Removing the lower dash, radio, heater, and ashtray

4 screws, pictured above.  This didn't completely free the dash, there is still something holding it on around the instrument panel somewhere. 

As I mentioned (or I may have not) I'd already removed the dashpad and didn't take any pictures.  It was fairly straightforward.  Now, removing the center instruments, ashtray, heater, and AM radio...

First, there was a blasted stripped screw on one of the plastic edge moldings (2 moldings on either side of the control panel, 2 screws each)

Since I'd already broken the right side molding, I just broke this one off too. 

The radio was fairly easy.  Next was the heater control.  The two control cables were mounted in the rear with a solid piece of plastic that joined the two cables.  The upper had broken off, so the cable was just being tugged back and forth behind there.  I just cut the lower one off too, since I was having a devil of a time getting that little, stupid bolt off.  

Labeled all wires removed from heater, radio, and there was a power wire that operated the light in top of the ash tray.  I was surprised when I removed the tray and saw the light.  

Two bolts held it in place, put them in the tray, unplugged the wire and set it aside.  Called that a day.  Only have an hour here or there to work on this thing.  Wife and the wee kids need me around for comedic relief.

Removing the Dash

A little word of caution if you have found this blog inadvertently... This isn't intended so much to be a write up but more a reminder to ME how all this crap came off, and hopefully I'll get to the point where I start putting stuff back together.  (Also, I am CRAP with technical terms so what I call a dooflunky may actually be a kick-panel, toe board, running board, or it actually may be a dooflunky.  I don't know.  As long as it makes sense to me, right?) :)  In short, if you found this, welcome.  Feel free to leave comments, either encouraging or berating.  If you are berating, be funny.  All I ask.

So, what follows may be boring, simplistic, amateurish, etc.  I don't care.  I needed some reference pictures and some text explaining what I did, and why, because it may be a few years before I get the cashola to put this sucker back together.   

That said, I've already removed the seats, ripped up the carpet, removed the dash and removed the steering wheel.  All pretty straightforward.  Now I'm to the point where I'm just removing screws, bolts and nuts,  hoping stuff will come off the car.  When it does, I'm always pleasantly surprised.


The guts underneath the steering wheel:

There were three screws, same size as the one the screwdriver is removing, underneath the clicker piece. (Told you I was horrible with technical terms, and yes I have a set of shop manuals, but am too lazy to look up the words.)  Also removed the screw from the little piece shown above... (I really need to find out what that is, honestly)

Found it.  Apparently, it's the key warning buzzer terminal.  Whatever. 

Removed buzzer thingy, replaced it and the other three screws back in their mounting holes in the cover.  Took a socket to the two nuts pictured in the last....um, picture...  but nothing happened.  Put them back on.  I gotta get my books to the shop, rather than at my house like they are now...  I'm not sure how to remove the ignition, but pretty sure that's next. 

Removed this snap ring, but left it on the shaft for now. 

 

Started on the lower column bracket.  4 bolts.  These screw in to welded on bits on the column itself.

Loosened these to be ready to remove upper column bracket..  Need to take off the 2 nuts behind these to remove the brake pedal support bracket. 

Unfortunately, that's where my drop light blew.  It was dark outside, and I took that to mean I needed to get home. 

Haulin' it Home

My 1970 Mustang Convertible - 302 w/ 2 barrel carb.  49,000 miles.  Here goes nothing!