Man there's a lot of crap under the dash!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 33
From: Canton, GA
Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! If you are looking to trim 50+ pounds, pull the dash and remove the heater box and blower, duct work, firewall insulation, etc. Man what a bunch of crap under there. Lot's of free room now though 
Think I will reposition my PCM on the firewall inside the car.
Think I will reposition my PCM on the firewall inside the car. Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Its not too bad, just take your time Chris. Basically everything holds the dash on comes off with a nut driver and screwdriver, and don't lose any bolts
Its helpful to undo the nuts underneath the steering column that will allow it to drop down more so you can pull the dash over..the steering wheel will have to come off too so you can do this, but I'd assume airbags are going as well.
Regular puller for the steering wheel and LS1 waterpump bolts work perfect for the puller to get the wheel off.
Some nice sheet metal from Home Depot, a drill, and a rivet gun, and silicone sealant are necessary to make a decent heater block off.
um, that should be a good start, have fun.
Its helpful to undo the nuts underneath the steering column that will allow it to drop down more so you can pull the dash over..the steering wheel will have to come off too so you can do this, but I'd assume airbags are going as well.
Regular puller for the steering wheel and LS1 waterpump bolts work perfect for the puller to get the wheel off.
Some nice sheet metal from Home Depot, a drill, and a rivet gun, and silicone sealant are necessary to make a decent heater block off.
um, that should be a good start, have fun.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 33
From: Canton, GA
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Sean covered most of it. I did not pull the steering wheel. Just removed the nuts holding it up and let it hang down. The worst for me was figuring out why the top was not coming loose.
The top part of the dash pops right off. It is just held down by interference fit clips and velcro. Pop it off first, and you will see the 5 screws I am refering to along the top.
The firewall insualtion was a bitch though. I just used a utility knife with a fresh blade and hacked it all out of there.
The top part of the dash pops right off. It is just held down by interference fit clips and velcro. Pop it off first, and you will see the 5 screws I am refering to along the top.
The firewall insualtion was a bitch though. I just used a utility knife with a fresh blade and hacked it all out of there.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 33
From: Canton, GA
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Also make sure you pull the instrument cluster before removing the dash. The plastic plug for the instruments is mounted on a slide fitting behind the cluster. You may have issues if you don't remove that first.
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! you mentioned the "top part" of the dash , is that the part directly under the windshield and has theat A/C - defroster vent?
can you elaborate on how to remove that?
thanks in advance.
can you elaborate on how to remove that?
thanks in advance.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 33
From: Canton, GA
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Yes....the part with the vent for the windshield. Just pry up on it with a flat screwdriver. The clips will pop free and the velcro will also release.
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TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,987
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, FL
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Glad to hear you're making some progress Todd!
I'll have my dash out again sometime to put a full rollcage in the car, and lose a bunch of wiring. In fact, I'm planning on rewiring almost the entire car from scratch, as I don't plan to have anything but the basics...
I'll have my dash out again sometime to put a full rollcage in the car, and lose a bunch of wiring. In fact, I'm planning on rewiring almost the entire car from scratch, as I don't plan to have anything but the basics...
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Launching!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Little Rock, AR
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! BIG weight removal. Only drawback here in the south is that it is DAYUMN HOT in the (black) car driving it around town. Nearly died of heat exhaustion on Monday in a traffic jam on the freeway.
But it is a big help weight wise. Also very handy to get wiring done now as the car changes over time.
Oh the price we pay, oh the pains we endure.
But it is a big help weight wise. Also very handy to get wiring done now as the car changes over time.
Oh the price we pay, oh the pains we endure.
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Excellent info guys.
I was considering doing this weight reduction but I'm not sure if I could live without heat in the winter time. I do like to drive my car year round as long as the roads are dry and not salty.
They do have in car heaters that plug into your cig lighter.. always an option.
I was considering doing this weight reduction but I'm not sure if I could live without heat in the winter time. I do like to drive my car year round as long as the roads are dry and not salty.
They do have in car heaters that plug into your cig lighter.. always an option.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 33
From: Canton, GA
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! My car isn't gonna be a driver really any more, so no big deal. I will just cruise it up to QS&L from time to time. Otherwise, just kicking butt at the track.
George, you can see from my new sig pic that I am also rewiring everything. I plan on mounting the PCM inside the car and eliminating much of the engine bay clutter. Will mount my small Hawker battery near where the heater box was.
George, you can see from my new sig pic that I am also rewiring everything. I plan on mounting the PCM inside the car and eliminating much of the engine bay clutter. Will mount my small Hawker battery near where the heater box was.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,341
Likes: 1
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Thanks for the information guys!!
I am going to clean all that crap out of there soon
Did you replace the steering wheel with a grant wheel?
Anything special in replacing that?
I am going to remove the airbags, heater core all ducting, blower motor and leave in the radio.
I really like having the tunes blasting when driving to the track. In particular Alice in Chains Dirt and badmotorfinger by soundgarden hehe
Chris
ps- Did you remove your ABS? How is that for street driving? Greatly increased pedal pressure?
I LOVE how my car stops now with the powerslots but wouldnt mind cleaning out as much **** from the engine bay as possible. (Including ABS, powersteering pump and reservoir and maybe relocating the coils)
I am going to clean all that crap out of there soon
Did you replace the steering wheel with a grant wheel?
Anything special in replacing that?
I am going to remove the airbags, heater core all ducting, blower motor and leave in the radio.
I really like having the tunes blasting when driving to the track. In particular Alice in Chains Dirt and badmotorfinger by soundgarden hehe
Chris
ps- Did you remove your ABS? How is that for street driving? Greatly increased pedal pressure?
I LOVE how my car stops now with the powerslots but wouldnt mind cleaning out as much **** from the engine bay as possible. (Including ABS, powersteering pump and reservoir and maybe relocating the coils)
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! I replaced my steering wheel with a Grant one, yes. Wasn't hard, just make sure you put it on so that it looks right, as in don't put it on cockeyed so the car looks like it has major alignment issues or something.
Oh, I will now pass on to you a tip you will thank me for forever for the steering wheel.
You will need an adapter kit for the grant wheel to fit on your car..only they don't make one for newer f bodies...
so my friend and i figured out by a bunch of trial and error which one it is. its the newest GMC truck kit available..197X-1984 years GMC TRUCK adapter kit. It will slide right in.
I have now just saved you alot of time and a big ******* headache
Oh, I will now pass on to you a tip you will thank me for forever for the steering wheel.
You will need an adapter kit for the grant wheel to fit on your car..only they don't make one for newer f bodies...
so my friend and i figured out by a bunch of trial and error which one it is. its the newest GMC truck kit available..197X-1984 years GMC TRUCK adapter kit. It will slide right in.
I have now just saved you alot of time and a big ******* headache
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash!
My ABS has been gone for some time now with absolutely no difference in driving at all.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 33
From: Canton, GA
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Great info Sean. Which wheel did you use?
Larry...do you really think someone would go looking to see if your ABS was removed? Sounds kind of unlikely to me. But stranger laws have existed.
Larry...do you really think someone would go looking to see if your ABS was removed? Sounds kind of unlikely to me. But stranger laws have existed.
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! Todd, the adapter kit info applies to any Grant wheel you happen to use. I got a basic Grant black wheel, not sure what its called, its simple and smaller in diameter than a stock wheel so its easier to turn the car without power steering.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 33
From: Canton, GA
Re: Man there's a lot of crap under the dash! The brakes feel no different than they did with ABS. Absolutely no difference that I can tell.
Sean...so that adapter you mentioned will work with any Grant wheel? Or are there specific applications just for the f-body?
Sean...so that adapter you mentioned will work with any Grant wheel? Or are there specific applications just for the f-body?