SC Dash attachment points?

[dyount]

I've noticed the later 80's 911's dash attachment is accessed from the luggage compartment. Can anyone give me a for sure that the 83 I have has the dreaded screws going down through at the windshield line? ( windshield out to fix) Or, get it from luggage compartment? (no windshield out)

[NY65912]

Sorry, windshield out.

[Bob Kontak]

+1

Several fasteners still need to be accessed from the front trunk.

I do not know if there is a way to remove the windshield and seal as a unit. That would be divine as the install is easy with two people and an acceptable rope. I just used 12 or 10 gauge wire and KY to pull the lip over while the helper kept pressure on the outside. Had a new OEM seal though. Do not buy aftermarket from what I have read.

[javadog]

You can push a 911 windshield out from the inside in just a few seconds. It comes out with the seal and trim intact. That is, unless it was installed with sealant.

I'd probably use a new, Porsche seal going back together, not a used seal that might be 10, 20, 30 years old.

JR

[perrygrandprix]

Hi dyount

I recently removed and replaced my SC dash pad due to cracking. To do this the window does comes out.

I spent time disconnecting all attachment nuts (10mm) through dash holes like the speedo cluster and centre air vent. A couple of end nuts can be accessed through the rear of the dash inside the boot. There are about 6 or so nuts directly behind the vertical part of the pad facing you in the cab. There are another 2 nuts directly above the speedo cluster in the dash hump (take the tachometer out and feel with your hands and they are on the horizontal plane)

The pad is held in place by these vertically placed nuts with press fit clips only on the top of the dash with a row of screws across the windshield line to the very front. It is these screws you need to remove the window to access.

My suggestions are as follows:

Visit the pelican parts page and buy new attachment bolts and plastic clips before you pull the dash. It is likely you will need them when refitting another or same dash pad

Have a very small (i.e. 1inch long) length ratchet ring spanner handy for the vertical nuts as there is not much room to get your hands through the dash openings with a standard ring spanner or a socket wrench for that matter.

If you are going to take the car to a windscreen remover premises first spend time at home (only in a patient mood) disconnecting all attachment nuts/bolts first. Drive the car to the windscreen fitter premise and while the window is out slide the pad off and replace it with another, then go home and sit down with a cup of tea and take your time to reattach all the nuts through the dash holes

To be honest everyone says it is a difficult job. It isn't but the are a few steps which need patience and time. It will take a few hours to do plus the windscreen removal.

Basically that's it. In the end it is not such a big deal if you put the time aside and understand the steps required.

Cheers
Perrygrandprix

P.S do remember you can push out "hardened"glass windows with your feet, but a laminated screen will easily crack unless you remove carefully with you hands only. In all cases the screen comes out with the seal and locking strip still in place and goes back in the same.

[dyount]

Well, Cxxp snacks on this project. This winter has been HORRIBLE in PA and we haven't seen much of anything above freezing for so long I can't keep track. I pulled the cover off my 911 the other morning to get something out of it and low and behold the dash has cracked. My projects slated for this year were going to be get the trans rebuilt,re-cover the seats. But now it's looking like windshield pull and dash repair instead.
So...... (you guys will like this) I go shopping for leather thinking maybe I'd recover it in place with glove thickness leather. I ask the lady in the shop... "does this come in larger sizes like in a 50" plus length"? She says Ummm no sir they don't grow goats that big.

So what are thoughts on this?
1 cut the weather stripping in order to not question damaging the glass
2 remove dash and recover with probably leather myself after fiberglass repair of bottom side
3 replace dash and re-mount glass myself... I have replaced glass by myself before but not in a 911...
Doing it all myself my budget may still include finding replacement leather and paying someone to re-do the damaged portions of my seats, re-dye and topcoat myself. With my expertise in hi end veneer work years ago I'm thinking wrapping a dash should be a snap.

Thanks for all the info guys... Pelican posters are beyond helpful and I'll buy the first pitcher in Hershey at Troggs brewery

[perrygrandprix]

Hi dyount

The answers we give depends on your cars condition or how you want it look in the end. Most would agree that the effort made with this should match the value/condition of the vehicle in question.

I have seen leather covered dash tops and they look good but the cost to have them done can be a bit on the expensive side. Some do them in alcantera but it may not have the look for the older year models. To do leather yourself and have it look good may be more difficult than you might expect and you will have trouble with colour matching.

When working on Porsche's I find it good business not to destroy anything you can successfully remove with a bit more care and time. The exception to this is that the replacement parts are not that expensive if you destroy it. But for most earlier Porsche's it is definately better to plan for a windscreen rubber if the window is to come out and the rubber seal is old/original. Better weather reseal and fit when it is finished and easier to install with soft new rubber. What ever you do don't damage the aluminium locking strip during the process. Should you take the window out with care and without cutting the rubber seal the locking strip stays in place.

I found the most economic repair with my SC was to buy a good used dash top (right hand drive in my case which are quite rare to find used in perfect condition) disconnect before window removal and sit in place until I took the car home to fasten it properly.

I found the used parts supplier in Belgium who had excellent parts for good prices (I am in Australia) to be the best FG Porsche (http://www.fgporsche.com/en/) and they advertise on e-bay. The dash top arrived a couple of weeks after purchase and was near perfect. I would buy from them again.

I was able to recolour the dash top with lacquer based pait tinted to match the interior (I am an ex-auto painter and have done this many times for insurance repairs). To could also do this in the 2 pack systems currently available. Almost all brand vehicles have interior and exterior (i.e. plastic bumpers or plastic interior trim) parts painted at the factory. The panel shop repair industry will have felixble additives for the colour, plastic primers and prep materials especially for plastic recolouring. It's a standard thing any repairer should be able to explain to you.

The replacement now done in the last 6 months and nobody picks it was done. The cost was $750 for the used dash top with freight to Australia, $150 for the window guy to pull and refit the windscreen and $100 for all paint materials. I probably spent 2 hours disconnecting all fasteners and 2 hours in reverse. A drive to the windscreen place and a couple of hours there for the window in and out.

What I know is that you cannot properly do anything with the old dash in the car. Filling or another such repair is a waste of time if the old dash pad is now brittle from sun damage and it looks poor and will crack again soon after. Best to have another dash ready for the replacement process, recovered in leather or another one coloured to match the interior. Have spare clips and fasteners ready to replace when the dash pad comes out. I would pay someone to take the window out and back in because a replacement new or used screen is not cheap if you crack the one you have.
Cheers
perrygrandprix