MAJOR EDIT to primary question SINCE ORIGINAL POST!!
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hi again guys,
this is a long ways off, but the things I do NOW may be influenced at some point by your answers and advice.
Doing complete body-off restoration of 57 Golden Hawk, so all the glass is out, new interior has been sitting in my basement for 5 years! (yes, had seats done so THEY aren't wrinkled at least). But a very important point I recall reading is that the headliner needs to go in BEFORE and 'under' the windshield. AND, the windshield trim strip stud has to have its retaining nut screwed on BEFORE you install the instrument panel.
Therefore, it seems you have to:
a) have the engine completely done and plumbed (brake lines, gas, oil, tranny cooler),
b) prime and paint the firewall (and probably under car and inside fenders while the shop is at it, or ME).
c) mount at least the core-body (minus doors and fenders and such, ok).
d) completely wire up the instrument panel with it's new vinyl, install the rebuilt gauges and EVERYTHING....
e) place the instrument panel in the body, (after fastening windshield trim nut!!!) and connect all the electrical and oil pressure and turbo pressure lines
EDIT: JUST REALIZED, can't fasten the windshield trim nut UNTIL the windshield is in, so do you have to have the headliner and windshield installed before you can even "partially" install the instrument panel?
QUESTION:
1) can you leave the instrument panel "loose" while partially connected? SO I CAN STILL GET AT THAT TRIM NUT LATER? I'm thinking with the oil pressure piping and supercharger line, might need to have it bolted down before connecting these up. BUT, then I couldn't put the instrument panel in until the headliner is done and windshield (and back window) are in; basically, until car has been to the body shop and painted!
What am I missing here?
Bottomline, can you put the instrument panel in partially so you can still get at that windshield trim strip stud LATER, or do you have to wait and put the panel in after the upholstery and windshield (and trim) are installed?
Would LIKE to actually START THE CAR for the first time as soon as I can; (no fenders or steering or doors or trunk or hood or rocker panels. But after I got the instruments all wired in /plumbed up). Could still work on leveling the body on the frame even. And then obviously it all would get masked off for the rest of the body work after another year or two or three of adding back in the steering and doors and fenders and hood and deck-lid, prior to the REAL paint job somewhere. (NOT me).
The motivation and planning ahead here, is to get my engine started as soon as possible, since it has already been a couple years since I got it put back together, and a year since I mounted it on the chassis....
But, if I can't behind the panel to that windshield trim stud WITH the instrument panel tightened to the firewall first, I don't see any way to even start the engine, mount the steering column, etc... let alone DRIVE, the car before the upholstery (headliner at least) and windshield are installed. I must be missing something here, I hope??
Thanks!!
Barry
---
hi again guys,
this is a long ways off, but the things I do NOW may be influenced at some point by your answers and advice.
Doing complete body-off restoration of 57 Golden Hawk, so all the glass is out, new interior has been sitting in my basement for 5 years! (yes, had seats done so THEY aren't wrinkled at least). But a very important point I recall reading is that the headliner needs to go in BEFORE and 'under' the windshield. AND, the windshield trim strip stud has to have its retaining nut screwed on BEFORE you install the instrument panel.
Therefore, it seems you have to:
a) have the engine completely done and plumbed (brake lines, gas, oil, tranny cooler),
b) prime and paint the firewall (and probably under car and inside fenders while the shop is at it, or ME).
c) mount at least the core-body (minus doors and fenders and such, ok).
d) completely wire up the instrument panel with it's new vinyl, install the rebuilt gauges and EVERYTHING....
e) place the instrument panel in the body, (after fastening windshield trim nut!!!) and connect all the electrical and oil pressure and turbo pressure lines
EDIT: JUST REALIZED, can't fasten the windshield trim nut UNTIL the windshield is in, so do you have to have the headliner and windshield installed before you can even "partially" install the instrument panel?
QUESTION:
1) can you leave the instrument panel "loose" while partially connected? SO I CAN STILL GET AT THAT TRIM NUT LATER? I'm thinking with the oil pressure piping and supercharger line, might need to have it bolted down before connecting these up. BUT, then I couldn't put the instrument panel in until the headliner is done and windshield (and back window) are in; basically, until car has been to the body shop and painted!
What am I missing here?
Bottomline, can you put the instrument panel in partially so you can still get at that windshield trim strip stud LATER, or do you have to wait and put the panel in after the upholstery and windshield (and trim) are installed?
Would LIKE to actually START THE CAR for the first time as soon as I can; (no fenders or steering or doors or trunk or hood or rocker panels. But after I got the instruments all wired in /plumbed up). Could still work on leveling the body on the frame even. And then obviously it all would get masked off for the rest of the body work after another year or two or three of adding back in the steering and doors and fenders and hood and deck-lid, prior to the REAL paint job somewhere. (NOT me).
The motivation and planning ahead here, is to get my engine started as soon as possible, since it has already been a couple years since I got it put back together, and a year since I mounted it on the chassis....
But, if I can't behind the panel to that windshield trim stud WITH the instrument panel tightened to the firewall first, I don't see any way to even start the engine, mount the steering column, etc... let alone DRIVE, the car before the upholstery (headliner at least) and windshield are installed. I must be missing something here, I hope??
Thanks!!
Barry
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