Any "How to's" on removing/installing a dashboard
 

I have a 1985 4Runner I am doing a body swap on and would like to know if anyone knows of any threads on this topic or has any info? Preferrably with pictures. I am swapping out steering, wiring harness and the whole yards. Thanks guys.

Pull all the bolts, undo the harness, swap, reverse, and VIOLA! Brand new truck!

You make it sound so easy. I hope you're right.

Pretty much yeah, very simple just remember where everything goes and you'll be fine.

it's not hard, just time consuming. When you pull parts off, use plastic baggies to organize the screws. Lay the screws with the part it came off with.

Download the factory service manual. Seriously, it has great little pictures with arrows and all sorts of crap. But I'll tell you anyway, in case you lack Adobe Acrobat.

After pulling out a few screws, you'll begin to notice a pattern. The plastics are fastened to tubular sub frames in the front of the cab using threaded phillips head screws that are kinda like short deck screws.

Metal bolted to metal parts use machine screws that are usually a phillips screw with a hex head.

The dash is self-explanatory. The "cluster cap" comes off with those phillips screws. There's only 5 or 6, just look around and don't get frustrated with the old plastic and break it.

Then comes the safety pad (remove inclinometer first, if equipped). The safety pad is the top padding with the vents inside it that runs from center all the way to the passenger A-pillar. This is the tricky one. First, there are a couple phillips screws along the front of it (4 or 5).

Then you remove the passenger side vent using a flathead screw driver. The vent is just clipped in. If you break it, don't beat yourself up about it (I broke mine but air still comes through so I'm over it).

Behind the vent is a hex head bolt. Oh, now you need to remove the glove box. I don't believe this requires tools, just open her up and use a flathead to unsnap the vinyl backing (behind the glovebox) from along the top. The glove box should come out with a little weasling, I believe it just sits inside a plastic track or somethin' or other.

There are 3 or 4 studs that are attached to the safety pad (along the back near the windshield) and "drop down" through slots in the steel "subframe" running along underneath the dash (you can't see them unless you stick your head in through the glove box opening). Hex nuts fasten these studs to the "subframe". Remove the hex nuts and take your time angling the safety pad up and away from the dash area.

The rest of the dash is pretty obvious. It looks like a plastic skeleton by now. You could disassemble the heater controls, but I found it much easier to just unhook the cables from their corresponding devices underneath the dash (one of them goes through the firewall to a hot water valve).

If you need any help, read my body swap thread. You can always PM me too, I'm on here every night.

P.S. Every electrical conenctor you "disconnect", write a number or letter of the alphabet on both the male and female connections. This will make things easier for re=assembly. You an even keep a log in a notebook to allow easier location.

Here are pictures.
 

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...n/IMG_0455.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...n/IMG_0458.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...wless/DASH.jpg

Thanks a lot, that is probably the best explained response I have ever gotten. It will help out a lot.

Thanks a lot, that is probably the best explained response I have ever gotten. It will help out a lot.

This is the best advice we can simply give you....
other then the post below the one i am quoting :D

:D Thanks! I'll be doing this all over again (going from extra cab to 4Runner). Like I said any further questions about anything... don't hesitate to ask!