1964 Dash removal. HELP

[Victor Lopez]

I'm trying to remove the dashboard but don't even know where to start. Any advice would be of help. Pictures, videos, or diagrams would help.

[Milsteads Garage]

what exactly are you trying to remove?

[suburban_gorilla]

do you have a shop manual?

[Victor Lopez]

I'm trying to to remove the entire dash board. I'm gonna send it to just dashes to get repaired.

[Suicide65]

Get a shop manual.

[Victor Lopez]

Thought i could get a little more help than just "get a manuel".

[papawayne]

Victor...the manual is the place whre we all begin...it's an essential tool for working on these cars. You really need one. Then, once you've got the manual, we can help clarify issues that may not be all that clear to you. There's a lot of experience on this forum, and we're glad to help, but you've got to take the first step. wayne

[Highlander64]

Some people will say you start by removing the sun visors, at least in the convertible. You don't actually have to if you loosen the a'pillar trim and can slide the end panels down.

but you take off the "bezel" - the metal and plastic face that runs from side to side. To do that, you have to remove the radio knobs, the fan switch knob, and the filler panel over the steering column. There's a small allen set screw for the fan switch knob. I forget offhand what holds the radio knobs on. The filler panel is held on with a couple of screws.

Then you have all the screws that hold the bezel on.

The lower dash is another treat. You will need to remove the trim strip that runs along the top of the glove box, inside it, to access hidden screws. The headlamp switch, the ignition switch, the wiper switch... all have to come out. Get a lot of sandwich and quart size heavy duty zip loc bags, a couple of fresh sharpie markers, a few boxes, and use a camera to take lots and lots of pictures.

I've never removed my dash pad. I understand that's not a simple procedure either. Without being a dick, you really will end up needing a shop manual.

[NewLincolnMan]

Without being a dick, you really will end up needing a shop manual.

LOL, he's right.

But removing the dash pad is the biggest PIA, in my opinion. Far worse than removing the brake booster on these cars.

You have to go through and disconnect every single wire to: gauges, clock, blower control, remove all light bulbs from sockets, wiring harness brackets, EVERYTHING. That grey, pot metal dash face (behind the bezel) where all your gauges, and clock screw to has to come out.

once you've gotten all of the wires/bulbs off you go around the perimeter of the dash face (grey pot metal) and remove all the retaining screws hold it in place. They're held in place from the back and there's about 50 of them.

Well, maybe not quite 50, but it sure seems like 50 after you've removed 10 of them. the actual dash pad is then held in place with several thin metal brackets along the bottom of the pad and up on top underneath the speaker and vent cover.

It's not fun. I had to do it a couple of months ago b/c of all the sand that got in there from the body shop. It took me a couple of days and A LOT of back pain . Well worth it though. that dash pad is a big eye catcher, for good and bad reason.

PM me if you have specific questions. I can probably talk you through most of the procedure.

Good luck if your car has A/C though. That I would consider twice before doing.

NLM

[Steve K]

Without being a dick, you really will end up needing a shop manual.

LOL, he's right.

But removing the dash pad is the biggest PIA, in my opinion. Far worse than removing the brake booster on these cars.



NLM

When you say dash pad what are you referring to? I took mine off (64) including the metal and the padded pad in about 30 minutes total from off to back on to replace the radio speaker. If its as tough as you all say, I gotta think you mean more than the dash pad. Like maybe the whole dash?

[Milsteads Garage]

Call the main number and ask for Dan. He is in the middle of disassembling a dash in a 64 we own and I can tell you there is nothing easy about it. everything has to come apart.

[papawayne]

I think maybe we scared Victor away....hopefully he'll come back and read our posts. wayne

[John Cashman]

FYI... The dash in a 64-65 was the worst for service of any car ever produced... It's almost like they purposely made everything inaccessible! I won't work on them for any amount of $$$ Good luck...

[66Lincoupe]

FYI... The dash in a 64-65 was the worst for service of any car ever produced... It's almost like they purposely made everything inaccessible! I won't work on them for any amount of $$$ Good luck...

You know it's a PITA when this man says the above words...

[ReijerLincoln]

FYI... The dash in a 64-65 was the worst for service of any car ever produced... It's almost like they purposely made everything inaccessible! I won't work on them for any amount of $$$ Good luck...

Yikes. Restoring mine is on the top of my make-it-look-purty list. John has me wondering if I should leave it alone for a bit longer.