Dash Pad and Rear Shelf

[Avanti7]

Hi fellow Avanti owners. I am going to have the interior of my "70" recovered in vinyl to make a color change. I will disassemble the interior, haul to the upholstery shop and then reassemble once all the parts are covered.

My question concerns the removal of the dash pad and the rear shelf, How is this done? I have the shop manual, it explains how to remove the entire dash and there are many steps. Is it possible to just remove the pad its self? Is it screwed down or glued down?

Also I cannot find any instruction on removal of the rear shelf.

Any info on these two projects will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Jim

Edited January 24, 2015 by Avanti7

[mfg]

You need to pull the entire dashboard assembly out to have the pad recovered....This really isn't a negative, as you will be able to inspect all the wiring, bulbs etc. while it's out, and fix or change out items as necessary....Actually, pulling the dash may reveal a problem you didn't know the car had!....Just label everything as you go along, and follow the manual on dashboard removal.

The rear shelf is accessed from inside the trunk area.

[Avanti7]

Thanks mfg, that's good advice. I had not considered the opportunity I will have to check out all the workings and wiring behind the dash.

Thanks for the info on the rear shelf also.

Jim

[lschuc]

When you remove the rear shelf, there are two or three tabs at the front edge that hold the front of the shelf onto the black u-shape metal bar that is screwed to the rear trunk panel. Simply rotate those tabs to disengage the front of the shelf from the metal bar, and then remove the screws that hold the metal tabs to the rear and sides of the trunk opening.

If you are changing the interior vinyl colors, then you will need to also remove the vinyl that is glued onto the fiberglass above the fuel tank (where the rear radio speaker is located).

Lew

[Avanti7]

Thanks Lew, your info is greatly appreciated.

Jim

[Paul K.]

The dash can be recovered in the car but other dismantling may be necessary such as windshield removal and also removal of the gauges and radio.

When I had my 74 repainted in Tijuana, Mexico I had the interior done at the same time by an upholstery guy who was next to the body shop. I had planned on replacing the dash with a repro as mine was badly cracked and "explosive" looking around the speaker grille. One visit when I was checking on the car, the upholstery guy asked me about the dash. He said there was enough leather left over to cover it and he said it would be no problem. He only wanted an extra $100 labor so I figured it was worth the risk which wasn't much because I have been dealing with these guys for 25 years and they are resourceful and even "magicians" sometimes. The dash came out very nice for a driver, with the usual stitching on the facing edge of the pad which is typical of a covered dash. The car was getting a bare glass respray so all the glass was out allowing him to work from the front of the car. I replaced the faux woodgrain dash and console overlays with brushed stainless steel so the gauges were out too.

This is how I did it, but considering the time it takes to pull the gauges with the dash in, and removing the windshield too, it may be easier to just remove the dash with the gauges installed.

Also, if some of the original vinyl like the sail panels and smaller side pieces are still in good physical condition, you may want to consider dying them to match the new material. There were some areas in the back seat area of my car where the vinyl was perfect, just the wrong color. It was gold color and I was going to black so the few areas I dyed were a easy cover-up. Attached is a pic but I guess we can only load small files so you can't get a good look.

Avanti 2156 Interior Front resized .bmp

Edited January 27, 2015 by Paul K.

[Avanti7]

Thanks Paul. I do plan to die some small pieces, but I will remove the dash. Also will remove the gauges to have them gone through.

Jim

[dstuff5]

I have an entire dash(both inner & outer) I'd like to sell (raising money for a paint job) if interested call501-590-9375.

[wildfelr]

RQB3263...Im in the midst of paint and interior...here is what ive learned in the past 2 months...In order to do paint AND/OR interior you must remove the glass...this will req all new seals...it takes an Avanti specialist to do a proper job of removing and re-installing and sealing the glass...Im fortunate Ihave one here in Gville Fl....Steven Cade...the new seals purchased from Nostalgic...new old stock seals fit and are much easier to install than reproduction seals...so says the guru...all the seals and sealant cost (are you sitting down?) $750...+ labor just to R&R the windows....but its gotta be done to get the interior panels out...and paint the body properly.....RQB3263 is out of paint and at interior shop now then back to have glass reinstalled...itsa long process....

[plwindish]

My 76 had a very nice repaint in 1989 without taking out the windshield and rear window, several layers of paint were removed taking everything down to the fiberglass and except for some dings and bug hits, the paint stayed very presentable. There was a slight tape edge around the top of the rear window.

Last December I took it back to the same shop to have a new paint job, this time with the windshield and rear window taken out. The paint turned out fantastic, I've gotten many many compliments on the paint job as the car was in the Great American Tour this summer right after it was painted, traveling from IL to CA along Rte 66. I also got new windshield and rear window rubber stripping, but don't recall it costing $750 plus labor, but the cost was also factored into the paint cost. I did have to take it back to have the windshield and rear window re-installed, this time with the body putty around the corners under the windshield to stop leaking. The glass shop tried the new technology of installing the windshield without the putty and it leaked in some rally heavy rain I was driving through starting on the tour.

Also as a road rash and bug chipping preventative, I had the 3M Invisible Bra material installed after the paint was cured. The film went across the front from bumper line up to the hood line. I also had it put on the sides from rocker panels up to the belt molding line from front tires to rear bumper.

New color was the GM Crystal Red Tint coat. It looks great.

[Avanti83]

I have an entire dash(both inner & outer) I'd like to sell (raising money for a paint job) if interested call501-590-9375.

Posting pictures for Dave of his dash.