68 A/C Dash Pad Removal
 

Trying to remove the Dash Pad on my factory A/C 68 GTO. I do not want to force anything and accidentally break something. I am a little frustrated that I have not been successful yet.

Could not find a youtube video and the manuals just do not go beyond the comments "remove the dash pad," before moving on to other steps in the dash removal/repair processes.

The Dash Pad is very tight to the metal dash and will not move out at all. I am missing a step in the process, that is why I am seeking help.

Any step-by-step (by the numbers) procedural advice would be greatly appreciated.

Recently picked up a 69-76 MPC for Tempest and Grand Prix.

It does not cover 68 but if you think it would help, I could scan the 69-72 Tempest dash diagram pages

There are studs inside and a push in clip on each end. Unscrew the 4? nuts and pop the ends. Of course this is after all other accessories have been removed like heater control, screws above the gauge bezel.

@Ponchjoe & Pepper Judge
 

Yes, I am aware of the two studs that are located at each end of the dash pad. The clips holding them in have been removed, but the pad still will not budge at all.

Still need a Step-by-Step process for removal.

The vents look like they should be removed, but I do not know how without breaking them.

Thank you for your replies

Searching existing threads is your friend here:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...95#post5531895

This is from the 68-69 tech catagorie, and there are others.

Thank you, but still not enough information on how to step-by-step remove the dash pad without breaking anything.

Guess you'll have to learn like the rest of us. I can't find a step by step and it's been too long for me to guess, sorry

How did you remove the clips with the pad in place?
As for the vents, they stay with the pad. The plastic ducting that makes up the rear of the vent is a slip-fit into the actual dash ducting. The only other thing holding it other than the mentioned studs and the vents are the little spring clips visible in the pics. They snap into slots cut into the metal dash.
It's been a long time since I've had mine out and I'm trying to remember what else could be holding it.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1548640022
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...2&d=1548639837

Oh, I forgot about the screw hole visible right above the blue basket in that photo. There are three of them right above the glove box door. Other than that, I think it should pop right off.
This pic shows the three tabs that accept the screws above the glove box.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1548641237

Thank you to everyone especially Greg Reid.

Greg, all the screws were removed before I made the first post, but your pictures are very helpful.

The clips on the studs just popped right off with a little help from a screwdriver. The spring clips are very, very tight, but I was able to release the tension while a second person pulled, but it still would not move at all.

Will give it another shout over the weekend.

Thank you!

My photo above reminded me of another feature. The vent ducts are not just a slip fit. You see the rusty clip inside the duct in the photo above...it actually clips onto the fixed portion of the ducting.
All of these clips, spread out over different portions of the dash as they are, can make it stubborn since they all have to start giving up their hold together.

Another thing you might want to consider is when the pad has been in-place for many years, the rolled edges of the steel former create a strip of vinyl all the way across the top upper edge of the defroster sheet metal that you don't see. Over time and heat from the sun old vinyl gets sticky as it sweats out some of what it's made from (kind of like a oil-glue resin). This will stick to anything the back of the pad touches, effectively gluing it in place! The problem is the force to break the glue bond may just as well be enough to also crack your dash pad since that old vinyl covering is now very brittle.