the late model vanagons dashpad, especially the '84-87 brown dashpad, is
prone to cracking or the vinyl speperating from the underlying foam.

the only way you can remove a good one from a donor vehicle is to remove the
whole dash..  big job.

but when you have a good used one, you dont need to remove your own dash to
install it.

 heres how you can avoid pulling your dash:  simply use your good used
replacement dashpad as a guide, and mark the areas where the metal studs are, on
your crappy dash thats currently in your van.

once those locations are marked..  drill right thru your old dashpad.    be
careful you stop before drilling thru the metal dash.. you just want to drill
thru the dashpad.  once all the stud locations are drilled, the old dash should
just lift right off.

when reinstalling your "new" good used dashpad, just use some of the screws
and speed nuts, the ones you can reach, and some "liquid nails"  adhesive.
that should hold the dashpad down just fine.  you dont need to reinstall every
nut.. its overkill..

hope that saves someone alot of time..

chris

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