the lock nut from the threaded post first, then completely loosen the bracket by removing the nuts holding it in. The bracket can be opened up with a screwdiver then some needle nose Vice Grips will allow you to wiggle the thing till it lets loose of the post. Been there too long to just let you pull it out without a fight! Patience...
Bill
OP
Cain
Jedi Trainee
Offline
I got the windscreen out this weekend - thank god. Thanks for all your input. This reply is to bring this thread to closure for those searching for some help on this topic.
After a couple of days of soaking the post/bracket connections with penetrating oil, the post still seemed stuck in the bracket. With the bracket bolts loosened, the bracket would slide (i.e., stay connected) with the windscreen post when I lifted the windscreen.
I figured if the bracket could be held in place while I lifted the windscreen, the windscreen would come out. So, of the two top bracket bolts, I retightened the one towards the front of the car (on each bracket). This bolt only holds the bracket to the car - it doesn't tightened the collar clamp as the adjacent bolt does.
Upon tightened this bolt (on each bracket), the windscreen slid right out.
Next I stripped the dash pad off and removed the adhesive. This was an easy job once the windscreen was removed.
In retrospect, after I got the windscreen out and saw how the upper dash pad is assembled in the car, I don't see how you could do this job without removing the windscreen.
Cain
After a couple of days of soaking the post/bracket connections with penetrating oil, the post still seemed stuck in the bracket. With the bracket bolts loosened, the bracket would slide (i.e., stay connected) with the windscreen post when I lifted the windscreen.
I figured if the bracket could be held in place while I lifted the windscreen, the windscreen would come out. So, of the two top bracket bolts, I retightened the one towards the front of the car (on each bracket). This bolt only holds the bracket to the car - it doesn't tightened the collar clamp as the adjacent bolt does.
Upon tightened this bolt (on each bracket), the windscreen slid right out.
Next I stripped the dash pad off and removed the adhesive. This was an easy job once the windscreen was removed.
In retrospect, after I got the windscreen out and saw how the upper dash pad is assembled in the car, I don't see how you could do this job without removing the windscreen.
Cain