Removing Dash Tray Without Cutting

[m4tti]

As the title really. Has any one removed their dash tray without cutting above the steering column. How much more work is it to simply remove the upper column and presumably dash pod. Am about to replace all carpets.

[nawarne]

Matt,

Short answer...NO. Doing my carpets, I had to remove steering column to access the 'oddments' tray.

Hardest bit was accessing a 15mm/17mm bolt near the collapsing element of the column...Oh yes, the wires to the ignition switch are not on lucar connectors, so had to cut....but there are 2 types of switch on Mk.1!!

Nick

[m4tti]

Hi nick,
Did you remove the dash tray entirely. And just to confirm, you removed the column rather than cut it. I'm worried cutting the tray will reduce its rigidity.

What did you do behind the pedal box out of interest?

Edited by m4tti on Wednesday 16th March 22:49

[nawarne]

m4tti said:

Hi nick,
Did you remove the dash tray entirely. And just to confirm, you removed the column rather than cut it. I'm worried cutting the tray will reduce its rigidity.

What did you do behind the pedal box out of interest?

Edited by m4tti on Wednesday 16th March 22:49

Matt, I got my carpet set from Verpoorten in Hungary (very satisfied with service BTW).

The column comes out relatively easy...although I had a mate who knows his way around cars. To take the column out disconnect the electrics to the dash (multipin plug, horn push, plugs to indicators/wipers and ignition switch). My ignition switch was a rare(ish) type, and I had to cut each wire to the switch...but in trying to remove it I marmalised it, so had to buy a replacement as I started to replace the column on re-assembly. Also release the small bore ducting to the pod eye ball vents.

The column is held by 2 off M8 nylocks clamping it to the brushed alloy cross beam. Looking further into the footwell there is a 15mm nut that clamps the concertina/collapsing section to the steelwork - - quite tricky to get a spanner on this through the wiring. Then the rotating part of the column is clamped to the shaft protruding from the bulkhead by a star bolt. With all this 'let go', you should be able to lift the column out of the car.

I removed the dash tray entirely to 'do' the new carpets. The 'upright' piece is all in one, but the horizontal surface was in 2 pieces joined behind the pod. The tray moulding comes out by undoing the c/sunk allen screws under the alloy supports AND a M8 nut and bolt under the radio pod...so this needs to come out...along with the trim over the transmission tunnel. YES, I would avoid cutting the tray. With the fixings undone, the tray sort of 'rotates' out, and fixing the new carpets on the tray is much easier.

The odd bit of carpet behind the pedal box....I left! I thought a lot of pain for very little gain. You hardly see that area unless your eye-line is on the same level.

Nick

[m4tti]

Thanks for the reply Nick.

In fact removing the dash tray without cutting it isn't too bad. Cutting it just wasn't an option for me...




Have to check all the readings in the boot now though