Date:         Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:26:32 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Dash removal for AC access
Comments: To: John Middelkoop <john_middelkoop@live.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BLU136-W380116BA10D63A197FAEE6E98F0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I removed my dash this spring to get to the heater. It wasn't all that bad.
I used Blake Heinlein's writeup"

I pulled the dashboard off. It took about 1 houce since I had done it once
before to replace my heater core. The steps were pretty simple:

   - Remove cover to instrument panel.
   - Remove instrument panel (remove 4 screws, speedometer cable, wiring
   harness, and plugs for switches and warning lights).
   - Remove screws along top of dashboard and on sides by doors.
   - Remove snap off torque bolts holding dashboard to the steering column.
   These will have to be replaced later with new bolts.
   - Loosen but don't remove bolts holding stearing column to body. This
   gives the steering wheel clearance to remove the dashboard.
   - Remove the glove box and ash tray.
   - Remove the stereo.
   - Pull the nobs off the heater control levers (4 knobs) and remove the
   faceplate.
   - Unscrew the heater lever assembly from the dashboard (3 screws).
   - Disconnect the cigarette lighter.
   - Disconnect all ductwork from the vents (2 defrost and 2 fresh air
   vents). The center defrost vents don't have any ductwork or screws.

As he says, it takes about an hour. You will have to cut and then resolder a
couple of wires. You shouldn't have much trouble replacing the bad motor and
blower. You don't have to replace the snap-off bolts holding on the steering
column, as these can be easily grasped and removed with a good set of
vise-grips or other pliers.

Jim

On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 7:03 PM, John Middelkoop <john_middelkoop@live.com>
wrote:

> I have a dealer installed front mount AC on an 85 Westfalia. I had it
> working well but the fan went (ground to a stop and blew the fuse. It
> appears that it was installed by removing the dash. Looking at Haynes and
> the Bentley, removal will be no fun at all! What really worries me is I my
> not be able to get a new fan anyway.
> Anybody familiar with these ACs or an easier dash removal? -85 Westfalia
> "Folly"
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