Dash swap question...

[rhart]

Fellas,

I'm about to pull my dash to repair but the car is a daily and this has led me to ask this question. Is it difficult to run the car without a dash? Does the cluster have an anchor spot some where other than to the dash? Im certain the climate control and radio would need to be removed while its being repaired. I know its kind of a silly question. I'm just curious.

I do have a dash I could swap in as a temp, but if i could avoid that I'd like to try.

Thanks

-Royce

[Empire]

I've seen everything ziptied in place to the cross member that is under the dash. It wasn't pretty by any means, but it was some kids stripped down "racecar"

[rhart]

I simply want to avoid having to swap in the brown dash into my blue hatch while I repair its dash to go into the "Jane" shell. It will save the steps of connecting the dash all up and allow for work on the both under the dash areas while I repair the cracks on the black dash. Yeah, its a little lazy...but I thought it might be a bit of a time saver as well.

If zip ties will do the trick I'm all for it. I could care less if it looks proper for a street car. I'm a function over form guy any way.

-Royce

[KRUKED]

Zip ties are a 240's best friend. Use them accordingly where applicatable.

[Empire]

yeah, i wouldn't want to waste the time swapping dashes, just to turn right back around to swap them out again. Too much risk of things breaking that way, and like you said, with it all opened up, you can get in there and do some under dash work.
Fix any wiring.
Insulation for the A/C system
clean the a/c piping
firewall insulation
sound proofing
stripping.
you can even get crazy with a wiring schematic and get rid of any and all useless wires in that area.
I seem to recall Dan doing that to his S14 and get rid of a couple pounds of wiring.
Is it worth it, EH, only if you want to be that detailed and that intimate with your car.

[rhart]

I have tried to avoid the use of zip ties on the car for that reason. But after the accident some things would only come close to lighting up and require a ziptie in place of a screw...sad stuff. they work well on the bumper cover and speed panels i guess.

I wont be going crazy removing out wires...but it would be nice to make it easier to access holes for snaking the ECU harnes through and running my power cables to the front and what not.

For this temperary solution zipties will work just fine, though with current weather might make sure the heat is on all the time til i get the climate control into a dash again...lol.

I appreciate the input guys!!

-Royce

[David48]

I've seen everything ziptied in place to the cross member that is under the dash. It wasn't pretty by any means, but it was some kids stripped down "racecar"

I had to do that once. I ziptied everything to the metal dash bar. I also kind of got pulled over in a long story, but when the cop saw it she asked me if I really think it's safe to drive a car held together by zipties.

[omgosh]

I drove my car for a couple weeks with only the metal dash support bar in place, and absolutely nothing else except wiring harnesses and a seat.. I just put a towel on the steering column and set the cluster on that. It didnt fall off.

[rhart]

What else were you doing to cause you to be pulled over David??

That is awesome omgosh!! Too funny!

[David48]

It's faaar too complicated lol. I didn't necessarily get pulled over. My car was being a little shit and cops arrived.

[rhart]

ah, LOL...'nuff said David.

I think my blue hatch is sensing that the writing is on the wall relating to the end of its days. On a trip to Ocala and back i got 300 miles on a tank full of gas, something the car had never done previously. I'm convinced it knows that i'm about to pull its hear and guts out an transfer them into the other shell. I just hope to improved gas milage continues after the transplant!!

I wonder if I will hear a scream when i start pulling the dash out??

-Royce

[omgosh]

lol

[sean1]

what are your plans for fixing the dash?

[rhart]

- omgosh - thats just crazy!!



My plans involve the SEM coating and the usual sand and fill method. I've heard baby powder and gorilla glue works well. The powder is finer that baking soda making for better sanding results. The Gorilla Glue explands and will flex more than a standard super glue would.

I've just searched and and read articles on other guys experiences. This will be my first attempt to repair a dash.

That being said, I'm open to suggestions.


-Royce

[sean1]

im not sure what im going to do either, fill in the cracks, then either get it covered in some material, do the SEM coating, or flock it.