How does one disassemble the doors and dash?, point me in the right direction Options

[boxsterfan]

So how does one remove the "interior" parts of the doors? Does the chrome come off the door? Is it a good idea to remove the chrome (can I find more if I damage it)?

I want to remove the glass and all the "parts" inside the doors so that they can be acid dipped and then POR-15'd and then painted.

Also, is it easier to remove the entire dash by taking the windshield out first?

[SirAndy]

doors first ...

it's easier than you think. EVERYTHING comes off, you just have to do it in the right order. (take notes for reassembly!)
by chrome, i assume you mean the triangle window frame.
to take out the glass:

- remove the plastic stop on top of the triangle window.
- remove the plastic stop on the back of the door.
- remove seals.
- remove the lock plus linkage.
- remove door-stop
- loosen the window crank mechanism. (you can take it out with the window still inside, just a bit tricky)
- loosen all nuts/bolts that hold the window "framework" then slide the window out the top.
IMPORTANT: make sure you don't lose any of the "rolllers" on the front part of the window. 6 in total if i'm not mistaken. small plastic wheels.
- the triangle frame should now slide out the top too.
- remove seal-guides.

assembly is the reverse.


dashboard:
the dashboard is really 2 pieces. (well, 3 if you count the lower dash pad). NOTE: all this will be easier with the steering wheel removed (if possible, also remove the steering column first)

- remove the lower dash pad first. it's screwed on the sides (may have plastic covers over the screws) and on the bottom (big philips screws)
- remove the radio
- remove heater control (PITA, loosen the 10mm bolt on ther firewall first, then unbolt the heater cables.) mark which cable goes where! they have different length so don't mix em up.
- remove glove box
- take out the gauges
- unscrew the plastic bolts that hold the dash top. they are hard to reach and see. try from the underside and through the now empty gauge cluster. make sure you get all of them! the upper dash should now come off. if not, you forgot a screw (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
- now for the dash support. i suppose you could leave that on (as it is metal) but it's usually never rusted and can easily be repainted seperately. to take it off, unbolt the 4 bolts in the front through the front trunk. they are behind the heater/fresh air box and on the sides, close to the hood-springs. you can reach them all with the air-box and gas tank in place, but this is a major PITA.
so, you might want to take the gas tank and air-box and stuff out first.


phew, long post, hope that helps a bit,
Andy

[boxsterfan]

Wow!! Thanks SirAndy!! I thought I was going to have to struggle through my Haynes manual this weekend.


Weekend goal for me is doors completely apart and dash out!! We'll see....
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

[Jeffs9146]

make sure you get all of them! the upper dash should now come off. if not, you forgot a screw  

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Like Andy said but the two nuts behind the Gauge cluster are sandwiched between two metal body pieces and can be a bitch to get loose! I was able to pry the body pieces apart just enough to get a wrench in and loosen the plastic nuts.

Jeff

[Porsche Rescue]

When you get 9 you got 'em all. If the pad has been off before, there may be less. In that case make sure you see 9 studs without nuts before trying to remove it.