Dash Install

[terry_208]

How much of the under dash items has members attached to the dash before installation?  How much of it was attached to the firewall before the installation?

I don't really want to lay on my back and install everything from there.  I welcome all comments and advice. 

[abe_lugo]

Pull the steering wheel.  It may help some when working on removal or installation of this sort.

I pulled a dash with most all of it connected.  Just undid the electrics that I could see attached and the hood pull cable. Column mount. 

You will have to pull all the connections to the air intakes and you might as well remove them.  The heater pendulum can stay but the upper housing one came along with the dash.  Disconnect speedo.

[RICH MUISE]

I worked on the bracketry for the A/C while the dash was on the bench. My altered defrost plenum was installed prior to the dash.
Everything else was major delete-from-dash-time for me, so nothing else left to attach. I think I also installed the new fuse panel to the sidewall before I installed the dash.

[terry_208]

I was thinking somethings could be attached to the dash before installation .  I took the dash out over 4 years ago and now can't remember the process.  I have to re install it by the end of June.  The car is scheduled for upholstery in July.  My engine, a 302 (temporary), is still at the machine shop. 

[djfordmanjack]

I think you can assemble nearly EVERYTHING under dash, except for handbrake, hood latch, column, and fresh air ducts. all the fresh air and heater cables should be loose on the other ends ( you dont want to fight with heater and fresh air ducts dangling from the dash) and of course the wiper motor cable ( if vacc operated) needs to be disconnected. As said in another thread, the oem engine compartment and lights wiring comes in one piece with the main under dash loom, but it could be split under dash. the light loom has a connector socket on the left inner fenderwell.
If you are running a radio, the speaker should definitely be installed before as well, and also the radio can be put in , but it will make the dash quite heavy, if you are using an old oem radio type. installing the gauge cluster, switch panels, heater and clock and even the cardboard glovebox are all mandatory for saving your back ...
All of the heater unit can be bolted to the firewall before dash installation, and make sure to check, replace or improve the cowl vent drains ! If you have removed the pedal assembly you also need to put that in before the dash.
good luck ! 

[terry_208]

...good luck ! 

One bite at a time G, one bite at a time! I am beginning feel like the meat pile, though still quite large, is getting smaller as the bone pile gets larger.