300F-G-H dash pad R&R

[John Hertog <crossram@xxxx>]

Hi Paul.

First let me state that JustDashes will not repair your dashpad, as far as I
know. They will, however, sell you a brand new repro unit, ready to
install.

Dashpad removal : one can either start from the left side and work their
way right, or vice-versa... let's do right to left . I am working by memory
here...

1/ Remove glovebox lid, remove glovebox light, and then remove glovebox
cardboard.
Carefully. It CAN be taken out without harming it.

2/ There are 3 studs that are attached to FRONT edge of dashpad, at
glovebox area, and go through dashboard, with a nut on backside of dash.
Locate and remove the nuts.

3/ Remove the speaker grille, and then the speaker assembly, by unplugging
speaker wires.

4/ TAPE OFF (using masking tape) the aluminium dash finish panel that is
located by ignition key, paying careful attention to upper left hand corner,
where the heater control bezel is located. Then, remove 4 screws holding
heater control chrome bezel, and pull out that unit. Reason for taping off
the aluminium dash panel is that the left corner of the heater control bezel
will IMMEDIATELY make contact with the aluminium panel when trying to remove
it, scratching it, and that's a real bummer !

When pulling heater control unit out and away, it will be necessary to reach
up and help it along by prodding the light socket where it jams up against
the dash...

It is not really necessary to disconnect the heater control unit... just let
it hang there, wrap it in a rag or something so it doesn't scratch
anything..

4/ Now remove rear view mirror by reaching into heater control hole, and
grabbing that BIG nut with a pair of pliers...

5/ Next, remove metal strip at top of Atradome, where dashpad goes under
it...

6/ Then remove turn signal switch knob ( Allen head setscrew) and then
remove transmission pushbutton bezel ( 4 Phillips screws at bottom.)

7/ Remove chome bezel at extreme left end of dash - bottom left corner of
dashpad fits under it.

8/ Now here's the hard part, especially if you want to remove the existing
dashpad in one piece, and without harming it. There are FOUR metal "tangs"
or "fingers" that are part of the dashpad, and these tangs fit thru slots in
dashboard, and then they were twisted over 1/4 turn at factory, thereby
locking the forward edge of dashpad into place. ... you must now locate and
UNTWIST these tangs... they are all located at FORWARD edge of dashpad, by
windshield... there are TWO on left of speaker grille area, and TWO on the
right.

9/ Now the dashpad can be removed.... it will likely be glued to top of
Astradome area, and age might have glued it to other areas as well. First,
get the rearmost ( towards rear of car ) edge peeled back, and over the
dash.. then start peeling it upwards... eventually, the only thing holding
pad in place will be those #$%^&* metal tangs... they can be a bore...

Please note that the JustDashes dashpad does NOT come with metal tangs; so
you won't have to deal with that when installing new pad. The new pad fits
snugly into place and I don't recommend gluing it in, to make up for the
lack of metal tangs. It ain't going nowhere, to use bad English. Some
trimming is required, with razor blade, especially at area where metal strip
fits over top of Astradome.

Have fun... it's really not that bad a job, especially if you take your
time and walk away for a break if getting frustrated.

300'ly
John




----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Martin" <paul_martin78ca@xxxx>

> I want to remove the dash pad in my 300F to get it
> repaired,probably "Just Dashs". Other than the
> description in the service manual on how to remove the
> pad (there is none), Can anyone tell me what the
> procedure is. The only screws I see are the ones above
> the dome. What else has to be removed to get the pad
> off?
>
> Paul Martin
>
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