Dash Pad Removal - 1969 300

Combo75

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Any guidance available for removing the dash pad on a '69 300? I've pulled off about a half dozen nuts behind the dash and I can feel sections getting loose. Is it possible to detach without removing the dash altogether?
 
70Tom pointed out a video showing how to do it for a 69 Fury. It might be helpful. It's on the ABC Moparts Facebook page.
 
On my 1970 - 71 Chryslers, it can be removed with the dash in the car but my recollection is that you have to remove the glove box, which in your car is like the 1970 Chrysler model (not the 1971 plastic/cardboard one) and it is all cardboard and will likely tear when trying to remove it (it is made up of an upper and lower section). Also, you will then need to remove the center a/c outlet duct assuming you have that option in your New Yorker and that can be risky, as doing that usually cracks the plastic outlet, and you also have to remove the cluster area upper plates. Doing all this allows access to all the various tinnerman nuts from the studs on the dashpad. If you are careful and your car hasn't been exposed to a lot of heat over the years, you might be successful in doing all this without a problem.

Otherwise, just allowing the dash to rotate downward (pivoting on the two bolts holding the two lower dashpanel pivots to the kick panel area) would also allow access to most of the nuts, but in doing so you would then risk breaking the plastic studs on the lower spot coolers as well when you try to remove the ducts from them (in addition to the center one) but might be able to avoid taking out the glove box I believe and avoid removing the cluster area upper plastic plates. Removing the center speaker metal plate on top the dash has to also be done with this second approach and also the small hex head screws that hold the dash panel againt the firewall also have to be removed, and a flexible socket tool (available from Home Depot) helps at getting straight on those little buggers, and they are usually pretty tight. So either way, the Chrysler pads are a bit of a pain, but doable.

Replacing the dash pads on the Dodge/Plymouth models is easier I have found just leaving the dashpanel in place and removing the instrument cluster and the glove box, as most of the nuts are accessible then and the plastic a/c outlets are sturdier than the Chrysler outlets and don't tend to crack when trying to remove the ducts to the outlets.

So on your 1969 New Yorker, take you time and just power through it until you get it done, and when you get frustrated, go take a break and resume and don't give up until it is done.
 
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Wow, that sounds like a trial...and then you have to put it back together .
 
I removed the entire dash when I did mine, (69). But I needed to address several other issues so it seemed to be the easiest way. Still a 2-3 day job.
 
I am just glad those Chrysler/Imperial dashpads were pretty durable even if they oozed goo all the time that has to be cleaned up - it probably kept them relatively supple compared to the Dodge and Plymouth C body cars where virtually every one was destroyed from cracks after the first 5 - 10 years of their existence, especially in the sun.

The Chrysler/Imperial pads are best done when restoring a car when you can take them out and fix everything else needed on them at the same time - like Will said. Then you can do it right and do it once. At least that is what I like to do.
 
Wait !!!! WHAT ??? There is a video on how to do this correctly ??

na_derby_car_hatch_801_t640.jpg




 
Amazing. Thanks for all the replies. It may be worth sussing out whether the trimmers can patch it up in place (if it can be filled and smoothed out at all). Have a feeling it'll need to come off one way or another. Will keep you posted. Cheers!

300-DashInset.jpg
 
Got it! Didn't need to pull the whole dash out. The top bolts are accessible behind the instrument cluster and from within the glove box. The hardest to remove was the bottom one near the middle (3rd from the left in the pic). You can get to it by shifting the air vent and glove box facia. Luckily the nuts are easy to remove by hand once they're a little loose. Altogether 4 up top and 6 below then it comes free pretty easily. Thanks for all the advice!
DashBolts.jpg
 
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