I'm trying to remove the dash from my 1981 Cutlass wagon. Does anyone here know how to remove the woodgrain trim from around the HVAC controls and radio, and also the woodgrain plate from around the instrument cluster? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Dash removal question.
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The trim is held on by clips at each corner. You will have to carefully pull at each corner until is comes free. Once a corner releases, move to another to avoid too much pressure on the thin inner area. I just did this on my 85 Supreme to return to stock. Here is a link I grabbed from eBay to show your the clips you are working with.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=271925746716
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=271925746716
What you can do is use a right angle (90 degree pick) and pry it from the back to the plate. Dont use a screwdriver or similar to it to pry out the plate as you can damage the plate and or the dash. Patience is the key when pulling it out. Dont force it out unless you dont care about it and have a replacement on hand. Good luck!!...
Thanks very much for the help. I'm used to the Malibu/Monte Carlo dash, that has screws in those areas, and was having a hard time figuring out how the Olds trim is installed.
Your advice and suggestions have been very helpful. I've managed to get some of the dash trim off, but I'm kind of stuck now on the piece on the left side of the instrument cluster, that has the wiper switch and headlight switch in it. Is there a trick to releasing the knob on the headlight switch, in order to get the woodgrain trim piece off? I seem to recall that there is a way to release the knob, and it will come out together with the shaft from the headlight switch, but I can't remember how its done. Thanks again.
Jeff,
In back of the bezel, on the switch itself, you'll find a small button. Get one hand behind it and press the button as you pull back on the knob/ shaft. That should release the headlight knob and shaft from the switch. Are you home today?
* Sorry Jeff, I thought the switch setup would be the same as the Chevy...😕
In back of the bezel, on the switch itself, you'll find a small button. Get one hand behind it and press the button as you pull back on the knob/ shaft. That should release the headlight knob and shaft from the switch. Are you home today?
* Sorry Jeff, I thought the switch setup would be the same as the Chevy...😕
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Jeff...if the 81 is anything like the 80 there is a clip on the headlight switch knob itself. It will release the knob from the shaft, once the knob is off you can pull the woodgrian trim. I recently did this on a 80 4 door sedan.
Here's the thread where I listed some of the parts from it...headlight switch and knob included.
https://gbodyforum.com/threads/80-cutlass-sedan-parts-feeler-added-some-parts-to-thread.56041/
Here's the thread where I listed some of the parts from it...headlight switch and knob included.
https://gbodyforum.com/threads/80-cutlass-sedan-parts-feeler-added-some-parts-to-thread.56041/
Jack...the little button is still there to pull the shaft from the switch. When I pulled that one from that 80....I found that I could not reach up under the dash or get at it to push the button. Once I saw the clip on the knob and took the knob off you could remove the trim panel to get at the dash screws behind.
Thanks Kevin,
You taught me something today...😉
I didn't realize that on the Cutlass, the knob was removable without the shaft.
You taught me something today...😉
I didn't realize that on the Cutlass, the knob was removable without the shaft.
Thanks very much to Jack and Kevin for your help. I'm taking a day off from the car today, but I'll get back to it tomorrow. Kevin, I noticed the area at the back of the headlight switch knob. I'll try it tomorrow. Hope fully, it will come off without too much fuss, then everything else should go smoothly after that. Thanks again.
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