1969 Cougar XR7 AC. My lower dash is in but all the bolts are loose. I test fitted the dash pad and it seems to fit okay other than around the top of the gauge cluster. I need some advise on sequence as there are several lower dash bolts that cannot be accessed with the dash pad on and the three behind the gauge cluster.
The pillar pads need to go in before the dash pad to access the bottom screw.
Do I set the lower dash all the way up and in?
Or halfway up and in?
Do I make the dash pad fit the lower dash wherever I lock it down?
Any tips will probably keep me from breaking something!!!
my experience has been set the pillar post trim and secure the top windshield points snug do not over tighten here. Then make sure sides by door is set right there is a tab that sets it (it has some wiggle room) yet the bottom dash needs to properly set as well. the trick is making sure all duct work and wiring is secure -the defrost duct etc. There are several points of contact with metal flanges around the dash cluster that will not fit correctly if the gauge panel is not set right,.the cluster should be set tight as recall. Best attitude is have fun and enjoy the ole cat.she will purrr for ya!
Thank you for the input Zackman. I like the idea of keeping the windshield screws a little loose. Should the leading edge of the dash (at the windshield) slide firmly inside the Vin plate? My dash was hosed when I got the car so not much to go off for refitting photos.
The pad should be perfectly contoured to fit snugly , (and yes Under the vin) there should be no gaps or spaces as it is tight fit, The reason the screws on top need to be snug or just enough to fit the pad in place, is its flexible. Over tightening the screws, will go through the formed mount hole.The screws are not designed to be really tight just enough, they can be loose at first to flex and fit the side and bottom flanges, and tighten a bit after, The cluster should be completely enclosed by the pad, The cluster is adjustable. has a bit of wiggle room Enjoy, treat the ole cat like a lady and she’ll love ya, well.
my experience is simple the pillars are first, the cluster, the pad with snug screws on top and be sure the tabs on the side are inside the lower dash metal panel Then side trim, radio center trim, and then lower wire metal strip, lower dash cluster and and steering column.trim with rubber insert.
Thank you for the reply. I have test fitted a couple of times and I was not getting the metal tabs on the bottom ends inside the lower dash. Looking forward to the next fitting.
The only thing that I would add to Zackman’s procedures are a couple of small tips. I replaced the top dash pad screws with longer ones. This allowed me to slide the dash pad around a bit more easily. The other thing that helped was using a steel wire about a 1/16 " in diameter to help locate the top screw holes. The wire helps keep the dash from sliding off into your lap when starting. I put the wire in the passenger side first and then could go to the driver’s side and get the top left long screw started. My dash pad was in pretty good condition but still needed some work to get the bottom edge near the steering column into the original alignment.
The metal tabs do not go inside the lower dash. There should be a clip on the lower dash that the mounting screws thread into. The plastic end covers slip under the tip of those tabs.
mine did not fit well that way I found the tip rests on top of the lower dash with angled end behind the metal at least if i recall correctly.
But I may be wrong and recalling about a Camaro
My bad I just checked the tabs and side pieces My friend is right the side pieces receive the tab and secure the dash that way, if you look at the top of side pieces one can see the tab holder. Then the obvious is The whole lower metal dash is adjustable and requires proper fitment I recall now The last one I fitted was in 2016 I had to adjust the whole lower dash, Its not hard a few bolts on each side.
There is a side benefit to the wire tip. My wife did not like trying to balance the dash pad while I tried to screw it in. Both of us were not happy. The wire helps both problems because I can do it myself. Just make sure the wire is rigid enough not to bend.