I have a very annoying dash rattle on the passenger side of my 72 cutlass.
I can pull on the dash on the passenger side and it's loose.
It seems like I hear bolt threads, Like a nut is missing on the far right side.
Can I get at this if I remove the glove box and reach around to this nut if there is one. I can't find a dash diagram to see of there is a bolt, It would be just below the air vent. Thanks Barb.

 

To to wildaboutcars.com, find the chassis manual for '72, and then find the section pertaining to dashes. Should have a picture that shows all the mounting screws.

 

Barb, how loose are you talking about? How much does the dash move? There are several attachment points for the dash. Is your car AC or non A/C? That makes a big difference in being able to access some of those mounting locations. The ducts can interfere with access or visibility to them. Also, have you checked your glove box to make sure its not the source of the rattle? If the rubber bumper that holds it firm is missing it will also create a rattle.

The nuts that hold the dash onto the mounting studs are 1/4" speed nuts. You may be able to lie on the floor of the car, use a flash light to locate the offending loose on and tighten it. Taking the glove box liner out helps, but doesn't guarantee you'll be able to reach in and find the problem.

One thing you should be prepared for. The plastic sleeve on the dash pad that holds the mounting post may be cracked or broken. That can be fixed using JB Weld.

 

Seff, the CSM doesn't have that information. It's in the Assembly Manual.

Barb, here is the attachment pic. Maybe it will help. It does NOT show the wiring or AC vent routing, just the dashpad attachment. There are actually 2 dash assemblies in your car - the pad and the lower dash. Each one has it's own attachment procedure.

 

It doesn't have air so that may help. The sound is more like a loose dash when I hit a bump. Rattle may not have been the best word
If I pull on the bottom right of the dash with a little effort it seems to pull out about a half inch. That's when I hear that sound like a thread of a bolt is scaping ( Like a nut is missing). From what I see on the diagram it looks like there is a bolt on the bottom right. I hope it's as simple as just a missing nut.
Well thanks so much for the help, I thought I would ask first before I started reaching around under the unknown. Barb.

 

My God! I looked at the pictures of Seffs car and I've got to give him an A+. I wish every young man his age would be willing to work as hard, This is a labor of love at it's best. Good luck and keep use all informed on the progress of you're car. Barb.

 

Many apologies for the misinformation! I could swear that I've seen such a picture in my CSM, but I must've been drunk or something.

Labor of love at its best indeed - I made my own grand prize. The process itself was quite entertaining as well, at least in hindsight. Appreciate the kind words - and I'm enough of an attention monger to keep posting pictures until I'm completely done.

Hope you find your problem, rattles drive people crazy.

 

That bottom part of the dash is probably welded to the cowl at that point...check for spot weld locations...

 

Well this is one of my winter projects, along with others.
I have to fix the glove box ( cracked and broken on the back side).
As long as I have that out I'll see about finding this rattle.
Keeping my fingers crossed that it's something simple.
Thanks Barb.

 

??? The dash pad and dash insert are not welded to anything at all. They are held in place by screws, studs and 1/4" nuts