Hey guys, i am struggling to get my dash out of my 87 cutlass, between stripped screws, and it appears there are rivets along the bottom holding the dash in, is that stock? Or did someone possibly pull the dash before i got the vehicle, and pop rivet it in?, i am figurinill just drill out the rivets, and use larger ones when it goes back in, but are there any tips or tricks to making this a bit less of a pain?
Dash removal
- Thread starter FrankJamesB
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Have you removed the fuse block from the firewall? If I remember, there are no rivets to be removed.
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Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Leave the rivets alone they hold the foam dash pad to the metal support/mounting braces.
I did this on my Malibu recently and it shouldn't be much different for a Cutlass.
I would first go under the hood and remove the small screw in the center of the big electrical connector under the brake booster (under hood side of fuse box) and unplug the connector. Next I like to take the steering column out of the car, but you can work around it if you want to. Remove the bolt for the steering shaft and slide the shaft off the column. Disconnect the shift linkage if it is column shift. Then go under the dash and remove the 4 screws holding the column to the firewall and the 2 nuts holding the column up under the dash. Unplug your reverse light connector, high beam switch, turn signal switch, and ignition switch. Remove the steering column. Remove the 2 screws holding the fuse box to the firewall under the dash. Unplug the tail light wires from the fuse block, parking brake pedal switch wire, dome light wiring, and rear window defroster wire. Remove and unplug the radio and HVAC controls. I think that's about it.
There should be 8 screws holding the dash in place. 4 are across the top in the defroster vents and the other 4 screws are across the bottom. One in each corner, one behind the ashtray and one above the steering column. The dash should come out. Be careful and make sure you didn't miss anything when pulling the dash back. My car had a cable driven speedometer so I pulled the grommet off the firewall under hood and after pulling the dash back just far enough I was able to disconnect it from behind.
I hope I didn't forget anything. Good luck and don't get frustrated.
I did this on my Malibu recently and it shouldn't be much different for a Cutlass.
I would first go under the hood and remove the small screw in the center of the big electrical connector under the brake booster (under hood side of fuse box) and unplug the connector. Next I like to take the steering column out of the car, but you can work around it if you want to. Remove the bolt for the steering shaft and slide the shaft off the column. Disconnect the shift linkage if it is column shift. Then go under the dash and remove the 4 screws holding the column to the firewall and the 2 nuts holding the column up under the dash. Unplug your reverse light connector, high beam switch, turn signal switch, and ignition switch. Remove the steering column. Remove the 2 screws holding the fuse box to the firewall under the dash. Unplug the tail light wires from the fuse block, parking brake pedal switch wire, dome light wiring, and rear window defroster wire. Remove and unplug the radio and HVAC controls. I think that's about it.
There should be 8 screws holding the dash in place. 4 are across the top in the defroster vents and the other 4 screws are across the bottom. One in each corner, one behind the ashtray and one above the steering column. The dash should come out. Be careful and make sure you didn't miss anything when pulling the dash back. My car had a cable driven speedometer so I pulled the grommet off the firewall under hood and after pulling the dash back just far enough I was able to disconnect it from behind.
I hope I didn't forget anything. Good luck and don't get frustrated.
I think removing the Steering column is overkill. If you loosen the two bolts on the bottom of the dash where the column and dash meet, the column will lower down about an inch. The dash slides in over the column- it has notched holes where the two bolts are located. Might take a little prying to get it to slide forward- just be gentle and it will come. Saves all the time trying to get the column out and back in. Other than that, you have the screws at the defroster outlets, one bolt on either side above the kickpanels, and one bolt in the middle behind and below the radio. Take the radio and HVAC controls out. Disconnect the Emergency Brake cable. You can even leave the harness in the vehicle if you like- it is attached to the dash at several points along the top- you 'll get clearance as you pull the dash out. Just clip the retaining tape off. Don't forget to remove the gauge pod and speedometer, and "release" the gauge connector from the dash.
Awesome, thanks guys, got the dash out, hopefully when its time to put it back in i can remember where everything plugs in
If you have trouble just post some pictures of the connectors and we can identify them for you.
Did you find my information helpful?
Good luck with your project.
Did you find my information helpful?
Good luck with your project.
Yeah man, i fought with that connector under the master cylinder for like 45 mins, trying to pry it off, then i took 5 read your comment again, and sure enough there was a screw holding it in, once i got that out, i was done in like 10 mins, thanks
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