Do I need to disassemble the dash to remove it, or will it come out in one piece after I remove the kick panels, dash pad and lower the steering? I need to get at the firewall and cowl drain...

 

from my experence, you have to take it apart piece by piece....

 

Nope... Pull the dash pad, remove the console, remove the lower panels in the foot wells, drop the steering column, pull the upper 5 bolts and the lower corner bolts, unplug the wiring connectors under the pass side and unbolt the one on the driver's side, and the whole thing comes out in 1 piece... Do you really think GM spent the extra time on the assembly lines putting the dash together INSIDE the car?

 

Judging by how they had to go crying to The Annointed One for bale out money- YES, I do think they would be stupid enough to put the dash together INSIDE the car! LOL!

 

You would think so, but there's parts in and behind the actual plastic housing of the dash that just CANNOT be installed with the dash shell mounted in the car (HVAC ducting, wiring harness, others).

 

taking apart the dash is much like...well imagine....you know what, it just simply sucks. and it doesn't help when perfeshinul mekanicz think they know how to wire...I blew 5 fuses before I figured out what kept tripping >_< twas a loose stereo harness wire that PO didn't take care of

 

its not the worst thing i've ever had to take out, but it does take a little while.

highly recommend a couple things - 1. take lots of pictures as you go so you can see where all the little pieces go back. 2. get lots of baggies and label the hardware for easy reinstall.

you can have the whole dash out in under and hour if you've got your tools handy (torx, 1/4" drive sockets, basic philips)

 

I had a nifty ratchet screwdriver w/ a bit socket for different bit tips aswell as a connector for sockets...made it bareable