Dash removal?

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emosfiat

Dash removal?

Post by emosfiat »

Tell me good people, does anyone have ant info on the removal of the dash to access the wiring? Any tricks short cuts or pittfalls I should know about? Thanks, Emo.
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kilrwail
Posts: 1100
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:49 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Perth, Ontario

Re: Dash removal?

Post by kilrwail »

You can lower the steering wheel & column to make removal of the instrument panel possible.

http://www.fiatspider.com:16080/f08/vie ... edo#p54395
_____________________________________________________________
Peter Brownhill

1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
2022 Ram 4 x 4 - hauler
PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor
tglancy

Re: Dash removal?

Post by tglancy »

Assuming you want to remove the whole dash, the following is my advice

I rebuilt the inside of my spider last winter.

remove the steering wheel completely
remove the instrument panels
then remove the dash
mbouse

Re: Dash removal?

Post by mbouse »

wowzers, that sounds like a major job just to access some wires. which wires are you wanting to access?

i've not done this with intent to replace the dash, so i can only imagine what would be in store for you. besides removing the instrument cluster after lowering the steering column, and the center dash part, and the glove box... what else do you need access to?

there are five or six studs with nuts attaching the rear lip of the dash to the lower window frame rail. getting to those are near impossible w/out being able to see them by pulling the gauge cluster and the glove box. once those five-six nuts are removed, you should be able to pull the dash out.

best o luck
htchevyii
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Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:31 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider hers 1972 Spider his
Location: Hydesville, CA (NorCal)

Re: Dash removal?

Post by htchevyii »

I've had both mine out, remove the s. wheel, remove the cluster, (four thumb screws, then pull it out and unplug the wires and disconnect the speedo). Disconnect the wires going to the warning lamps in the center of the dash, (make sure to mark where they go), remove the upper console and then remove the four nuts holding the dash in place, (two at the top of the dash under the windshield (near the right side of the cluster and the left side of the glove box) and two at the bottom of the dash at the ends. Some of the plugs for the gauges are the same, so make sure you can identify which is which.
When you're done you'll have something like this:
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Trey
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1982 SPIDER 2000, 1964 CHEVYII, 1969 Chevy Nova, 2005 DODGE RAM, 1988 Jeep Comanche
1972 Spider, 78 Spider rat racer 57 f-100,
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boogiedude
Posts: 410
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:22 am
Your car is a: 1978 spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, HI

Re: Dash removal?

Post by boogiedude »

that stainless steel dash is amazing looking
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danaspider
Posts: 169
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:22 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 2000 79 vw bus
Location: Newcastle, WA

Re: Dash removal?

Post by danaspider »

Just a warning from experience, when removing the gauge panel, do not pull it too far without unhooking the speedo cable. Depending how it has been run over the ears it may just snap the connector to the speedo. So even consider reaching under the dash and removing the cable before pulling the cluster.
Luck Dana

79 Spider 2000
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It all about the romace of the car and owner
donerehart
Posts: 344
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:29 pm
Your car is a: 1976 spider

Re: Dash removal?

Post by donerehart »

danaspider wrote:Just a warning from experience, when removing the gauge panel, do not pull it too far without unhooking the speedo cable. Depending how it has been run over the ears it may just snap the connector to the speedo. So even consider reaching under the dash and removing the cable before pulling the cluster.
I echo this warning...same thing happened to me... take it slow...
76 Spider
St. Louis, MO
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Dash removal?

Post by fiat218 »

i have just removed the steering wheel myself, i never thought of dropping the whole thingy
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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