1972 Dash Pad and header moulding question

[Glen C.]

I'm doing some work that requires removing the dash pad. After looking over the dash pad I can see a small crack bridging some of the speaker holes on the passenger side. It's so small that you can't see it unless you really look hard. How likely is it that this will open up when I go to pull the pad out? I'm thinking the speaker may stablize it a bit?

The other question I had was in looking over the windshield header molding I have two screws that are chrome with ferrules that are in bad shape. I can find the 6 small screws that go through the side pillars and the header from the bottom but not these two chrome screws that go into the header slighly inboard of the sun visor bracket. The AIM lists them as #3922299. Would anyone know of a source or the spec on these?

Thanks for any help or guidance,

Glen

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 Dash Pad and healder molding question

I'm doing some work that requires removing the dash pad. After looking over the dash pad I can see a small crack bridging some of the speaker holes on the passenger side. It's so small that you can't see it unless you really look hard. How likely is it that this will open up when I go to pull the pad out? I'm thinking the speaker may stablize it a bit?

The other question I had was in looking over the windshield header molding I have two screws that are chrome with ferrules that are in bad shape. I can find the 6 small screws that go through the side pillars and the header from the bottom but not these two chrome screws that go into the header slighly inboard of the sun visor bracket. The AIM lists them as #3922299. Would anyone know of a source or the spec on these?

Thanks for any help or guidance,

Glen

Glen-----


It all depends on just how "brittle" the dash pad is at this point. If it is "brittle" due to age and effects of heat, common for dash pads, expanding the crack may be the least of your worries.

The 3922299 were never available in SERVICE so I can't tell you anything about specs on them.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1972 Dash Pad and healder molding question

Glenn, I don't know if you have had the pleasure of removing the upper dash pad on a C3, It requires flexing the middle of the pad to remove, As Joe states if the pad is brittle your likely to create more damage if not really careful. Best thing to do is back the car out of garage and let the sun warm up the vinyl and then remove. make sure you check the Serv.. manuel for all the screws that need to be removed, theres one hidden one under the pass. side lower pad, goes up from the bottom.

[Glen C.]

Re: 1972 Dash Pad and healder molding question

Joe,

Thanks. I'm concerned it's going to break. 'I'll put in the sun for a while as Ed suggests and hope for the best.

Glen

[Glen C.]

Re: 1972 Dash Pad and healder molding question

Ed, I'll let it warm up for sure. I've read everything I could find. I need to change the drivers side speaker. Are there any other options to accomplish this without removing the dash pad?

Thanks

Glen

[Edward J.]

Re: 1972 Dash Pad and healder molding question

Glen, you might be able to lift up the pad to access the nuts that attach the speaker to pad. Its worth a try. You'll need to remove the piller post trim left and right to lift up high enough.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 Dash Pad and healder molding question

Removing the pillar post trim (you have to start in the upper middle at the rear view mirror) is a good idea anyway. Less flex is needed to remove the upper pad if the pillar trim is removed. One can raise one end of the upper dash pad to give more clearance to get it out.

Removing these parts makes the AIM invaluable to see where all the fasteners are hidden. Some around the sun shade mounts are hidden in plane sight.

[Don L.]

Re: 1972 Dash Pad and healder molding question

Removing the pillar post trim (you have to start in the upper middle at the rear view mirror) is a good idea anyway. Less flex is needed to remove the upper pad if the pillar trim is removed. One can raise one end of the upper dash pad to give more clearance to get it out.

Removing these parts makes the AIM invaluable to see where all the fasteners are hidden. Some around the sun shade mounts are hidden in plane sight.

Great advice from Terry here. I successfully pulled and re-installed my upper dash pad over the winter (actually early Spring) to replace speakers and to replace tach cable. Remove the header trim and A pillar trim, then flex CAREFULLY while lifting one end of the pad to minimize required flexing. Make sure you are as careful on the re-install as you are on the removal.