HELP NEEDED WITH A DASH FRAME INSTALLATION

[CFD244]

Hi Folks

Slowly plodding along trying to assemble my 1971 340 Demon. When I attempted to install the dash frame, I initially put it into position on the 2 side mounting bolts. After doing this, I found that the center of the dash sat nicely on the center of the cowl. The corners, however, are sitting 3/4 of an inch or so above the cowl and not sitting where they are supposed to be.

I could not see anywhere that it was hanging up, so I removed the side mounting bolt on the driver side, and the corner dropped right down onto the cowl. Now the side dash bracket is sitting below the mounting hole.

Here are a couple of pics......The driver side is with the side mounting bolt removed, and the passenger side is with the side mounting bolt in place with the dash side mounting boss attached.

Am I missing something in the installation order? I can't imagine that you'd have to crank it down that's for sure. This is the same dash frame that came out 7 years ago with no mods.

Thanks FABO

 

[1MeanA]

Is it all the way down in the slots? I have my dash out now so I’ll have a look although I don’t remember any other adjustment.

 

[4spdragtop]

Aren't they kinda spring loaded so to speak? With side kick panel area bolts installed can be draw the top mounts down with bolt?

 

[CFD244]

Is it all the way down in the slots? I have my dash out now so I’ll have a look although I don’t remember any other adjustment.

Yup, all the way down. When I pull the bolts, the mounting boss drops down right past the hole leaving the hole covered with the "non slotted" part of the boss.

 

[CFD244]

Aren't they kinda spring loaded so to speak? With side kick panel area bolts installed can be draw the top mounts down with bolt?

That's what I am inquiring about. I just don't want to crank the **** out of the top bolts to get it to sit right unless that's what you have to do. I don't want to damage it.

 

[4spdragtop]

I'm trying to remember with mine...I think some drawing down had to be done, "maybe" same amt as driver side. Nothing more than length of screw i would imagine?

That's what I am inquiring about. I just don't want to crank the **** out of the top bolts to get it to sit right unless that's what you have to do. I don't want to damage it.

 

[CFD244]

I'm trying to remember with mine...I think some drawing down had to be done, "maybe" same amt as driver side. Nothing more than length of screw i would imagine?

The pass side pic is the one where the side bolt is sitting in the boss pocket. The driver side has the side bolt removed and the boss pocket is way below the bolt hole......What is odd, is that both sides are the same when the lower bolts are installed. That leads me to believe that something is not "hanging up"

 

[Dart apart]

mine is the same, been out about 4 years. The dash is pretty flimsy,I think being unbolted for so long laying on a shelf it relaxes and gets out of shape. JMHO.

 

[harrisonm]

I had the same thing happen with my 69 Barracuda. It was like the dash relaxed a little (Stealing from @Dart apart). I don't see a problem. Just draw the bolts down slowly and evenly. Don't suck them all the way down one at a time. Do a little at a time on each one in a left to right or right to left sequence.

 

[WymanV]

Same here. Put a '68 Barracuda dash frame (with extra holes welded shut, etc.) in my '72 Duster and the bottom sat so low on both sides I had to get a bottle jack in there and jack it up with all the top bolts tight.

Worked fine. My thought was sandblasting it caused it to distort but it was just old interior paint and minimum surface rust so I don't think they had to blast it hard enough to warp it.

 

[CFD244]

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with there personal experience.

This place is awesome.

Time to tighten it down.