i need to replace my metal dash and am looking for some advice. Other than the two main welds on the right and left hand side what other welds need to be cut? Do all of the spot welds under the dash pad need to be cut too? Thanks
Fj40 metal dash removal
- Thread starter fj40forsale
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
As said, across beneath dash pad and glove box. When you do it, save yourself a headache and buy a GOOD spot-weld cutter.
X1000 on a good spot weld cutter I use a Blair rotobroach but I drill a pilot hole same size as the pilot on the spot weld cutter first
Eliminates the cutter walking and smashing your knuckles on the dash on mine there was a weld down both sides of dash onto door jambs I cut just inside the weld with a zip cut
Eliminates the cutter walking and smashing your knuckles on the dash on mine there was a weld down both sides of dash onto door jambs I cut just inside the weld with a zip cut
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks for the information. The dash that I am working on is from a 1976 fj40. The new dash that I have to install has two holes that are not in my current dash. They are on the right hand side next to the glove box door. One larger hole and one smaller hole, they look stock any idea what these are or what year this dash might be from?
- Thread starter
- #6
Dash Map Light from 1972 model?
- Thread starter
- #7
Actually I answered my own question... the large hole is for the it is a soft top dome light and the small hole is for the switch.
Reviving this thread: This is a '78 donor dash for my '76-ish project.
I understand cutting along the edge (marked in red at the bottom of the first pix) and the spot weld, along with the glove box welds (I will re-use my glove box), but my question is whether there the seam in the 2nd pix is just crimped, or is it also welded (see long red lines). I don't see any evidence of spot welds. Do you just lift and 'unhook' the dash face from this edge? (seems too easy...)
Tagging @3_puppies - since you responded in 2017 to this question. Thanks in advance! Steve
I understand cutting along the edge (marked in red at the bottom of the first pix) and the spot weld, along with the glove box welds (I will re-use my glove box), but my question is whether there the seam in the 2nd pix is just crimped, or is it also welded (see long red lines). I don't see any evidence of spot welds. Do you just lift and 'unhook' the dash face from this edge? (seems too easy...)
Tagging @3_puppies - since you responded in 2017 to this question. Thanks in advance! Steve
I was thinking there were spot welds along the windshield frame area, but it has been a long time.
IIRC the welds were on the cab along the top edge, as other markets didn't get the dash pad mount, not on the outside edge
I would cut both sides and the glovebox and see if it gets loose and can slide up
IIRC the welds were on the cab along the top edge, as other markets didn't get the dash pad mount, not on the outside edge
I would cut both sides and the glovebox and see if it gets loose and can slide up
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2005
- Threads
- 116
- Messages
- 26,129
I have a 73 and 73 dash I would like to use to replace the original because of all the extra holes. Along the top the dash folds over and then spot welded. Haven't looked for a few years but believe it is not just a couple of spot welds but a bunch of them close together.
Thanks everyone!
I saw these welds (see below), but they seem only to hold the dash pad bracket to the dash face, not the dash face itself to the cowl. I don't think there is cowl metal behind them.
@3_puppies advice of I would cut both sides and the glovebox and see if it gets loose and can slide up - seems like the best plan. It's gotta come off somehow, and much of the ugly of this can be hidden and/or repaired later.
I saw these welds (see below), but they seem only to hold the dash pad bracket to the dash face, not the dash face itself to the cowl. I don't think there is cowl metal behind them.
@3_puppies advice of I would cut both sides and the glovebox and see if it gets loose and can slide up - seems like the best plan. It's gotta come off somehow, and much of the ugly of this can be hidden and/or repaired later.
ill be cutting the dash off a 64 shortly for some wall art.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2005
- Threads
- 116
- Messages
- 26,129
I have a 78 cowl handy to look at. Yes the dash is folded over the top of the firewall.
All those spot welds across the top had to be cut to get my 73 dash panel off. This was the new one before installing.
old one after removal
old one after removal
Last edited:
1st I gotta say, I'm no body work guy. I think 1st I would remove the dash pad bracket. There's just a handfull of spot weld holding it on. It's attached to the dash panel. Maybe you could cut the dash behind where the bracket was, then have the replacement dash weld seam behind that bracket. Weld and grind smooth and reattach the dash pad bracket. I recently repaired/rebuilt my windshield frame and ran across the same type of folded seam at the bottom of the frame. I tried to unfold it on a junk frame for testing and realized it was going to be a PITA to unfold and refold and I would not be able to do it and have it still look good. I decided to cut the sheet metal at a spot where I could easily weld a replacement panel in and grind the welded seam. I laid down tape for a straight cut line.
I have had decent luck with these. It does help to drill a small dimple first to keep it centered.
@Engineer8000 - sounds like I'd need to remove the dash pad brackets (flimsy sheet metal) by drilling out the spot welds. This would allow access to the next set of welds. Then, I would locate and drill out the welds all along that top edge (as shown in your photo). At that point (with all the other welds cut), you can slide the dash off the top flange. Sound right?
@pb4ugo - your approach is to remove the dash pad bracket, and then just cut and 'seam' (weld) the new dash to the old dash, where it won't be seen behind the re-attached dash pad bracket. Admittedly, a lot simpler.
@pb4ugo - your approach is to remove the dash pad bracket, and then just cut and 'seam' (weld) the new dash to the old dash, where it won't be seen behind the re-attached dash pad bracket. Admittedly, a lot simpler.
I believe it is the same spot weld that holds the dash pad bracket on. i.e., the same weld sandwiches everything together. I could be remembering wrong.
I would take @Engineer8000 lead on this one. How tight is the folded edge of dash to the cowl sheet metal edge. Will the dash's lip slip off the sheet metal it hangs on if you just cut the spot welds?
