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78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 4:21 pm
by stealthcamper
Looking to replace my rusted dashboard top. What is the easiest removal procedure, and does anyone know where I can get a good used one?
I will have the windshield out to repair other rust. Thanks!

Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:29 pm
by Amskeptic
On a '78 Bus, the easiest removal procedure is:
a) remove glovebox
b) carefully compress barbs under each retainer of the defroster grills (8 in all) and push up to clear openings
c) remove all phillips screws that hold the very front edge of the dash panel to just underneath the windshield
d) remove outside fresh air escutcheons, using a stubby screwdriver if windshield is still installed
e) now squeeze all plastic ducts and lower them out of the dash panel openings
f) remove r/s heater branch from heater tree, then the left branch
g) remove the eight or so 10mm nuts along the top edge of the padded dash. A 10mm socket with a 1/4 drive/u-joint/extension will help.
h) pull dash board top and padded edge rearward. It will fight you until the studs clear
* use flat to barely satin paint.
Colin

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Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:52 pm
by phaedrus76
Sorry, can't agree about using a flat paint on this, and the color is grey-black, not just black. It was originally a satin gloss level. FYI- Flat paint will show fingerprints and marks far too easily, and gloss will cause too much reflection in the windshield. Satin is just right.

Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:14 pm
by asiab3
The quarter inch drive 10mm socket on a wobble joint helped me immensely, closely followed by small hands and careful wrenching. But I also did it at the beach when I was bored one day, so I had a relaxing workplace; I would not want an offspring or spouse fighting for my attention when contorting my limbs juuuuust riiiight with plastic parts that like to snap when over-stressed.

Good luck, and don't lose the washers that are carefully stacked under the grab handle between it and the dashboard. Forget them and you'll have to start over for reinstall. Ask me how I know......

Robbie

Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 2:44 am
by stealthcamper
Thanks for the help!
The pictures are really helpful. Unfortunately, my dash top is toast. I had a dash cover that collected alkali dust from 17 burning man trips. my windshield started to leak a little a couple of years ago. I had no idea how bad things were getting under there until recently. Dash top has rusted completely through up close to the windshield. Burning man is a terrible place to take a bus. That alkali dust hides in all the inaccessible nooks and once water finds it.... your bus is screwed. I'm going to pull all my windows to replace all the seals.... I'm afraid to look, but hoping for the best.

Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 11:28 am
by Amskeptic
phaedrus76 wrote: It was originally a satin gloss level. FYI- Flat paint will show fingerprints and marks far too easily, and gloss will cause too much reflection in the windshield. Satin is just right.
Well, the three factory fresh VW buses that entered my life had matte finishes that only glossed up to "satiny" when stupidly waxed by the OCD OverRestorer new owner.
:withstupid:

Twice.
:withstupid:

Both times, I regretted the results.

BobD post-waxed too much:

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Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 4:18 am
by stealthcamper
I want mine to look like that.... Right now, it does not.

Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 11:27 am
by asiab3
Then you know what you must do. :)

But you don't HAVE to do it any one particular way. Yes, Volkswagen used this color:

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/Detai ... D=PAINTL43

…and the reproduction is very faithful, but requires a bit of practice. I'm so used to Rust-Oleum rattle cans, that my WW dash paint came out a bit "orange-peeled" from spraying too far away. I color polished the paint and the result was very, very good.

The same color is used on all the cabin controls, so you can paint your pedals, shifter, parking brake lever, and dash top all in one can.

And then…………
Robbie

Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:06 pm
by Amskeptic
asiab3 wrote: And then…………
Robbie

And then . . .
......... you must wax the top of the intake plenum.

Colin :geek:

Road Warrior 2007

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BobD 2011

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Chloe 2015

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THEN we shall discuss doorjams.
NaranjaWesty May 2016

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Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:14 am
by stealthcamper
After 450,000 miles of adventures, dirt roads and festivals... Hell, I lived in the thing for a couple of years back in the day.
I wish my bus had way fewer miles, but then again.... I've had a ton of fun with this vehicle over the years. I'm not done yet, either.
Needless to say, my under-dash doesn't look anything like those nice, clean pictures. But it will... someday, it will. I have my work cut out for me.
Any leads on a dash-top would be very appreciated.... I'm not having any luck finding one so far....

Re: 78 bus dashboard top replacement

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:25 am
by Amskeptic
stealthcamper wrote:After 450,000 miles of adventures, dirt roads and festivals... Hell, I lived in the thing for a couple of years back in the day.
I wish my bus had way fewer miles, but then again.... I've had a ton of fun with this vehicle over the years. I'm not done yet, either.
Needless to say, my under-dash doesn't look anything like those nice, clean pictures. But it will... someday, it will. I have my work cut out for me.
Any leads on a dash-top would be very appreciated.... I'm not having any luck finding one so far....
The top picture was my beloved Road Warrior at 515,000 miles or thereabouts. It took me 24 years to get to the intake plenum detailing. It wasn't that bad, really.

Now then, you need the metal dash panel with the large late model defroster outlets?
Have you called Busted Bus? Interstate Parts? Austin Veedub?
Ask Manaman, in a PM here, if his friend that has some VW parts out back might be able to help.
Colin