Dash removal

[Jeff Turbo]

An excellent how-to as usual

Another option that I take when removing the dash is to leave the steering wheel attached and remove the whole steering column as one piece.
Centre the steering
Remove the bolt holding the universal joint to the steering rack
Remove the 4 securing bolts that hold the steering column in place
Disconnect the wiring plugs (you may have to remove the cowl from the steering column to do this - I can't remember)
Remove the whole lot as one piece

Ta Dan
Have to remove the cowl to get to the inticator switch connections etc
Can also be done this way but no need unless the older style dash
Not too sure about the earlier maestro dash as ive never had one

[Simon]

Excellent write up Jeff! Sometimes steering wheels can be a tight fit on the splines of the inner column. That is why Jeff advises, loosening and undoing the centre nut or bolt but do not fully remove because if you are going to use force to remove the wheel then when it yields it can hit you in the face! If no amount of tugging or bashing will release the wheel then as Dan says the inner column complete with wheel must be removed if no puller is available. Once on a bench the column can then be tapped out of the steering wheel in a controlled way. In any case, mark the relationship of the column relative to the steering wheel inner splines with a sharpie or similar so it all goes back on straight not wonky.

I've also found that on replacement of the dash, sometimes some of the little 286 type warning light/illumination bulbs mysteriously blow, so it pays to have a few spares to hand.

[Jeff Turbo]

Jeff, you are a star! I'm doing this exact job tonight! Thank you!!

Did it work Gavin?

[Seyshellkenton]

I'll definitely be redirecting people here in future. I gave up after 3 photos and will also save the torx screws til last now.

[Jeff Turbo]

I'll definitely be redirecting people here in future. I gave up after 3 photos and will also save the torx screws til last now.

Hi Shelley. You already know how to remove a dash
Good to see you're finally on here btw.
Much more info

[sportingfiat]

Huge thanks for this Jeff. Saved me a lot of swearing 😃😃

Next is to remove the entire loom 😯😯

[Jeff Turbo]

Huge thanks for this Jeff. Saved me a lot of swearing 😃😃

Next is to remove the entire loom 😯😯

Removing the loom is easy

[sportingfiat]

After seeing some of the work you do I'm not so sure easy is how I'd describe it.

Trying to move it into a new shell so got the old masking tape out and going to do it the slow way 😃

[Jeff Turbo]

After seeing some of the work you do I'm not so sure easy is how I'd describe it.

Trying to move it into a new shell so got the old masking tape out and going to do it the slow way ��

Remove dash, seats, carpets, internal trim etc. Mark and take pics if needs on all you remove. I start from the rear and move to the front.
It's easier than you think

[sportingfiat]

All out now and wasn't half as bad as I was expecting.

Next job put it all back in again 😣😣

[Jeff Turbo]

All out now and wasn't half as bad as I was expecting.

Next job put it all back in again ����

Even easier

[Jeff Turbo]

Forgotten I'd done this as I was thinking of doing how to on this subject on my Digidash

[guussi]

...

[A+MAESTRO]

Thank you Jeff, managed to remove dash, get blower motor working again and put all back in place in about an hour and a half following this.

I had two problems (neither related to this how-to), the first being the manual choke (a series), I should have detached this from the carb - but didn't. There was a bit of extra length on the cable inside the car so undoing everything else meant I was able to pivot the dash on the drivers side and get to the heater anyway. I'm pretty small which helped!
Mine's a Ledbury and the choke is actually in the dash, I wondered if on the earlier manual chokes they were mounted on the removable panel to the right of the steering wheel? As this would negate the need to remove the cable from the carb (and might be why I've not seen anyone comment on this?).

The second was someone has put a replacement bonnet cable and lever in and just drilled through the dash to put the lever in (looks suspiciously like a Mini's bonnet cabe). I couldn't get this out of the dash or unattach from the bonnet latch. So I removed the slam panel and just popped it at the back of the engine whilst I worked and it gave me all the slack I needed.

Thanks again!

[Jeff Turbo]

Thank you Jeff, managed to remove dash, get blower motor working again and put all back in place in about an hour and a half following this.

I had two problems (neither related to this how-to), the first being the manual choke (a series), I should have detached this from the carb - but didn't. There was a bit of extra length on the cable inside the car so undoing everything else meant I was able to pivot the dash on the drivers side and get to the heater anyway. I'm pretty small which helped!
Mine's a Ledbury and the choke is actually in the dash, I wondered if on the earlier manual chokes they were mounted on the removable panel to the right of the steering wheel? As this would negate the need to remove the cable from the carb (and might be why I've not seen anyone comment on this?).

The second was someone has put a replacement bonnet cable and lever in and just drilled through the dash to put the lever in (looks suspiciously like a Mini's bonnet cabe). I couldn't get this out of the dash or unattach from the bonnet latch. So I removed the slam panel and just popped it at the back of the engine whilst I worked and it gave me all the slack I needed.

Thanks again!

No worries, that's what forums are for. Loads of info on forums and much better that any Facebook page.