Has anyone ever done this?
I have the service manual and it shows the fasteners but doesn't describe how to get to them. There are studs on the side closest to the windshield that cannot been seen looking under the dash.
I'm figuring this is a remove the whole dash deal??

If that's the case has anyone recovered the dash pad while still installed?

 

I've never removed or recovered a dash for that matter. The dash in my 71 98 has a single crack in it. Maybe one of these days I'll remove it to be repaired.

Here's an old thread that covers repairing a dash. There are good links too.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...repair-153270/

From my understanding, the dash needs to be removed to repair properly.

 

Post a pic of the assembly from the service manual and a couple of pics of your dash. One pic from the outside looking through the windshield and one looking up at it from the floor.

 

You don't have to remove the dash to replace the vacuum pots, I replaced all of them in my 62 super 88 wagon with A/C. You do have to pull the duct work and heater core cover to get at the nuts. I also replaced the vacuum lines at that time as well. The manual gives you the length and color line on each line, we bought a set of markers and made new. It took 2 years for supplier to fill my order, I ordered enough to do my starfire as well. I did get them all and was happy with quality. They had one in stock but originally told me they had 10 but did come threw on completing the order and covid might have had something to do with it as well. The only vacuum pot I didn't replace failed on pressurizing the A/C so I'm on the hunt for that whole valve setup.
Steve

 

dashpad but thanks for the info.

 

OK, I misread that, sorry about that chief, missed it by that much.
Steve

 

lol. All good Steve!

Where did you get your vacuum pots?
Those are the diaphragms that operate the blend doors and such correct?
I have a couple in need of replacement.

 

I purchased them from Original Parts Group and when I checked stock on line they had them in stock. They shipped one and back ordered the rest for almost two years. I kept on top of them as I had paid all the shipping costs on the first shipment. They did deliver and the reasonig on being late was Covid had restricted manufacturing. I would buy the vacuum dashpots again from them but I would have to talk with sales and have them check stock directly.
Steve

I'm replacing my dashpad as well along with my windshield so when I remove the glass and inside window trim I should have better axcess to removing the pad and glueing the new one on. The pad I'm using is clean and soft from my parts car that I removed a few years back. I parted out a matching starfire to refurbish the Starfire I bought in Tuscon several years ago. Canadian parts car that has been off the road for 50 years and my Tuscan with 24K original miles . Gotta love clean sheet metal from the south and clean interior parts from the Great White North in a garage kept one owner car.
Steve

 

Thanks Steve

Good luck with your dash replacement. I think I'm gonna remove all the trim around it and try to remove all the old stuff and re-fiam it and make a vinyl cover for it unless I decide to replace the windshield then I'll do it the way you plan. Windshield isn't cracked but it's well worn. Looks good in the daytime but when the lights hit it at night you can see all the wear from 60 plus years.
Good to hear from you. I still haven't used the trans adjustment tool I got from you yet. I adjusted the carb and the trans shifts much better so I've procrastinated. I will be rebuilding the carb this year and will check trans linkage when reinstalling.