Need to Pull the Dash..Yikes!!!

[Dave]

Anyone out there have any experience pulling the dash in a tall windshield 2000 roadster? I've got a 68 and am interested in replacing the gauges. At the very least I need to throw in an electronic tach instead of the old mechanical one to go with the SR-20 engine swap that's under way.

Any special tools required? Other than the usual...Pry bar, chain saw, dynamite, etc.

I've never had much success with pulling dashes. Any info anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[S Allen]

Dave,

One thing that can make dash removal easier on either a high or low windshiled is removing the windshield. There are some screws holding the dash/pad on right up against the windshield. Also take a little time and mark the wires real well so you know where they go when you put it back together. It is soooo easy to forget. I am not sure about Autometer gauges that fit in the higher windshield dash. That is one of the caveats of owning a low windshield. The flat dash is very easy to adapt just about anything you want to put in it.

Steve

[spl310]

Dave said:

Any special tools required? Other than the usual...Pry bar, chain saw, dynamite, etc.

Well you forgot the cutting torch and the sawzall...

If you can match the gauge size, you can get them out by pulling the under dash pad and the steering column...

[Dave]

There's an under dash pad? I look up under there and all I see is a big mess of wires, cables, and such. I like the idea of pulling the gauges without pulling the whole dash out! I'll see what I can do.

Thanks!

[Russell Roach]

Sid,

You forgot the hammer and chisel

Russell

[spl310]

There is an instruction on Rallye's website (www.datsunroadster.com) about how to pull the tach. The gist of it is that you remove the upper steering column and then you can reach the tach. The units are held in by brackets with wing nuts. I don't think that you will EVER get an aftermarket unit to replace the multigauge though. You may want to post to the list about the tach. Someone used the stock "can" bezel, lens and face and put a VDO (if I recall correctly) unit in to replace the mechanical gauge. It looked factory. He even documented the process with photos somewhere. It was a VERY slick installation.

[Dave]

Nice! Thanks for the info guys. I'm thinking I'll keep that multi gauge package as they all work quite well and you are right, how could you ever find an aftermarket replacement for that! I'll replace the tach, and throw in a boost gauge, oil temp, and fuel pressure gauge in the vertical slot where the radio goes.

[Crazy Backyard Builder]

Dave,

Michael Spreadbury did a very cool tach convertion on the sr20 powered 1968 he converted last year. He found a gauge that if you didnt know looked stock. You should ask him about it. He is even in your area.


Crazy Backyard Builder

[Dave]

Really? Interesting. I have a CD that Michael burned for me with tons of pictures of his projects. That was an attempt on my part to have some resource documentation so I would not have to pester him with questions every 5 minutes. I bought my SR20-DET from him (set to arrive in about 2 weeks). I've been down to his place a couple times to check out the conversion first hand. Not sure if I saw that roadster but if I did, it looked so stock I didn't even notice!