74 duster dash removal

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Well, sort of.
If you can reach up from underneath with a die grinder, you can cut off the 5 bolts that hold the dash frame to the cowl area. This will allow you to pull the frame out but you'll need to pull the glass to properly mount the frame back in. Some have mentioned using J shaped bolts that didn't require a wrench on the glass side to hold the bolt from spinning during tightening. I've never tried it.
 
chargers777 said:
Do you have to remove the windshield to get it out?
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If you're talking about the metal innerstructure, yes, unless you want to go through what Kerndog mentioned. If you mean just the instrument cluster, then no, it can come out fairly easily and without having to pull the windshield. Dropping the column is a good idea and will make things easier and less likely to break any plastic on the faceplate. Assuming your windshield is in excellent shape and the rubber gasket is available new, just cut the gasket, remove the windshield, and get a new gasket for installation. If the glass is sketchy and gasket is good, pull the glass whichever way you like and don't worry about breaking it. New ones are available and are so nice to have after looking though a foggy or pitted one. When I pull a windshield that I'm going to dump, and I'm trying not to send shards of glass everywhere in the front seat, I start by pulling the stainless moldings, then spray WD40 around the seam between glass and rubber. I use a putty knife to get the lube between the glass and rubber. Then I just sit in the front seat and push the glass out with my feet. Just a steady push with a foot on both sides will usually do it. Just be careful not to pop the glass too violently and have it scar up your hood or fenders. Having a helper to catch and guide the glass once it starts to come loose helps a lot. You can also try to work the gasket over the pinch weld and remove the glass and gasket together, but, you risk damaging the gasket sometimes. Less likely to get glass fragments though. I always wear goggles and heavy gloves using either method as sometimes the windshield will crack and a few tiny pieces of glass will pop off and/or leave sharp edges.
 
cudamark said:
If you're talking about the metal innerstructure, yes, unless you want to go through what Kerndog mentioned. If you mean just the instrument cluster, then no, it can come out fairly easily and without having to pull the windshield. Dropping the column is a good idea and will make things easier and less likely to break any plastic on the faceplate. Assuming your windshield is in excellent shape and the rubber gasket is available new, just cut the gasket, remove the windshield, and get a new gasket for installation. If the glass is sketchy and gasket is good, pull the glass whichever way you like and don't worry about breaking it. New ones are available and are so nice to have after looking though a foggy or pitted one. When I pull a windshield that I'm going to dump, and I'm trying not to send shards of glass everywhere in the front seat, I start by pulling the stainless moldings, then spray WD40 around the seam between glass and rubber. I use a putty knife to get the lube between the glass and rubber. Then I just sit in the front seat and push the glass out with my feet. Just a steady push with a foot on both sides will usually do it. Just be careful not to pop the glass too violently and have it scar up your hood or fenders. Having a helper to catch and guide the glass once it starts to come loose helps a lot. You can also try to work the gasket over the pinch weld and remove the glass and gasket together, but, you risk damaging the gasket sometimes. Less likely to get glass fragments though. I always wear goggles and heavy gloves using either method as sometimes the windshield will crack and a few tiny pieces of glass will pop off and/or leave sharp edges.
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Aren't there little clips in certain year windshields?

I need to remove the windshield on my D250 but I need to research how it's done so I don't have to replace if I don't have to.
 
What year and model D250? Some have moldings and clips, some don't and just have the rubber gasket. Some also have a lockstrip too. Maybe a photo of what you have?
 
What Kern Dog said

You may have to pull the heater/ AC and likely the radio, and the glove box and cluster

I've done this on two cars, both 67, and both had the dash frame partially gutted, as mentioned

Get a small die grinder with a cut-off wheel and you can cut the sheet metal clips into which the screws go, and release the dash. You can install new clips upside down, and put new screws back in from the bottom. I think I used longer screws to get things started, then shorter screws as I started to draw things up. You want to be careful about screw length as they can damage the gasket, and for all I know, may damage the windshield as well
 
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