Vanagon owner . . . Again: December 2013

Today I played with the new dashboard.

I needed to strip it down, so I can sand blast and paint it.

First was to remove all the attached bits:

Securing the dashboard on something sturdy and non-damaging, I began with the removal of the vents. They mostly click in, so reaching in and pinching the tabs allows all 4 of them to slide right out. I then started on the face parts: the cigarette lighter, the radio, the heat controls and the A/C controls.

The cigarette lighter is tricky. The secret is to use a small flat screwdriver to pop off the light housing on the side of the lighter assembly. It does not slide off. It clicks straight off. Once that is off, you are left with a cylinder. Two tabs hold that into the dash; depress them simultaneously and you can slide out the lighter assembly.

Map light pops out easily.

The radio that was in this dash is a fully functional original VW Clarion tape deck head unit. Someone has already asked for it, so I needed to be careful. I happen to have my dashboard tool kit for the Mercedes dashboards, so I was counting on that to remove the head unit properly. I was right, it did.

The pronged pieces in the kit worked great, but in all honesty a properly shaped coat hanger (thicker metal, not the cheaply made dry cleaner ones) would work great for this application.

Next was the controls for heat. The 4 knobs of the selector levels pull off with a bit of persuasion. Then the knob of the fan rheostat slides off. The face plate is held on by two press retainers and a couple tabs. A screwdriver carefully placed beneath the plate will enable a careful dashboard tech to gently slide off the faceplate. The rheostat will pop off now with two tabs, and the control lever mechanism is held on with three Phillips head screws; two accessed from the front and one in rear.

The A/C controls will pop off in one assembly. There are 4 tabs that retain the assembly upon the dash face.

All that is left is the dash pad cover and the latch mechanism for the glove box.

The dash pad comes off with 7 Phillips head screws and 9 speed nuts.

Now the pad releases from the dash and the 30 year old collection of grime is plainly visible!

Only thing left is to consider what you will do with VIN placard. You either need to remove and replace with your own, or tape it up, or remove and reapply this one after prep and paint.

Update - 29 Dec 13

Made some alterations to the dash today for tweeters, one on each outer side of the center vents.