Replacing a 308GTS dash board

Can't find any good answers to this topic....I have a small rip in my dash board, and I can get a good replacement. How difficult is it to replace the whole dash board?

 

Not hard to remove. An upholstery shop will be able to recover. The hardest part might be finding a good match for the rest of the vinyl.

 

At least, it's not difficult on a 78 GTB. Presumably it's the same on an S.

 

Getting the whole dash out is a bit of work but it can be done. The first step is to remove the instruments. There are four screws in behind the lights at each corner. Remove those, unplug all the instruments and the whole panel will come out.

Then there are two bolts in each end of the dash where the armrest meets the dash. Remove those and it may come out with some serious effort. There is a trim piece that holds the front of the dash down where it meets the windshield. Mine was seriously stuck in there. I ended up removing the windshield to get that piece of trim out.

I've heard others have done it with the windshield and trim piece in place so I guess it can be done. Hope that works for you because the windshield and surrounding trim are pretty easy to damage taking them out and spendy to replace.

There is some info and pics in the thread from my interior work here...
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/83679-308-interior-resto-remodel.html

 

Mine came out easily with the windscreen in place. One tug was all it needed to exit the extruded channel it sits in. Instruments and dash can be removed in 15-30 minutes. Don't forget there is a fifth bolt down under the left side of the relay panel.

Getting it back in can take an hour or two, especially if you are on your own.

Some details on refitting here:

http://308restoration.com/2013/12/refitting-the-dashboard/

 

do not forget the hidden "5"th screw
it is located behind the relay board - between the radio slot and the relay board
otherwise the dash will never come out

you will also have to take off the steering wheel


no need to remove the windscreen -
never do that unless you have a real good reason to do so !
the dash will separate from the trim and come out by pushing it down and at the same time pull it towards you (with some effort)


edit: dflett an I wrote at the same time

 

been there, done that.

 

Good points all. I forgot about the last screw. It's been a few years ago. And just where were you guys with the info about not removing the windshield 10 years ago?!? I honestly pulled prodded and pushed on mine until you could hear fiberglass cracking and it wouldn't budge. Obviously knowing what I know now I would have tried harder!

 

Thanks all of you for the info and tips. Sounds like it's a fairly easy job. Will have to make sure the replacement is a decent match for the current interior.