My dash panels were replaced with homemade wood pieces by the PO and I'm in the process of replacing with original panels (re-veneered with Madrone burl thanks to RRoller123). For the center panel, I have what should be the correct one for my car ('87 w/ 3 center square openings) and have new wood strips installed flush with the rear of the plastic frame. Problem is that I don't have enough reach on the retaining screws to reach the thread on the wiper and dash light rheostat. I've pulled the glove box and those are flush and oriented properly to the metal dash frame. Trim panel is flush to the dash.

Are there retainers with deeper thread depth or do I have the wrong center trim panel? Stupid simple little issue is holding everything else up.

Thanks!

Sounds like the new wood substrate pieces are too thick? Post a pic? It ain't the veneer, that stuff is very thin, would have basically no effect.

Suppose you could countersink the wood pieces from the back, with a good forstner bit .

I used the original pieces that came with the panel and veneered over them. They were slightly distorted and I belt sanded the backside so that they are flush with the plastic perimeter. Next step, I suppose, would be to sand the whole thing down a bit - plastic and all. It's weird because when looking at images of other dash's, the knobs stick out farther than mine are able to due to the steel frame behind. Will take a pic while holding things together tomorrow.

spacer stackup error on the switches in the metal frame, holding them further back?

That evolution sent me around the bend years ago. I ended dropping the instrument dash and then reaching around and pushing the thingies up tight before the retaining rings would catch.

Here are a couple pictures - one showing the substrate and another with the panel positioned showing how recessed the rheostat switches are. The thickness of the flaps of the dash impede installation.
Note the mothballs in the footwell - I got a mouse problem...

Something is completely wacky there. The knobs look to be off, set back, by at least a half inch, maybe more. Your "brass" colored (actually yellow chromate) base plate is different than what is on my 80, maybe the problem lies there?