What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

For Pre A discussions and questions
Message
Author
Vincent Gillespie
356 Fan
Posts: 439
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:33 am
Location: United Kingdom

What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#1 Post by Vincent Gillespie »

Hello, I should be coming up to this reasonably soon and was wondering from the experience of others which is the best installation sequence?
Ta
V
V. Gillespie

User avatar
Greg Bryan
356 Fan
Posts: 3692
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:05 pm
Location: San Pedro, CA 90732; Fallen Leaf, CA 96150
Contact:

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#2 Post by Greg Bryan »

I have always installed the windshield glass last.
Also, if you haven't already, paint the small area between the dash pad and windshield the color of the upholstery since it can be seen from the outside once the windshield is installed and, if body color, doesn't look quite right ….
Greg Bryan

User avatar
Jules Dielen
356 Fan
Posts: 3165
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:25 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#3 Post by Jules Dielen »

is there such an area on a pre A Greg? I was not aware. since the dash comes out in one piece, i'd install that last.
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

User avatar
Greg Bryan
356 Fan
Posts: 3692
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:05 pm
Location: San Pedro, CA 90732; Fallen Leaf, CA 96150
Contact:

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#4 Post by Greg Bryan »

Ah, yes - Pre-A Corner forum. Please disregard my post as my experience is limited to later cars ...
Greg Bryan

Vincent Gillespie
356 Fan
Posts: 439
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:33 am
Location: United Kingdom

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#5 Post by Vincent Gillespie »

Thought it might be easier with the dash out, thanks.
V. Gillespie

User avatar
Mark Cohn
356 Fan
Posts: 292
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:29 pm
Location: Central Texas

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#6 Post by Mark Cohn »

My experience installing the windshield with the dash in was that it was difficult pulling the cord to seat the seal in the limited space at the front of the dash. The limited space resulted in me having to pull the cord more upward and parallel to the windshield than inward toward the passenger compartment at something close to a 90 degree angle. This caused a small tear in the seal lip and ended up with me getting under the dash to try to get the seal to seat properly. Good luck! I only did it once but that’s how it went with the dash in.
Last edited by Mark Cohn on Thu Oct 04, 2018 12:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Roy Velthof
356 Fan
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:33 am
Location: De Haan, Belgium

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#7 Post by Roy Velthof »

Hi,

I did it without dash installed, works more easy, just like they did it way back in time by Porsche, check video and go to time frame 15:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbFu1r_erw0

Regards

Roy
- '55 356 Pre A Speedster
- '58 356 A T2 Coupé
- '60 356 B T5 Roadster

User avatar
Jules Dielen
356 Fan
Posts: 3165
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:25 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#8 Post by Jules Dielen »

ROY Velthof wrote:Hi,

I did it without dash installed, works more easy, just like they did it way back in time by Porsche, check video and go to time frame 15:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbFu1r_erw0

Regards

Roy
That is a Bt5, it's quite a bit different on a pre A since the complete dash comes out on a pre A, not just the pad. I do believe it is a lot easier to install the windshield first for reasons mentioned above.
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

User avatar
Jim Liberty
356 Registry Member
Posts: 4312
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 3:47 pm
Tag: Jim
Location: Orange Co., CA
Contact:

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#9 Post by Jim Liberty »

If you are installing a radio. Put it in before installing the dash. Heavier, but a lot less hassle. The same for the glove box. …………...Jim.
Jim Liberty

Vincent Gillespie
356 Fan
Posts: 439
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:33 am
Location: United Kingdom

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#10 Post by Vincent Gillespie »

Thanks for everyone's great advice, my glove box is part of the dash so that bit is sorted.

I purchased the full set of all the rubber seals from International Mercantile maybe 4 years ago and was wondering with all the new remanufacturing and tweeking of the mouldings is there any consensus as to which is the best screen rubbers to use. I have to say that so far all the IM stuff has been great and I might be setting it all up to do but I have a contact for someone to do this for me. Yep don't want the 'CRACK' 'OH DAMMM' moment so chickening out!
V
V. Gillespie

User avatar
Jim Liberty
356 Registry Member
Posts: 4312
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 3:47 pm
Tag: Jim
Location: Orange Co., CA
Contact:

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#11 Post by Jim Liberty »

I am using International Merchantile's rubber on my '54 just coming out of paint. ……………...Jim.
Jim Liberty

Vincent Gillespie
356 Fan
Posts: 439
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:33 am
Location: United Kingdom

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#12 Post by Vincent Gillespie »

Thanks, also the Made by Hand was useful in as much that it reminded me the trim has to go in before the whole thing is installed, and it's been ages since I looked at & I had forgotten how interesting it is.
V
V. Gillespie

User avatar
David Green
356 Fan
Posts: 224
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2012 3:48 pm
Location: Santa Barbara

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#13 Post by David Green »

I used windshield and rear window rubber from Cicognani in Italy that were previously distributed by Veloce Space here in the US. They have moulded corners and fit flat.
David

http://www.cicognaniguarnizioni.it/inde ... ommon/home

User avatar
Mark Cohn
356 Fan
Posts: 292
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:29 pm
Location: Central Texas

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#14 Post by Mark Cohn »

That rubber might be worth a look because the corners are the toughest part.

Vincent Gillespie
356 Fan
Posts: 439
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:33 am
Location: United Kingdom

Re: What should be installed first Dashboard or windscreen

#15 Post by Vincent Gillespie »

Thanks for the tip, I have just ordered them & I'll let the person actually doing the installation to decide between the 2 types.

V
V. Gillespie

Post Reply