Decided to put Mikey's dash on today. Nothing wrong with the old plastic dash cap. Will put it up for sale shortly.

So far, I have the old dash out. Now I have the daunting task of putting the super nice Mikey Dash back in.....

Gone

New one waiting

Does that look right to you?

Just took the A pads off, but its not going in easily. Do the horizontal front studs mount first, or the vertical rear studs?

I put the console studs in first and the dash is hung up.

> but its not going in easily

Ha, yes. I could have told you to expect that.

Just keep battling! (and be thankful you aren't replacing the defroster air box)

-Steve

Your knuckles will bleed,but it's worth it!

Screw it!

Going with the Mikey bolts (they're magnetic)

1/4" socket and floppy end extensions, and ratcheting wrenches. And I pull the gauges out completely to get my hand in there.

Is this a stud or am I screwed?

Lots of patience. If you only get one nut on per day, no problem. It's getting done.

That looks double threaded. Metal nuts should screw on with minimal resistance, near finger easy. Plastic nuts have been random but usually a ton of friction.

The OEM is tapered to start the nut, this one isn't but persistence pays off.

It is a stud and I was able to rethread it, reinsert it, and use it. On to the next one.

It just takes patience, small hands and the ability to work while standing on your head...

Somebody told me it was easier to pull the metal dash to install it. Them put the metal dash back it . Hell if I know but the 2 fuchin nuts behind the gauges with the 3/8" opening are ridiculous. I was super pissed when I finally finished installing mine. Looks great though & I don't need to do it again for many a year if ever

I'm almost "done". I lost one stud due to it getting chewed on installation. Like I said above there's no taper on the stud so you are on your own to line it up right and getting the nuts to thread straight. Go too far and you have a problem. Otherwise a really nice fit and finish.

Yes we started tapering them. Drop me an address in PM and I can send you another stud.
Mark

Good to hear you do that for the studs! Good move.

Not necessary for the stud. Thanks anyway. No way I'm uninstalling this thing again!

Thanks again!

Is that top pict in the first post your dash cap? It looks nice, what brand is it?

Rob,
Why did you have kids?

Dash top? I put it on years ago and attached it with left over butyl tape.

Exactly.

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Dash top? I put it on years ago and attached it with left over butyl tape.
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I am interested if you want to sell it. You probably have a box that might fit it

Removing the metal part of the dash makes installing Mikey's new top way easier, as all the studs are exposed and easily reached. Also a good opportunity to fix / replace the dash vinyl.

It does take some time to get the metal dash out, and there are two hard to reach nuts behind the air ducts, but I think it's still a bit faster and definitely less painful than attempting to put the new dash top on while in the car.

cuddyk: Interesting idea that makes sense, might as well redo the dash vinyl so it doesn't look bad compared to the nice new dash.

Got the dash done and it looks great. Then this happened. After sitting on Mikey buys its time to install from the stash!

Looks great, but while you were doing the new dash, why didn't you do the front part of the dash?

I actually did it already. Hard to see in the pictures. I didn't use adhesive and it looks like crap until I press it down and tuck it in.

thanks again Rob! My friend Bob received the dash cap yesterday and he is happy with it!

Click to view attachment

Glad to see it made it OK!