Dashboard removal steps - Is there a thread outlining all the steps?

Looking for articles that can identify the steps for a full dashboard removal on a Comet or Mav

Reasons: Access to what lurks behind there and repainting.

 

Step one: Remove windshield/weather stripping To access fasteners at top front edge of instrument panel.
Step Two: Remove lower package tray.
Step Three: Drop steering column from mounting bracket
Step four: Remove instrument cluster from panel...Carefully disconnect speedo cable/harness plug
Step five: Unplug headlight switch/wiper switch/blower fan switch. Unscrew/detach heater controls from inst panel assy after carefully removeing knobs from levers and VERY carefully slipping cover off of control assy. You can now mark/disconnect cables from assy or try to worm the whole thing back through the hole.
Step six: crawl under instrument panel with a bright light and a bag of colorful curse words and disconnect anything you feel may be tangled in the panel keeping it from coming loose in your hands. (Wires/brackets etc...)
Step seven: Remove the two bolts on each side of the panel where the package tray brackets mount to the panel.
Step eight: pull panel assy towards you. (May have to push/ pull/wiggle) Till panel comes loose in your hands. Now disconnect anything you forgot/couldnt see etc... and the panel will be out.
Good time to go through the heater box as well...

 

Thanks Mavman. I had completed step 1, thanks for providing the outline for going forward. I'll post questions if I get stuck.

-regards

 

This is what you will have once its out...
I almost forgot...The defroster duct and speaker will come out with the instrument panel as well.

 

I detached the heater cables from the heater box, and the fuse panel from the firewall. Don't forget to remove the radio, too. If the speedometer cable is hard to get apart behind the cluster, you can always remove the gear-end from the transmission to give yourself more slack and room at the instrument cluster.

 

This is the best picture I have, sorry...

 

What bolts physically hold it in. Stupid body shop gutted my car. Is there bolts on the side ? Or just the screws in the top?

 

There are brackets in that area. They hold the dash as well as the lower dash tray/glovebox.

 

Wonderful. I will try and find a car at a junkyard to look at. I may have to fabricate them. I guess no one can post pictures because the lower package tray hides the brackets? I am guessing the body shop cut mine off when they removed the dash.

 

The bolt on easily. No need to fabricate, lots of used ones out there. I have them. Email me DIRECTLY (see below) if I can help.