so how tough is it to remove the defrost vent (driver's side) from the dash?

 

can I just remove the instrument cluster to reach it? or does the window or entire dash have to come out?

 

mine is warped and restricts the air flow right where I need to see... want to replace it with a good one but don't want to tear the entire dash out... and I want to do it before it gets wet out...

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so how tough is it to remove the defrost vent (driver's side) from the dash?</P>

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<P>can I just remove the instrument cluster to reach it? or does the window or entire dash have to come out?</P>

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<P>mine is warped and restricts the air flow right where I need to see... want to replace it with a good one but don't want to tear the entire dash out... and I want to do it before it gets wet out...

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<P> hi,  i think you have to take the entire dash off cause those vents are screwed onto it from the underside, i took several apart a few yrs ago and that seems like what i remember. also the vents that face into the passenger compartment on the main part of the dash are screwed onto the dash from behind if i remember right. i wanted to replace those ones cause they always seem to be messed up.  i'm sure you will get an answer about it for sure though. sorry but i think it is not as easy as you hoped. </P>

Mine is an 84, so I am not sure if this will apply to you.

The screw holes for the vents overlap & line-up with the dash screw holes that are used to secure the dash. So you'll have to unscrew two screws and the vent will pop out. This is from the top of the dash, so there's the risk of cracking the windshield and such.

 

Here's my trick that worked for me...

I taped a 4x4 inch piece of cardboard to the windshield directly above the screw to absorb any impact. I then used a phillips head bit with a small vise grip wrench. It only needed one full turn and I used my hands to finish removing it.

 

Hope this helps. Good luck!

<P>also the vents that face into the passenger compartment on the main part of the dash are screwed onto the dash from behind if i remember right. i wanted to replace those ones cause they always seem to be messed up.  i'm sure you will get an answer about it for sure though. sorry but i think it is not as easy as you hoped. </P>

Yep.....the passenger facing vent assembly is screwed in from the back. Glove box has to come and the right front speaker (and really the mounting bracket to make it easier) has to come out to get to all of them.