………Oh, isn’t that cute, my college track coach DID tell me I would pay for the way I ran……that’s true……take it for me, run for fun but don’t run to win! You pay too much for that.
I’m not even going to try to make a segway from that, my aching knees were on my mind…… Well ok, I didn’t help my knees kneeling in front of dashes tearing into them, Janie says jumping in and out of coaches over 26 years without a Ragusa step has wiped them out to…..get but what can ya do!
So it’s time to tear up my knees a little more……I’m going to pick up some new kneepads today…..
Little does this coach know what’s getting ready to happen
Ok, turn on the lights and start the IV drip, we’re going in…….. Chris is getting a new “MacDaddy” dash, the “Dash Blizzard” dash AC system, refinishing the dash of course, seats, carpet, AV system…….the works. And this is where we start
Uunder the front….. Step 1 is to just take it all out! What is that? Left to right is where I go but hey, I’m left handed……
……….. In that the entire heater box is going away, I can get in there and really clean things up………its amazing how much of that wire wad has to do with the original dash heat/cool system. Don’t worry, the ole girl won’t feel a thing and when she awakes things will be very different
The passenger side down to a root mean we go to the drive side up front
Oh lordie, this is a 73 model coach someone had the great intention of replacing the original “Power Level” air valve rear suspension control system with a backyard solenoid controlled set up kinda like the later style “Electro-Level” system. That used all red wires! All THAT has to go along with the other bundle of wires going in the dash , under to the motor and wherever else……this is called making amends for 45 years of good intentions!
Ok, that’s a little more recognizable, of course we’ll be cleaning up then installing new stuff but first the dash inside will come apart and that big black heater box needs to be deassed! Here is the outcome of my first teardown session
The surgery light still hanging from the hood I’m breaking here to go over to Marco’s dash since I’m in dash mode
For me, doing interior work is something you need to prepare for. You’ve got to get your head into the work…..most folks look behind a dash and call it spaghetti……I’ve never met a wire I didn’t like! Keep in mind I’ve been doing this dash interior work now a couple of days sitting here right now writing this. Its that way around here………and for you guys with projects with us I know you wanna see your baby getting its deserve its just I use 1 finger on my phone plunking all this and an hour a day devoted to doing it. If I took more time, took more pics and showed everything 8 guys do in a day…….I couldn’t get anything done….Its bad enough stopping for all sorts of things keeping this boat floating…..Heck I’m supposed to not b here licking my wounds from the last 40 hours of work! And here I am tearing more fingerprint from my left index finger…….I really should have paid attention in typing class in high school…..too late, I’m a Plummer and no way around it….not doing spell check that often and the ¤¬¬¬¿/\**;:¤¤Ωθ¬°¥ auto spell check in the phone……I hope u guys can understand me.
Anyway, on we push, Marco’s dash is a “10 footer”
A descent older restyling it’s just starting to look old, there are old, nonworking aftermarket gauges cut into it, scratched vinyl dye, cracked pad like most dash plastics have somewhere, wires sticking out and with looking for a place to add the FiTech fuel injection control panel I just think its time for something done that’s more inclusive. We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water like I am on the other coach I showed you, still we can do some things without installing a Mac dash.
But step one is always “get the plugs out”……take it apart and commit the project to be completed…..any other way to say it…..go where you can’t go back! Ok hunny, survey says…..take it apart
The last time someone went into this dash, the plastic supports broke apart and aluminum straps were holding everything together. By all rights it really should be replaced with an all replaced Mac dash panel but lets see what we can do.
So apart I can see what I’m up against….the funky phone holder apparatus that was glued to the top of the padded “donut” tore the pad from its vase, good thing I have another dash donut to build with
Yoh can see I cut out the middle of the original donor panel with a plasma cutter (what fun) to give room for our custom dash mods. Were keeping the speedo, dash AC controls and the light and wiper switching. We’re also keeping the DIN radio hole for a new radio.
Now its cutting the new dash bezel, upholstering the donor donut and start in on sorting then rewiring it all…..stay tuned.
So yeah, its my day off and in that my interior working wounds are fresh I’m going to do some work on JayGee, his galley is next…..the thing is falling apart…..Hey, I’ve got an idea…..oh Crap, what’s going to happen? Well, here is what I’m starting with
……….have a great day, see ya later and thanks for dropping by….
