Dash Retrofit 99 Box

[Vza]

Hi All, I pulled my dash to replace it with a black one w/ a glove box. Instead of buying the L and R parts to replace the one piece Knee Strip I just cut out what was needed to make room for the glove box. Seems to me its pretty close to what the OEM parts would have done. What do you think?? V

[rexcramer]

You're a brave man gunga din.

[Vza]

Lol....you're a better man than I. Yeah but what do you think.

[MrBen]

I would have sold it and bought a different car with a factory glove box. That looks like a lot of pain for little gain

[Deserion]

It’s also an excellent time to do any evaporator or blend door work since the dash is out.

[Starter986]

I want to see the bag of leftovers after the reinstall.

[itsnotanova]

Originally Posted by MrBen

I would have sold it and bought a different car with a factory glove box. That looks like a lot of pain for little gain

Removing the dash isn't that hard. Maybe an hour job

[Vza]

Yes thats correct. Looks harder than it is. An IMS install is much more difficult. Do the altered knee strips look OK. The dash won't sag or any other issues? I'm going to try and do both blend doors having are hard time trying to get the defroster duct out. V

[Deserion]

My only critique on that would be the gap was cut a bit more than needed to allow glovebox clearance. Realistically it shouldn’t be an issue, the dash shouldn’t sag as it doesn’t attach to the knee bar.



Incidentally, if you wanted to go with the OE knee bars they can be had from DC Auto for $100 (support bracket for the passenger side still required, I believe).

The windshield defrost duct is a bear to remove. I recall not removing it from the car when I pulled the evaporator box.

[Vza]

I figured as such.Yes....I did cut a a little too much out but I only wanted to cut it once...its like cutting an aluminium I beam. The defroster I forced out....it came out but I cracked it a bit...thats why they call it duct tape! I was able to get the main duct out to expose 2 blend doors. Any reason why its recovered with foam rather than metal tape? I just never want to do it again. Is it a 'blending issue' will it make a diff? V

[tommy583]

The blend doors are covered in foam so they can deteriorate over time and not work. No i really have no idea why they are covered in foam. I just removed the foam that was left and covered in silver metal tape. Works great now.

[Deserion]

Have to ask Volkswagen about that (seriously it’s a slightly-changed Mk4 Golf box). I covered both of mine with aluminum tape with a very thin sheet of neoprene on each side. No issues with contacting the box, flaps work as they should.

[A8ked]

This might be a good time to consider a preemptive changing of your ignition and headlight switches. Looks like you've got excellent access at the moment!

[Vza]

Done already but thanks. Sort of running outa things to replace!!

[Vza]

Just realized the right side duct work is in the way ....any work around for new ducts ....maybe flexible duct work. No way I'm pulling the dash out again.v

[Deserion]

The ducts feeding off of the center stack are identical 1997-2004. The center section is likely only different due to the middle vent size/shape changes in ‘03. For what it’s worth I installed the ducts after the dash was in.

[Vza]

Am I mistaken then....the right side duct won't be in the way of the glove box? Seemed like it went right where the cut out was. I'm talking about the piece that connects the center to the side.V

[Vza]

Made a video....if anyone is interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCzwFNG3Izk

[CBRacerX]

Originally Posted by Vza

Made a video....if anyone is interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCzwFNG3Izk

Nice job! Lets see part 2