Dash removal, the inner structure
Discussion
Hello all! But mostly help!!
The removal of the dash is a bit more complicated than expected. The shop manual is of little help...
Does anyone have experience with removing the dash?
I did the visually simple so far but there must be some screws holding the top and probably the center console hidden to get the job done.
Francis![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/690506/202410105931084?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/690506/202410105933011" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/690506/202410105933011?resize=720)
The removal of the dash is a bit more complicated than expected. The shop manual is of little help...
Does anyone have experience with removing the dash?
I did the visually simple so far but there must be some screws holding the top and probably the center console hidden to get the job done.
Francis
The dash is loaded into the car as a complete unit, with all (or most) of the trim and instruments attached; same goes for the console.
From memory, the dash structure is mounted on a metal cross-car beam (CCB), which also supports things like passenger airbag, steering column as well as the main structure. There should be some largish bolts at either end attaching the cross-car beam to the car firewall - they'll be at the extreme end, right out by the door aperture. There will also probably be a metal bracket coming off the CCB with will bolt to the floor - you'll probably have to take the centre console carcass out to get to these. There will be some large electrical plug(s) that will allow the dash harness to disconnect from the car's main harness.
Looking at your picture, you'll probably have to take the steering column out first - I think they fit after the dash is in on a VH car. That bolts upwards onto the CCB from below, and there will be a splined joint at the bottom of the column - mark it so it goes back in on the same spline in case it doesn't have an indexing spline).
I'm guessing that the plastic structural bits you have left may attach to the CCB from the rear as I don't think the dash structure was ever designed to be fully serviced in situ
The bit I think you need to look to remove is the metal CCB (Item 18 in the parts diagram below I filched from Scuderia Parts - thanks guys) with all the other bits still attached. And I think you should be looking for fixings to the body around where I've drawn arrows.
As I say, all this is from memory and a much better knowledge of fitting complete dashboards into other, later cars. If I'm wrong and others know better, then I apologise now.
Hope this sort-of helps
From memory, the dash structure is mounted on a metal cross-car beam (CCB), which also supports things like passenger airbag, steering column as well as the main structure. There should be some largish bolts at either end attaching the cross-car beam to the car firewall - they'll be at the extreme end, right out by the door aperture. There will also probably be a metal bracket coming off the CCB with will bolt to the floor - you'll probably have to take the centre console carcass out to get to these. There will be some large electrical plug(s) that will allow the dash harness to disconnect from the car's main harness.
Looking at your picture, you'll probably have to take the steering column out first - I think they fit after the dash is in on a VH car. That bolts upwards onto the CCB from below, and there will be a splined joint at the bottom of the column - mark it so it goes back in on the same spline in case it doesn't have an indexing spline).
I'm guessing that the plastic structural bits you have left may attach to the CCB from the rear as I don't think the dash structure was ever designed to be fully serviced in situ
The bit I think you need to look to remove is the metal CCB (Item 18 in the parts diagram below I filched from Scuderia Parts - thanks guys) with all the other bits still attached. And I think you should be looking for fixings to the body around where I've drawn arrows.
As I say, all this is from memory and a much better knowledge of fitting complete dashboards into other, later cars. If I'm wrong and others know better, then I apologise now.
Hope this sort-of helps
In fact, I've just found a page on Scuderia just for the CCB mounting brackets
You can find it and the parts list here:
https://www.scuderiacarparts.com/part-finder/aston...
I also realised I selected the previous exploded view of a RHD car, when, from the picture, yours is LHD - sorry. The parts are symm opp, but you can find the LHD dash exploded view here
https://www.scuderiacarparts.com/part-finder/aston...
You can find it and the parts list here:
https://www.scuderiacarparts.com/part-finder/aston...
I also realised I selected the previous exploded view of a RHD car, when, from the picture, yours is LHD - sorry. The parts are symm opp, but you can find the LHD dash exploded view here
https://www.scuderiacarparts.com/part-finder/aston...
Thanks for your kind reply. It is of great help.
I have removed the screws attaching to the door sills as well as the ones at the bottom left and right center console.
The middle one in the center console, I have yet to find. However when I pull on the sides of the inner dash, nothing moves. It is tight as if More screws were there.
Ok let me go and at least find the center console mounting point.
Francis
I have removed the screws attaching to the door sills as well as the ones at the bottom left and right center console.
The middle one in the center console, I have yet to find. However when I pull on the sides of the inner dash, nothing moves. It is tight as if More screws were there.
Ok let me go and at least find the center console mounting point.
Francis
She would be all over me it that was the case!
Since this car is a salt flood full immersion and since I bought a parts car to fix it. It would be prudent to replace the full wiring loom. Most of it passes in the dash. So it is important to remove this bad boy to make sure no salt is eating away at the wires.
I know I'm a few screws away to achieving this. But for now, I'm stuck.
As for the rebuild, the connectors are different when near one another. So very few chances to mix them up. In total, you may have about 50 connections to make but a whole bunch of screws and a lot are different so documenting them is important. I will do that with the disassemble of the parts car. Take a look at the parts car called kick in the butt..
Since this car is a salt flood full immersion and since I bought a parts car to fix it. It would be prudent to replace the full wiring loom. Most of it passes in the dash. So it is important to remove this bad boy to make sure no salt is eating away at the wires.
I know I'm a few screws away to achieving this. But for now, I'm stuck.
As for the rebuild, the connectors are different when near one another. So very few chances to mix them up. In total, you may have about 50 connections to make but a whole bunch of screws and a lot are different so documenting them is important. I will do that with the disassemble of the parts car. Take a look at the parts car called kick in the butt..
This one did not go underwater, hence why I purchased it. Ondine ( the submarine) was only $8 000.- with only 16 000 miles. Kick In the butt has 29 000 miles and runs. Both are 2009 cars, so second generation with crystal keys.
The second car was $12 700.-
So I'm in at $20 700.- plus shipping import taxes, bla, bla, bla for a total for both cars registered in Switzerland of CHF 33 000.-
Hopefully, with all good parts between the two cars, I will build one perfect car and have lots of spare parts to lower my overall cost under CHF 25 000.-
The second car was $12 700.-
So I'm in at $20 700.- plus shipping import taxes, bla, bla, bla for a total for both cars registered in Switzerland of CHF 33 000.-
Hopefully, with all good parts between the two cars, I will build one perfect car and have lots of spare parts to lower my overall cost under CHF 25 000.-
This isn't an instruction guide but i remember Mat Armstrong took the dash out of his 2019 Vantge so may give some small pointers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCwGHz06U-k&li...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCwGHz06U-k&li...
Brave? Maybe foolish probably!
I will document the stripping of kick in the butt with the reassemble of Ondine.
Maybe I will post it on YouTube as a basic video.
Thanks for Matt Armstrong's video, I do watch some of his work. I just have a problem with his accent and over exaggerated laugh bouts...
I will document the stripping of kick in the butt with the reassemble of Ondine.
Maybe I will post it on YouTube as a basic video.
Thanks for Matt Armstrong's video, I do watch some of his work. I just have a problem with his accent and over exaggerated laugh bouts...
I just watched Matt Armstrong's dash removal video and it gives me some answers like some bolts come out from the engine bay as well as some heating and a/c pipes as well. So this will be my task tomorrow. Now, at 3:30 am, I need to stop thinking about it and go to sleep!
Thanks for all your comments!
Francis
Thanks for all your comments!
Francis
Simpo Two said:
Smashed to smithereens AND dumped in the sea?!
I can only hope it was cheap
I can only hope it was cheap
Are you feeling all right John?
Not your usual, very sharp self.
I can help. The situation is akin to a magic trick.
There is a second car, hidden in the magician's sleeve.
One car is very salty, having been immersed in water.
Other car has a very bent rear end, and will never drive again.
What an excellent plan. A good way to eliminate all the electrics from the salty car.
Huge amount of work though, but great that our OP is able to rescue an Aston Martin.
Thanks for the message!
I did spend about an hour today on the car before life tore me away from my toy...
I disconnected the steering column, the 4 bolts but have yet to disconnect the linkage. Any ideas anyone?
I also found 4 bolts, not 6 like the work shop manual says... bellow the windshield to hold the dash. It is now a bit loose. I still need to do the magic trick of disconnecting the air and air con hoses from inside the engine bay, we'll hidden behind the motor. Matt Armstrong in his video also referred to it as a nightmare...
Look at the pictures.
Francis
I did spend about an hour today on the car before life tore me away from my toy...
I disconnected the steering column, the 4 bolts but have yet to disconnect the linkage. Any ideas anyone?
I also found 4 bolts, not 6 like the work shop manual says... bellow the windshield to hold the dash. It is now a bit loose. I still need to do the magic trick of disconnecting the air and air con hoses from inside the engine bay, we'll hidden behind the motor. Matt Armstrong in his video also referred to it as a nightmare...
Look at the pictures.
Francis
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