How do you change the dash wood ?

[TerenceD]

I know this has been covered before, but after an hour of searching the database, I have been unable to locate the thread.

I am about to replace the wood on my dash (1970 280sl) and I am unsure of what the steps are.  I was about to just jump in, but I thought it better to do a little research first.

Does anybody have any instructions, or can direct me to the correct thread ?

Thanks,
Terence

[merrill]

Terrence,
Are you just replacing the wood with a new or replacement one?
if you already have the new parts you will see some bolts sticking out of the wood, these stick thru the dash.

to get to the bolts,
remove the glove box, stick your head in there, you will see the  bolts.  some you can reach with your hand, others will require a long extension on a socket and a deep socket and you laying on your back on the floor of the car.
 I think you also need to remove some of the trim on each side of the car to get to the last screws / bolts.

also, be sure to protect the dash when removing or re installing the wood, the bolts will scratch the material if not protected.

before installing the new wood make sure the old and new are similar in shape, there may be some fine fittment required.

Also, i have heard it is easier if the windshield is removed.
matt

[Dick M]

Hi Terence...
start here http://index.php?topic=423,wood

Dick M
1970 280SL

[TerenceD]

I got all the wood off without any problem at all (my left wood piece was broken, so it was easy to remove).  Now the problem is I cannot, for the life of me, get the new left piece of wood on.  I have already shortened the bolts (I hope I did not shorten them too much).  I tried to take off the padding over the instrument cluster, but in order to do that I need to remove the padding on the left side of the dash.  I have taken off all the screws on the left side dash padding, and the piece will not come off.  Is there a retaining clip on the underside of it ?  Without taking the windshield off, there is not other way to put my new dash wood back in.

Any thoughts ?
Terence

1970 280sl
1969 300SEL 6.3
1985 Innocenti DeTomaso Turbo (and 1984 parts car)

[ja17]

Hello Terrance,

I just went through this. It is unbelievably tight. Protect the dash with a piece of thin metal like part of a soda can or leather etc. The driver's side is the problem. You must move the left corner in place first as you twist the wood around the instrument cluster. I thought the windshield would need to come out but it is difficult to install the windshield afterward without damaging the wood.

I needed to flex the wood a bit to get it to drop in behind the instrument cluster. I shortened a couple of studs also. I found that the new wood was not an exact fit also. The wood was probably hand fitted to every car when new.  You can file some of the mounting holes to adjust things up a bit if needed.

Sorry I do not have a magic procedure here. It's just tough!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[gugel]

I did this following a procedure Gernold told me about.  Both the wood and the windshield were out.  I installed the bottom of the windshield first, then tilted the top out slightly and installed the wood trim, then finished installing the top of the windshield.

Chris

[TerenceD]

I finally got it in, and it took nearly 5 hours.

Here are the tools I used;

1. philips screwdrivers (regular and a very shallow one)
2. 9mm wrench
3. thin piece of metal (10cm x 10 cm) - can be done without this step
4. 10mm wrench

Here are the steps I used

1. remove glove box (6 screws)
2. remove passenger and drivers pillar molding (2 screws each)
3. remove wood speaker cover (2 screws)
4. remove speaker (2 screws)
5. remove both blue nuts holding right side wood in place (9mm wrench)
6. remove dash part that is underneath and to the left of the steering wheel (3 screws)
7. remove the small metal bracket (2 screws)
8. remove the drivers seat (4 bolts - 10mm) - not necessary but makes life easier
9. reach up and undo the wingnut holding the tachometer in.  slide it out
10. undo the three blue nuts holding the left side wood in place (the two leftmost can be reached through the tachometer)
11. gently lift up the wood as far as it can go.  It will probably bind against the instrument cluster
12. undo the top left side of the dash (2 screws).  The screws are really hard to get at, as they will be under the left side wood, but you can reach them with a very shallow phillips screwdriver.  If you do not have a very shallow screwdriver, use a philips nut driver and a pair of vicegrips
13. remove the two screws holding the left side of the instrument cluster dash pad.  This should enable you to move it just enough to remove the left side wood.
14. remove the left side wood.
15. to install reverse the procedures above.

I hope this helps anybody else, who like me, has to do this job.

Cheers,
Terence

1970 280sl
1969 300SEL 6.3
1985 Innocenti DeTomaso Turbo (and 1984 parts car)

[TerenceD]

ADDENDUM: I forgot one screw in step 12. There are actually three screws, the third one is under the leather / MBtex on the left vertical side of the left side top dash pad.

I finally got it in, and it took nearly 5 hours.

Here are the tools I used;

1. philips screwdrivers (regular and a very shallow one)
2. 9mm wrench
3. thin piece of metal (10cm x 10 cm) - can be done without this step
4. 10mm wrench

Here are the steps I used

1. remove glove box (6 screws)
2. remove passenger and drivers pillar molding (2 screws each)
3. remove wood speaker cover (2 screws)
4. remove speaker (2 screws)
5. remove both blue nuts holding right side wood in place (9mm wrench)
6. remove dash part that is underneath and to the left of the steering wheel (3 screws)
7. remove the small metal bracket (2 screws)
8. remove the drivers seat (4 bolts - 10mm) - not necessary but makes life easier
9. reach up and undo the wingnut holding the tachometer in. slide it out
10. undo the three blue nuts holding the left side wood in place (the two leftmost can be reached through the tachometer)
11. gently lift up the wood as far as it can go. It will probably bind against the instrument cluster
12. undo the top left side of the dash (3 screws). The screws are really hard to get at, as they will be under the left side wood, but you can reach them with a very shallow phillips screwdriver. If you do not have a very shallow screwdriver, use a philips nut driver and a pair of vicegrips.  The third one is under the leather / MBtex on the left vertical side of the left side top dash pad.
13. remove the two screws holding the left side of the instrument cluster dash pad. This should enable you to move it just enough to remove the left side wood.
14. remove the left side wood.
15. to install reverse the procedures above.

I hope this helps anybody else, who like me, has to do this job.

Cheers,
Terence


1970 280sl
1969 300SEL 6.3
1985 Innocenti DeTomaso Turbo (and 1984 parts car)