JBugs Video Series

1971 VW Super Beetle - Dashboard Removal:

Interior

Video Overview:

Before we can restore our VW Interior, we have to tear our the old parts. We’re in the midst of tearing down our 1971 Super Beetle for body work and in our last video we pulled out most of the interior components. This video will cover removing the dash and a number of items in the trunk that make removing the dash easier. Keep in mind we’re tearing down our car to a bare body so somethings we remove aren’t part of removing the dash, but they do make the job easier.

Vehicle Prep: 0:51
Dashboard disassembly: 1:07
Hood removal: 2:12
Wiper assembly removal: 2:44
Speedometer removal: 3:43
Dashboard switches removal: 4:15
Gas door assembly removal: 4:44


Video Tips:

Tools used in this video:

Impact Driver
1/4" Bit Adapter
3/8" Bit Adapter
1/4" Drive 3" Extension
1/4" Drive 10mm Socket
3/8" Drive 13mm Socket
3/8" Drive 17mm Deep Socket
1/2" Drive 3" Extension
27mm Socket
10mm Wrench
Adjustable Wrench
Side Cutters
Adjustable Pliers
Dashboard Escutcheon Tool
Small Flat Blade Screwdriver
Medium Flat Blade Screwdriver
#2 Phillips Screwdriver
Rubber Mallet

Video Transcript:

Hello! I'm Sam with JBugs.com
We're getting close to completing the tear-down of our 1971 Super Beetle 
and with most of the body components removed, we're going to continue by removing the dashboard and some of the items from the trunk that make removing the dash easier.
As we've noted numerous times throughout our tear-down, 
make sure to save all the hardware until after reassembly. Reinstalling hardware to the part it goes with is an easy way to keep your parts organized. Also, take pictures of the positions of the wires so you know where they're supposed to go when reassembly time comes.
We start inside the car and remove the steering wheel. 
The nut is unthreaded and the steering wheel is pulled off of the steering shaft. We make sure to save the canceling ring and hardware from the backside of the wheel. Next, the two bolts that hold the steering column to the bottom side of the dash are removed. Along with all the dash switch, and radio knobs. 
The hazard switch is unthreaded, 
the fresh air knobs are pulled off, the headlight and wiper knobs are unthreaded, the fan switch is pulled off, as are the radio knobs. The ashtray is pulled out, then the various screws for the dash are unthreaded.
There are two screws at the top, 
to the left and the right of the center dash vent and seven more screws across the bottom side of the dashboard. The four retaining pins for the glove box ring are removed with a flat blade screwdriver and a mallet. 
Then, the glove box door screws are unthreaded 
and the glove box lid is removed.
Inside the trunk, the two bolts at either hood hinge are removed 
and the hood is pulled off. 
This isn't necessary for the removal of the dashboard, 
but it does make access much easier and since we're tearing down the car, it needs to be done anyway. 
The three clips at the bottom of the glove box opening, for the trim ring, are popped off 
so the trim ring and the hinges can be removed. 
Next, the four nuts, 
two at either top corner of the dashboard, and the two for the dash grab handle are removed.
Then, so that the original radio can be removed, the wiper arms are removed, 
followed by the wiper shaft nuts, and the lower wiper motor bolt. 
The wiper shafts are pushed through the cowl, 
the wiring is disconnected, and the wiper assembly is pulled out of the trunk. The center dash vent is pulled from the bottom of the cowl along with the one remaining air hose. Inside the car, the two nuts on either radio shaft are unthreaded and the radio is pushed into the trunk. The nut for the fresh air switch is unthreaded and the switch is pulled from the dash. 
The brake light warning switch has two clips in the backside which have to be pressed in 
so the switch can be pushed into the car and removed, along with the dash trim bezel. Back in the trunk, the wiring for the radio is disconnected and the radio is removed.
The left and right dash grills have metal tabs that hold them in place. 
Once they're straightened out in the trunk, the grills can be removed inside the car. 
The two screws at the back of the speedometer are loosened 
and the speedometer cable is unthreaded from the speedometer so it can be pulled from the dash once all the wiring is pulled off. The four tabs for the speedometer trim ring are straightened out so the ring can be removed. Finally, the dashboard itself can be removed from the car.
The left, right, and center dash vents are pried out and removed. 
The dash escutcheons are unthreaded from the headlight and wiper switches. 
In the trunk, the screws for the fresh air controls are unthreaded and the mechanism is removed 
so the dash trim bezels can be popped out. The remnants of the emergency flasher switch are removed. The left and right door jamb switches are removed.
After making sure the gas door is open, 
the gas door release handle is unthreaded from the cable, the housing is removed from the bottom of the dash, and from the fuel filler opening. Our car had an aftermarket washer bottle which was operated from an aftermarket switch that was installed under the dash. 
It's removed. T
he screw for the hood release lever is removed, along with the two screws for the fuse box. With that, our interior dash tear-down is complete. In our next video, we will continue working inside the trunk, as we get our body ready to be removed.
Thanks for watching! 
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and when you need parts for your vintage VW head over to JBugs.com