Just Removed the Dash

#1

I removed my dash in preparation of my cage install next week. My question now is what all do I need to have hooked up to be able to drive the car on and off the trailer. I am going to attempt to remove all the A/C and heater core stuff tomorrow. Anything I need to know or any DIYs available? Then the sunroof cartridge removal at Jim’s on Sunday. The car is getting closer and closer to being ready to race. Just wish the driver was ready.

#2

Remember the nuts on the firewall side to remove heater core. And you need to weld all the holes shut.

#3

King Tut wrote:

Just the computer and ignition switch. Don’t forget the 4(?)pin connector that breaks out right at the computer connection. It needs to be connected also. The car will run w/o the cluster, OBD, etc.

#4

Ran it without the cluster just fine. Met up with Jim and got the sunroof cartridge removed no problem along with gaining a bunch of knowledge and getting my 3rd brake light mounted. Unfortunetly my sunroof skin was way too rusted to be reused, so I am going to find a shop to fabricate a sunroof plug or find a used sunroof that I can skin. I wanted to thank Jim again for all the help on Sunday.

#5

You are welcome. It would have been great if the sunroof panel hadn’t been rusted out and I could have welded it back in. But that is something that you can deal with later after the cage is in.

I’m getting good at this sun roof stuff. I had that sucker out in about an hour. And that included a quick trip to HD to get some more cutoff disks.

#6

Just cut a piece of sheet steel 2" oversize and rivet it on.

#7

That is a last resort Scott in that my fabrication skills can handle a drill and rivet gun, but I am going to contact some shops about welding a panel in first. The hole will be filled by Road Atlanta.

#8

Figured I would update this. I got the car back from Kirk racing on Friday. They got the cage done in 4 days, and I am very happy with it. Today I mounted my 6 point drivers side harness, and tomorrow I will be putting the dash and gauge cluster back in. I found a shop that says they can fab up a panel and TIG weld it in the sunroof hole.

#9

King Tut wrote:

Did I miss the step of you painting the cage??

#10

I haven’t painted it yet. I guess I should paint the dash bar before I put the dash back in. Honestly paint and looks aren’t high on my priority list. Getting the car ready to run for RA next month is the priority.

#11

Way to go Chris! Can’t wait to see the finished product.

#12

What did they charge for the cage?

#13

King Tut wrote:

I understand the urge to put everything back in and worry about painting the cage later. But painting the cage is a step that if you skip now you will regret later.

#14

it’s not about looks - it is about preventing rust
bruce

#15

Get the sunroof closed off and then paint. It will never in the future be easier than it is right now. And it doesn’t take that long.

#16

$1800 + tax for NASCAR bars on both sides, foot well protection, and a X brace in the back. I got a can of the Rustoleum paint over rust today, and I will paint the cage before I put the dash back in. Getting the sunroof closed off is the highest priority right now.

#17

My buddy had a cage put in a car and did not paint it right away. A few months later it was rusted and we needed to clean it all of before painting. A lot of extra work.

#18

My question is how do the NASA officials check the welds when they are painted over? I started painting the cage yesterday, and it looks real good.

#19

If your welds are bad paint wont hide it. They will either be incomplete or sit up so high it obviousness there was no penetration.