True, but the steering column will simply drop down toward the driver's seat
once the bolts are removed.  Removing the dash is really not so bad - it was
my first Vanagon project as a VW (and auto in general!) novice about one
year ago.  If you are careful, the shear bolts can probably be removed
without drilling them out with an Allen wrench or vicegrips, the reused.
Bentley says don't reuse them, but I don't see why not if they're still in
good shape.  Just go carefully with the dash, following the Bentley or
Haynes step by step.  Not a big deal, but leave the better part of a day if
you have much to do once inside.

Jim

> ... And my understanding is that to remove the dash, you must first remove
> the steering column!

> > By the way, one of the issues I found with removing the dash was that it
> > required drilling out two shear bolts. Have you ever removed a dash