Dash disassembly?

[nkx]

im hoping someone here would be able to tell me how to get the top of the passenger side dash off (without the use of a sawzall :-p ) i have a haynes manual, the diagram is confusing even to me even with a little engineering background. (the fact that the stupid picture for the ea82 is for a JDM car doesnt really help much either...)

(pic http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nkxv1/album?.dir=/My+Photo+Album)

im going to put a 5" tach in front of the trip computer, and i might slap on a panel for some auxiliary switches, so i need to drill a few holes in there without drilling through the wirepack and whatnot that runs above that center vent cluster. ill also need to drill/find a hole through the firewall so that i can run wiring for the tach, lights, etc to the battery. any advice on placement for that?

 

TIA, john

[Skip]

Here is an idea, I mounted this

with just a couple small holes in the pading.

The entire top is velco'd on for access.

 

Moved the trip pooter display out to the panel

and all the wiring goes through it's hole.

 

Top of the panel is now the parcel shelf.

 

For a through hole in the bulkhead,

look above the throttle

pedal and toward the center of the vehicle.

There is one there.

Hope this helps

[nkx]

thanks, i didnt even think of using a false top! how big is that hole in the firewall? i might run some 10-gauge through there, plus other wires, so im thinking 3/4" is going to be a minimum dia. oh, and how would i get the trip computer out? its not really of use to me, the only things that work are the clock, the alarm, and the outside temp, but thats not very accurate.

[moosens]

What is this?The Pennsylania Gadget Masters Club?

 

Install Da Bomb,install Da Bomb!!!

[Turbone]

:lol: Moosey's got gadget envy. I almost agree with him tho. Should we rename Skip Inspector Gadget?

[XTreme]

Dang, Skip!

Your interior looks like a frickin' space ship! Awesome idea and install! Can you actually drive with all those cool gadgets? I know I sure have gadget envy!

[hilux_1990]

The dashboard is a complete assembly.

You need to remove:

the steering wheel and plastic shrouding on the steering column

radio, trip computer, etc.

the heating/AC controls, including vacuum lines (mark everything!)

 

The trickiest part I found is removing the surround around the instrument cluster. Once you have removed the screws you will find one end pops out easy, while the other end (closest to the window) will need a rather worrying 'yank' to get it free. If you look inside the drivers side vent (move the shutters up/down) you will see the plastic tabs that hold the surround in place.

 

Then you can remove the instrument cluster.

 

The dash is supported by some large black bolts, 3 of which are hidden behind plastic covers along the top edge of the dash.

 

Sorry if I have forgotten anything but they key is, while it looks like it will come apart in more pieces, the dashboard is one very large assembly! (requires 2 people to lift it out)

[iluvdrt]

dang skip what are all those gagets. it looks like a clock a inclinometer, another clock, and an aircraft switch board with a map light. and on top it looks like a cb, cd player and a fuzz buster. i couldnt concentrate with all those gagets. i like it.

[nutt7]

you can gently pry the trip computer display w/ a screwdriver and the control box by the radio comes out w/ 3 screws, i think. Its easiest to remove the whole radio so you can access the 2 plugs from the control box/ display.

Another way to run wires to the engine compartment is by feeding them through the grommet thing between the shock tower and the firewall. (either side) you will need to poke a hole in it and maybe seal it if you want. I fit a 4ga. for my amp through it.