do i have to remove the windshield on my 71 to get the dash off?

As far as I know...and I have removed 3 dashes in my day...you HAVE to remove the windshield because like stated ^ there, there are numerous bolts under the Windshield Seal that attach the dash to the Firewall/Dash Support.

I guess you could vice grip the bolt threads from the underside if you were crazy and like cramped spaces and scrapped knuckles, and had hours to mess with one little job.

Me, I would rather pull the windshield, and have it put back in than mess with possibly fubarring the threads of the bolts from the underside of the dash.