How to Remove the Dash in a Challenger
by Harvey BirdmanThe Dodge Challenger is one of the closest vehicles to a muscle car on the road today. It's Hemi V8 delivers over 400 foot pounds of torque, most of which is delivered low down in the power band. However, Chrysler, the parent company of Dodge did not see fit to engineer the interior of the car with as much care. To rectify this fault many Challenger owners have undertaken interior car upgrades, most of which require the removal of the dash board to either replace it or cover it in a softer material.
Step 1
Drive your Dodge Challenger into a garage or other interior place. This is because the process of removing the dash will take up a lot of space, the dash pieces are often stolen to be resold (even though they are made cheaply, Chrysler charges a lot to replace the pieces), and it will look like you are trying to steal the car's radio when you remove the dash. Put the Challenger into park and engage the parking brake before turning the car off.
Step 2
Pry the center console from the dash of the Challenger. Insert a flathead screwdriver into the top seam around the center console and the dash. Gently pry the center bezel out from the dash until it is slightly ajar then move the flathead down the seam until the entire perimeter of the center console is ajar. Pull the center dash off by hand by placing you hands at the top and bottom and pulling out gently. Locate the four screws along the top of the exposed center of the dash, they secure the dash to the center. Unscrew the four screws and place them in the center cup holder so they are not lost.
Step 3
Open the driver's side door and locate the four screws that run along the top of the side of the dash. Unscrew the screws with a Philips head screwdriver and pocket the screws. Go to the passenger side and open the door. Locate the four screws that run along that top side and unscrew them with a Philips head screwdriver. Pocket those screws as well.
Step 4
Go to the driver's side, open the door, and insert a flathead screwdriver into the dash seam. gently pry up along the dash and work you way along the seam until you get all the way over to the passenger side. When the entire dash bezel is standing slightly up then pull it off with your hands. Again, be gentle as one of the pegs may be stuck and if you pull on it the plastic peg will break off.
References
- "Haynes: Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler RWD 1971 Through 1989"; Hanyes Publishing; 1990
Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver set
Warnings
- Chrysler used rather brittle plastic so make sure to place the dash panel somewhere safe once it is out of the Challenger.
Writer Bio
Harvey Birdman has been writing since 2000 for academic assignments. He has trained in the use of LexisNexus, Westlaw and Psychnotes. He holds a Juris Doctor and a Master of Business Administration from the Chicago Kent School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in both political science and psychology from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
