I almost forgot how much fun (NOT!) removing one is. I spent the whole afternoon taking one out of a 83 Mustang, I did a trade with a fellow and will be putting a white/blue interior in our 85...I had it up for sale but desided to keep it. My hat is off to all of you guys who rip these Fox dashes out. Next Fox dash swap will never happen after this one...I'll brush paint before I do it again
Why am I so slow at putting my own back in? Man, I'm triple-checking my wiring, because I don't want to do this again! The trick is to drop the steering column, disconnect the wiring, after the other 100 steps. Mine goes back in today. (I hope )
Hope you have fun with the install and good luck. I'm heading out at 9:30 for the rest of the interiour......I should be back home by noon One other thing that came with my deal....The white vynal cover for the rag top when it's down, man that sure cleans up the cars looks!
I feel your pain. The full size Panthers are just as bad, if not worse. Why MOST systems on the FOMOCO cars are easier to R&R than GM, Toyota, etc, but removing and replacing the dash and the heater core behind it are akin to a day (or two) in purgatory is just one of life's little mysteries, I guess. I hope the end result is worth the fight!
Thanx, I know the end result will be worth it. Our little 85 was bout apx5-6 years ago I think, Mechanicly the car was A-1 but some of the interiour cosmeticks left alot to be desired and then time took it's toll. The body is a strong 8+ out of 10 condition wise, origonal paint except for one rear quarter. The problems I faced were white and red interiour with power windows, I love the combo but try to find white door panels (with power) and seats are near imposible, I have a grey seat in the drivers and thats why there are seat covers. As well a handful of other red interiour parts that are imposible to find. I know I could ebay, order, etc but then the cost..I can't justify for my humble fleet of beaters. I could have 1 real hot car/truck or my little safe, road worthy beaters...I choose beaters. I've always been able to find blue and grey, some times black interiours, but never for a rag top with power ( the door panels don't work). It's a bit late for me to down load pics, but I'll get some up tommorow. This new interiour came from a 83 with only 65K on it...it was in a police chace that ended up (by the police) getting the PIT manouver. On another note, High speed chace and cop car crash...that sh** never happens out here, or now I guess it never used to. Times change
So what red interior parts are you looking for? Midnite Auto has a 1984 and Bucks have a 1987. There's a black 1994 too with the hi-perf 4 banger. And at least one 1989, IIRC. Didn't get mine in yesterday. Somebody did a bad job on the 25 wires between the Amplifier and Radio (just twisted together), so I had to strip and solder every freakin' one. Then I found a few (13) other connections that I forgot about from my mental 'mañana' list. Today looks good for the install.
Bummer Snake Norm, so many things it's not worth it in a way. I traded one of these.... http://www.geekologie.com/2007/10/29/cooler-scooter.jpg for the interiour. I won the cooler over a year ago in a free raffle and the novelty wore off with in a couple weeks. It's been sitting in the bacement since. I was'nt even looking for any thing Mustang when I found the car and the seller wanted my black dash pad and $350 for the interiour. Some thing made me think of offering the cooler for trade and he took it...it was ment to be I guess. Heres some pics of the new blue before I removed it, all that junk in the trunk was in the car.. pics of the canvas piece that covers the top when it's down on my white 85, and a shot of one of my Honey's Celicas
last 3 pics Even all the padding was still %100 in the cover, and my honeys daily drive (1 of 3 Celica's) we bout and saved from our own "chrush old cars" program
Cooler Scooter!!! I've got oddball collectibles too, but you get the award! I don't get the craze for black Mustang interiors, but to each his own. Good for you, and good luck to the other guy. They crack bad enough without being black. This one 1987 Mustang, has the flip-down split rear seats, speaker enclosures where you've got the rear armrests, nice front seats and console and I think the door panels are in nice shape. Headliner looked good too (you've got the stars and the moon above your head. Anyway, the rain came in like gangbusters with a couple of funnels just north of us yeasterday, so I had to stop, AGAIN. Car might be ready this evening. More rain Wed. and Thurs. I've got a bunch of errands to do with the car, that were put off, but I'll take good pics of the various Mustangs, and you can let me know?
We had a 83 Stang rag top years ago, (power front, not rear) and I thought the same thing...wierd. Norm, bummer the weather is'nt coperating. I know your pain. Black interoiurs in a rag top look just beautiful but practical....NO. I see people, hot summer day, black inteiour with the top down and you can tell they are frying in the car...they would look good if it was'nt for the gallons of sweat pouring off of them.
I had a 1988 VW Golf Cabriolet in Vancouver. Fun car, but a real toaster with the black interior. Weather's good today. Just wrapping up some loose ends (soldering ), and in goes the dash! YES!!!
