Is it possible to swap a dash without pulling the windshield?

deputydog95 · 11-09-2015, 08:39 AM

I've got an 85 with a wrinkled leather dash. I have a new dash on standby waiting to go in. My neighbor has an 88 (I think...) and he said his shop did the dash swap without pulling the windshield.

Is it possible? It would be great if that is the case. My shop can't find a competent glass guy to pull the windshield.

impactbumper · 11-09-2015, 08:47 AM

I have an 85 and had to pull the glass to do the dash.

uwanna · 11-09-2015, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deputydog95

I've got an 85 with a wrinkled leather dash. I have a new dash on standby waiting to go in. My neighbor has an 88 (I think...) and he said his shop did the dash swap without pulling the windshield.

Is it possible? It would be great if that is the case. My shop can't find a competent glass guy to pull the windshield.

In a word: NOPE! LOL
An '86 and later it is easily done, '85 and earlier not a chance!
Good luck!

Elombard · 11-09-2015, 09:00 AM

Do a quick search on pulling the glass - its not glued in so no glass guy required. I guess the problem comes in putting it back in, it doesn't take a glass guy but you do have to take the time to learn how to do it. Maybe you could print the step by step from here and take it to your shop and see if they will tackle it? Its really not that hard.

Porchdog · 11-09-2015, 09:25 AM

I just did my windshield, dash, headliner and window seals on my 81.

No way to do the dash with the windshield in. Even if there weren't screws in the front edge (you can't see them because the seal covers them), I'm pretty sure the top clips wouldn't work.

I'm not sure I'd put the glass back in myself again. I'm a pretty hardcore DIY'er, but that was hellish.

If you are doing it be sure to get the factory seal.

bobrestore · 11-09-2015, 11:53 AM

I have only had early 9/11's ... If its the same.... the window has to have all the aluminum trim in place while on the bench ... Place a soapy string in the rubber groove that would be the window channel flange. Place the window into the opening ... toss ends to the string inside the car. Align the window to the opening .. With one hand push lightly on window while with the other hand pull one of the string ends inside the car... The string pulls/folds the rubber over the window flange. If all goes well it takes 5 minutes... You may need a boning tool or a hook end screw driver to convince the rubber to come home..... It is very easy to do ...even when it does not go easy (first pull) the learning curve is perpendicular..... bob

deputydog95 · 11-09-2015, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uwanna

In a word: NOPE! LOL
An '86 and later it is easily done, '85 and earlier not a chance!
Good luck!

Booooo!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elombard

Do a quick search on pulling the glass - its not glued in so no glass guy required. I guess the problem comes in putting it back in, it doesn't take a glass guy but you do have to take the time to learn how to do it. Maybe you could print the step by step from here and take it to your shop and see if they will tackle it? Its really not that hard.

My shop is primarily race cars. They do windshields all the time. However... That's on race cars where it doesn't have to be perfect. I'm a lot more forgiving on my 79. I don't want the 85 to get tore up while trying to replace the dash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porchdog

I just did my windshield, dash, headliner and window seals on my 81.

No way to do the dash with the windshield in. Even if there weren't screws in the front edge (you can't see them because the seal covers them), I'm pretty sure the top clips wouldn't work.

I'm not sure I'd put the glass back in myself again. I'm a pretty hardcore DIY'er, but that was hellish.

If you are doing it be sure to get the factory seal.

Getting the factory seal for sure! No point in skimping. I don't want to do it myself and it doesn't look like my shop wants to tackle it on this car either. So now the hunt it on for a glass guy who works on old aero beetles.

deputydog95 · 11-09-2015, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobrestore

I have only had early 9/11's ... If its the same.... the window has to have all the aluminum trim in place while on the bench ... Place a soapy string in the rubber groove that would be the window channel flange. Place the window into the opening ... toss ends to the string inside the car. Align the window to the opening .. With one hand push lightly on window while with the other hand pull one of the string ends inside the car... The string pulls/folds the rubber over the window flange. If all goes well it takes 5 minutes... You may need a boning tool or a hook end screw driver to convince the rubber to come home..... It is very easy to do ...even when it does not go easy (first pull) the learning curve is perpendicular..... bob

Feel like coming to Orlando for a few days of vacation and maybe work on a windshield while you're here? LOL

rwest · rwest's Garage

Read the instructions in Wayne's book and with the neighbors help, got it in the third try- the trim kept popping out. Overall not a tough project and might be good to make sure you haven't got rust starting in there, not to mention how nice fresh glass is.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by deputydog95

Getting the factory seal for sure! No point in skimping. I don't want to do it myself and it doesn't look like my shop wants to tackle it on this car either. So now the hunt it on for a glass guy who works on old aero beetles.

Jeebus crispies.

Get a helper to apply the medium pressure. Front window re-install is a cake walk.

Warm the seal up in hot water to get the trim in. I used stout speaker wire to pull lip. 30 minutes with my 19 year old son. Start to finish.

Soapy water, glycrin (factory says use this), KY Jelly. Nothing to it.

montauk · 11-10-2015, 11:57 AM

I just did this on my 1980 Targa. As others have said, getting the dash out would be impossible. There are four screws along the skirt at the front of the dash that you can't get to while the windshield is in place.

I recently had Safeflite replace the windshield on my daily driver. I asked the guy if he did the old style windshields and he said sure, no problem. I'm surprised you can't find a windshield guy to do it.

Putting the windshield back in wasn't easy. I read all the posts I could find here regarding the windshield. I found some that said to use a thicker cord and to start at the top. That's what we did and it worked - on the second try. I had to press really firmly at the lower left corner to get the glass close enough to the metal lip for the seal to grab. I pushed while my 87 year old Dad pulled on the cord. That old man is tough!!!!

Here's a photo looking through my new windshield. I was driving to the autoparts store for the rear view mirror glue when I took it. My new dash is a little dusty. I've to tackle that steering wheel soon too.

deputydog95 · 11-11-2015, 09:13 AM

Appreciate all the tips.

They found a guy finally. Looks like the glass it getting pulled today and will go back in later this week after the dash is done. Can't wait for the wavy gravy leather dash to be gone.

deputydog95 · 11-12-2015, 02:15 PM

Turns out my windshield was glued in. Sigh. They had to break it to get it out. Grrrrrr.

donlan · donlan's Garage

Hello, I took the dash out of my 1973 911T [US] with the windscreen in.Michael.

deputydog95 · 11-17-2015, 04:26 AM

How did you get at the front dash pins without taking the screen out?

Discseven · Discseven's Garage

DD95... I know yours is '85. Here's visual reference from '80 showing why glass must come out of similar setups. Leading edge of dash has 5 stock screws securing dash to car. (Have seen some dashboards secured with more screws due to shrinking dash.) When installed, bottom of windshield's rubber trim sits on top of these screws.

Screw hole.

Black arrows point to screw holes.