Dash removal

Talk and Tech about turbocharged 924/944/968 cars
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Tom
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One of the things I've never done to a 944 is remove the dash. I've had a leather-wrapped dash to put in my car for years, and have just never gotten around to it (combination of chicken and lazy). I've read up on the job and actually think I've done virtually everything involved in the job, at one point or another, except actually pulling the dash itself off. This is an 86, so no airbags to worry about. Has anyone here done the job? Tips? Encouragement? Warnings? I'll get the leather dash out and take some pictures, hoping that motivates me to dive in... :)

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gruhsy
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I will try and remember to post pics later after work

I have pulled 2 dashboards
An 87 then an 86

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Tom
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gruhsy wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 12:47 pm I will try and remember to post pics later after work

I have pulled 2 dashboards
An 87 then an 86
That would be great. I have an old write up someone did in like the 90's, complete with genuine Polaroid pictures! :o

And did you get them both back on :)

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Fejjj951
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I want to to tackle this project as well but I am definitely chicken! I will probably end up paying someone to do it.

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gruhsy
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Sorry guys still digging for photos.
It is much easier than you think to remove.
The second one was super easy after knowing where to remove screws etc

Don’t let it scare you :)

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Tom
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Well I pulled it out of storage and it looks pretty good. Other than the screws actually holding the dash to the frame, I honestly think I've removed all the little bits needed to remove the dash, at one point or another. I've just never did all that at once and, of course, never yanked the actual dash out. Seeing the leather one is helping to motivate me though. As lazy as I am, this doesn't 'feel' like a good job to farm out, insofar as it seems way too easy to cut corners, mix up screws, etc., etc. I also have a matching leather center console in the lower tan color, although I'm thinking it might be better in black in my interior.
dash1.gif
dash1.gif (366.02 KiB) Viewed 3465 times

dash2.gif
dash2.gif (664.13 KiB) Viewed 3465 times


interior944.JPEG
interior944.JPEG (788.04 KiB) Viewed 3465 times
This is how it looks right now....

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Darwin
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I wish I were closer! I'd volunteer my time to assist!
1984 VW Rabbit Pick-up - Not stock
1988 944 Turbo S - Really not stock (Chris White special)
2012 VW Tiguan - Kinda stock
2013 Cayenne Base - 6 Speed! Tastefully modified, mostly stock

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Tom
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Darwin wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:43 pm I wish I were closer! I'd volunteer my time to assist!
I wish! But the truth is, this is the kind of project I can see working on in little spurts. Other than the final removal, it seems like a long/tedious collection of fairly discrete little tasks, removing one do-hickey after another until the dash can come out. I need to jockey cars around the garage so the 944 can sit a while as I chip away at it....

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Thom
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It is an easy job, it only takes times. IIRC there are no more than 6 bolts that actually hold the dash onto the shell. What takes time is the removal of all things attached to the dash, like the stuff around the steering column, the glove box, the radio, the gauges, the A/C control unit, the A-pillar covers, etc.
'90 944 turbo

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Tom
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Thom wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 3:25 pm It is an easy job, it only takes times. IIRC there are no more than 6 bolts that actually hold the dash onto the shell. What takes time is the removal of all things attached to the dash, like the stuff around the steering column, the glove box, the radio, the gauges, the A/C control unit, the A-pillar covers, etc.
I've convinced myself that is true, and that I've done virtually all of it before in pieces, other than those last 4-6 bolts. My back has been showing it's age this last week, but as soon as that's back to normal, I'll dig in.... It's honestly one of the last major things I have not done on these cars...

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