General Removing padded front dash bolster?

[rawill]

I want to remove the padded part of the dash that is in front of the front passenger.

How does it come off, mine is all cracked and I want to replace it.

 

[Chas Uno]

I want to remove the padded part of the dash (should have spelt that bolster) that is in front of the front passenger.

How does it come off, mine is all cracked and I want to replace it.

It is screwed into the underside of the dashboard. To take it off you have to remove the entire dashboard to get to the screws. It's not as difficult as it sounds!

 

[rawill]

Mmm - I did wonder if someone might tell me that.

So instruments out then I guess the dash comes out.
I have a donor to practice on.

 

[alexGS]

You can *just* do it without removing the dashboard (I have), if you drop the fusebox and remove the screws securing the lower part of the dash to the door pillar and to the heater/centre console, so it can flex outwards slightly.

Then you can get to the Philips screws with a combination of short and long screwdrivers. It's quite easy to feel where the holes (and screws) are, as they are deeply recessed.

But thinking about it, to do it properly the instrument surround should come off (it sits on top of the padded roll), and the screws for that are really difficult to get to (going up from underneath).

So on the whole, I go along with Chas and suggest you take the whole lot out (the heater can stay in place and the panel/knobs etc. can stay on the heater).

The hardest thing about getting the dash out is the disengaging of the hooks near the windscreen. It either comes out really easily, or it puts up a solid fight ending in the breaking of the steel clips (not the plastic hook!)

Re-trimming the dash roll is one of the best things to do to the Uno in my opinion - the NZ sun means most are ripped apart by now and it really lowers the tone of the car. From there it's a short step to ripped seats, mouldy carpet, a few big dents, and then you're driving a wreck. Not that some people mind that, of course

Strangely, the early 70S seems to have a better material (grey) that doesn't fall apart and still looks great - is that your experience rawill?

-Alex

 

[jo0lz]

From there it's a short step to ripped seats, mouldy carpet, a few big dents, and then you're driving a wreck. Not that some people mind that, of course

I wondered why my ears were burning......
I'll have you know I have a Full set of Mk2 Turbo seats in our 1.0 i.e. RaT-Uno
ManKy on the outside.......ComFy on inside.......

 

[Chas Uno]

These threads might help those wishing to remove a mk1 dashboard:

https://www.fiatforum.com/uno/36562-how-remove-mk-1-dashboard.html

https://www.fiatforum.com/uno/35761-mk1-dashboard-removal.html

Take your time and it's not as bad as it looks!

 

[rawill]

Strangely, the early 70S seems to have a better material (grey) that doesn't fall apart and still looks great - is that your experience rawill?

-Alex

Absolutely right!, my early 70s bolster roll is still perfect.

And the front seats would be great if the panel beater guy hadn't showed them in sparks when he was 'attempting' to repair the roof around the sunroof!

I hard via the grapevine that he had set the car on fire. Not sure if it is true but when i got the car back it had no front seat covers and the right front seat belt was melted and wouldn't work.

It took me ages to get a new seat belt from them, I am not sure if the boss never knew or just didn't want to admit to it.

So now I have nice back seat covers on them.

This car is great, like I said before, much quieter than the 60s, nicer to drive. Pity about the rust in the bottom of the doors, and the sunroof, but it is not the end of the world.

 

[rawill]

And alex thank you for correcting my first post

 

[alexGS]

I wondered why my ears were burning......
I'll have you know I have a Full set of Mk2 Turbo seats in our 1.0 i.e. RaT-Uno
ManKy on the outside.......ComFy on inside.......

Jo0lz I DEFINITELY wasn't thinking of you when I wrote that!
Your Uno looks very smart compared to what I was thinking of, which was the Uno jjhepburn and I worked on (shown below). SOMEONE let it get in that condition!

rawill - yes, it was a sneaky edit

-Alex

 

[jo0lz]

Jo0lz I DEFINITELY wasn't thinking of you when I wrote that!

I know your weren't
That one [above] looks WELL RaTTY
the drivers seat looks much worse that our original one did
Did their dog try and eat the interior or something????

 

[rawill]

You can *just* do it without removing the dashboard (I have), if you drop the fusebox and remove the screws securing the lower part of the dash to the door pillar and to the heater/centre console, so it can flex outwards slightly.

The hardest thing about getting the dash out is the disengaging of the hooks near the windscreen. It either comes out really easily, or it puts up a solid fight ending in the breaking of the steel clips (not the plastic hook!)

-Alex

Mmm, I tried *just* doing it, nearly got it, then decided to take the dash out, well nearly out.

I left the choke hooked up, everything is very loose and able to be moved around to get the screws out fine.

The hooks by the windscreen did not break, but they did not come out easily.

Lots of fish and chip fat under the bolster!!!!

I should be putting in a new dash because some clown drilled some holes in the vertical part of the dash near the windscreen. Then they had bungy cord threaded through it!!

I think I will try some gray plastic filler to disguise it a bit.
Will wait and see if this is the car that gets JJs Turbo console and my 1600 Tipo engine. A turbo (not) in disguise!