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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Washington State, the wet side | I'm getting ready to tear my dash apart and wonder if there are any instructions in the DeSoto manual (don't have one) or another source that could be useful. Secondly I have seen a padded and none padded dash, was the padded dash an option? |
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Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Sioux Center, IA | These might help:
http://www.justdashes.com/61_chrysler.html
http://jcauto.com/services.html
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 496
| Are you taking the dash out completely? I had the dash out of my 60 dodge... Which is basically the same. The manual was helpful with wiring and the vacuum lines for the A/C. I guess you could label everything... I bought my car with the dash already removed.
To take the whole thing out is easy. Pull the wheel to get it out of the way. Drop or remove the column (take lots of pictures and make notes). Remove all of the stuff you can easily access on the front (radio, ash tray, glove box door, heater/a/c controls, knobs).
To remove it completely, unhook all of the under hood wiring and feed it through the hole in the firewall. Remove the kick panels and unhook the wire connectors the go to the rear body harness. Take off all of the trim around the windshield. Carefully remove the front wind lacing to prevent damage. Remove the a/c or heater ducting. Disconnect the speedo cable, and push button controls. There is a five inch or so bracket up near the back of the speedometer that is hard to get to... But it has to come off. Unbolt the small bolts across the top of the dash at the windshield and halfway loosen the two big lower bolts on either side of the panel. It should pivot down. Find someone to help you carry it out of the car.
Everything else can be removed from the back... Including the glove box.
I'm sure I forgot a few things... But this should get you going. Make sure you do unmentioned every step with photos and notes!
Aaron
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Regular
Posts: 92
Location: Eastern Iowa, USA | The dash assembly & pad on the 60 Desoto is quite different then the 60 Chrysler (although I read somewhere that the Canadian Desotos possibly used the Chrysler dash assembly & pad). Also, the dash pad on the Desoto was an option I believe. My Fireflite had one, but a previous owner removed it. I recently parted one out that didn't have a dash pad.
Have a great day! |
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