early 944 dash removal

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

Does anyone have experience removing a dash on an early 944? My windshield is out and I have an opportunity to put in a dash without cracks.

How much of a chore is this? Is there anything on line that walks you through this process?

JivenJim · 10-24-2006, 08:11 AM

Not to bad of a job if you can handle all the wires without freak'en out. Flexible vent lines pull off. Don't force out or you can easily break your windshield. Ask me how I know. (I forgot the one inside the Center speaker Grill) Some of the screws are sort of hidden so just follow the procedure under "Dash Removal" http://www.clarks-garage.com/

Also leave yourself plenty of time so you don't rush. I like keeping lots of quick ties handy to bundle up them wires. Good time to replace any light bulbs that are out.

Slam · 10-24-2006, 08:43 AM

From memory (chances are I'll forget something, but this'll get you started):

Remove steering wheel - pry off horn pad. Wheel is held on by 22mm nut (24?). Two screws, accessible from underneath the column trim, hold the trim on. Take off the trim. Now you can pry off the connectors at the column (Make sure you've disconnected the battery). Three screws hold the column switches in - they're on the faceplate. Take 'em out and draw the switch assembly off the column. Now you can get the instrument cluster out - two screws at its top (over the multi-gauge and the tach). Reach behind the cluster and unscrew the speedo cable, then you can pull the cluster out and remove the connectors. Most of their placement is pretty obvious, but better label them all.

All this makes it easier to take out the switches on the dash face. Just reach into the cluster hole and remove them. There are tabs top and bottom on each one, so squeeze and push them out through the front of the dash. Then remove connectors. Now open the glove box and take out the mounting screws inside at the top. As you pull the glove box out you'll see how to disengage the glove box light. Now you can get to both outer vent ducts. You can leave the vents in and just pull off the hoses if you like. The vents' tabs tend to break when you try to get the vents out. You can also disconnect the hoses at the heater box after the console comes out if you prefer.

The console is held in place by screws around its forward edges and two 10mm bolts under the ashtray. Plus mounts behind the upper fascia. The two screws at the fascia's top corners come out, then the faceplates and heater controls. The heater controls are held by screws through clips on the bottom and two pins that engage the cigarette lighter faceplate - plus the knobs, which just pull off. I'd leave the heater cables attached to their carrier, 'cause the clips can break. Your stereo removal will depend on how you or whoever installed it did the job. Again, mark all the wires and such. I'll check this to see what I missed.

Now take off the winshield pillar trim on each side - three screws to each one, behind the pops, and the upper one is at an odd angle so it can be a pain. Now you can see the dash's upper corner screws. They can come out, and the lower corner screws which are almost directly below them under the dash. I think you're almost finished! There are two metal supports, one on either side of the console, that screw to the underdash lip and attach to the heater box. They'll have to be detached.

Lastly, pry off the speaker cover that's front and centre on the dash. The whole dash should now be hanging from the 10mm nut you'll see in there. Remove nut and the dash should come straight out.

Looks like alot but I can get an early dash out in less than 30 minutes. If I've missed anything, somebody here will know for sure. The Haynes 924 manual has got a good procedure for this, too.

HTH and good luck.

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

Thanks men.

liljon's924S · 10-24-2006, 02:29 PM

Where can you get a replacement? and for how much?

Dtchy · 10-24-2006, 04:36 PM

Someone I know had his dash of his 928 completely recovered in leather. I'm gonna go that route eventually. Looks (but most of all smells) very nice.

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

The place to get a 928 or 944 dash in leather is from a guy in Dearborn, MI. He is a retired Ford guy who has a 928 he completely restored. He does allot of leather work; he is not cheap but his stuff is very good. I am going to do a swap with him. I'm giving him my old dash, he is giving me one completely reworked in leather. I talked to him at some length about his process; it is very labor intense, thus his product reflects the cost. His web site is:

www.the928leathershop.com

Dtchy · 10-24-2006, 04:59 PM

Nice work. Yes, the guy I know had his whole interior done with brown leather. Not at the guy you mentioned, but a similar shop.
Looks awesome!

JivenJim · 10-24-2006, 07:25 PM

Don't freak, but I want you to be ready!!

That New Leather Dash sounds nice. Give us a link to the Dash Jedi.

Slam... Nice Instructions!

Gt racing also sells some dashes. I think somewhere in there are full dash blanks the could be custom covered.
http://www.gt-racing.com/GTR944.pdf?PHPSESSID=c75dcd34ecc4ffda5a6869af2ec0e 6f0