Hi all,

I'm slowly working though my 1970 P1800E to-do list and moving slowly ahead (I think).

I have a classic cracked top (upper) dash cap, and I am thinking about removing and recovering it.

Questions:

How do you remove just the upper dash cap? I think I see some bolts that attach it to the body near the windshield opening - but I thought I would ask the wisdom of the experienced collective before proceeding.

Are the plastic dash caps sold by IPD easy to install? The upper dash vent holes seem problematic to me (tiny little screws hold the plastic vent pieces in place - do these need to be removed?)

thanks in advance.

waggin

1970 P1800E
1985 245 Ti

Hello,

You can install the plastic covers without removing the dashboard.

But I think the look and the fit of the plastic covers is awful and not worth the time.

If you want to cover up the cracks, get a carpeted dash cover.

IMO, the carpeted dash covers look nicer and install a lot easier.

If you want to spend the money on proper reproduction dash pads the complete removal of the entire dashboard is required.

The dashboard is made of 2 pieces that have to be separated outside the car to properly install new pads.

The dashboard is held by the screws under the dash that you saw and by 4 bolts, 2 on each side that are near the doors.

You will also have to remove the brackets that hold the steering column to the underside of the dash, along with the steering wheel and steering column bezel.

FYI, the defroster vents are not plastic, but are metal and welded to the underside of the upper dash half.

The 4 pieces of metal on top of the dash are just trim bezels for the defroster openings.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Thanks Eric,

If replacing/repairing the dash top means removing the whole dashboard, I may go for the carpeted cover (a better alternative to the plastic cover).

I saw an earlier post in the archives that described the removal of the dashboard and it was a three day process. Not appealing.

Thanks again.

waggin

1970 P1800E
1985 245 Ti

Hello,

We charge 12 hours of labor to change any of the 1962-1972 Volvo 1800 dash pads, 14 hours for 1973 1800es dash pads.

If the customer has us remove the windshield for painting or replacing, we charge the same total number of hours because it is easier to remove and install the dash with the windshield removed.

But of course there is the expense of the dash pad, the possible cost of removing the windshield, then the cost of the seal and possibly the windshield and new windshield trim usually keeps most 1800 owners from doing the job with the proper dash pads.

BTW, the reason for the extra labor for the 1973 1800es dash pad installation is to retrieve and then re-install the light bar that is for the illumination of the panel of rocker switches to the left of the steering column that is unique to the 1973 1800es.

The original 1973 dash pads would have had this light bar installed at the time of manufacture, but of course this is not done currently.


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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502