ACE 30.2 Behind the Dash

[BrianA.C.E]

Thought I would post these Pictures of what is behind your dash on a 30.2, I could not help but laugh as I removed it. I finally had enough of the squeaks and bouncing coming from my dash so I removed it and found that nothing was attached to anything else that was solid. what had screws in it the screw had either missed its intended target or had pulled apart.
I didn't take pictures of the outside that you could see up front by the windshield but the entire front half had come apart and dropped about 3 inch's and you could see outside by the radiator. The Black spray in foam that they used was the main culprit of the squeaks any place it touched plastic squeaked like crazy when moved.
I removed all the spray foam and replaced with silicone caulking where needed and repaired any broken or detached mounts "all of them" now driving down the road the dash does not make a sound. Very pleased with the outcome, I also found that the floor pan under front seats on the bottom side was coming loose and vibrating so I replaced all the screws with larger self taping metal screws and then sprayed the panels underneath with rubberized spray world of difference.

[BrianA.C.E]

hope picture works this time

[BrianA.C.E]

more Pics

[JamieGeek]

That first pic with all the black HVAC hose everywhere looks like something out of the movie Brazil! LOL

[BrianA.C.E]

I was amazed by the poor carpentry work that went into building the under dash area.

[SuperD]

Unfortunately under the dash of our Windsport doesn't look any better!!!

[Hudsoner]

And it looks almost identical to the area underneath the dash of my Hurricane. The only difference is that they used metal components instead of the wood under your dash. But hardly anything is attached to the metal members, everything just "lays" on top of them.

[Dragon70]

I've been thinking about doing something similiar. Any info/more pics you could give me on how you got the dash apart would be greatly appreciated. Did you happen to notice if you can access the bolts for the mirrors?

[BrianA.C.E]

Originally Posted by Halibut214

I've been thinking about doing something similiar. Any info/more pics you could give me on how you got the dash apart would be greatly appreciated. Did you happen to notice if you can access the bolts for the mirrors?

Halibut214, I didn't take any more pictures, I should have taken a picture of the area by the windshield that you could see outside. The dash comes out pretty easy, start with the radio and a/c controls then the laptop table on the passenger side, Once those are out all that is left is the Instrument panel. there isn't much holding any of it in "which is the problem", as for the side mirror's mine has screws on the outside under the chrome caps that attach to the aluminum studs in wall.
Make sure to mark the HVAC hoses they are a tangled web of crap.
The Radio area and the instrument panel are secured with very small nuts on the back side.

[Onroadagain]

Thanks. These post were very helpful.
My dash board also has a foam sounding squeak, particularly when the temperature is cold.
My dashboard panel light fell out of its socket. I have wrestled with getting in back to its socket. Can’t find it. I guess I will have to remove the dashboard.
Thoughts on this?
Thanks.
Neil

[1bigal]

i am just wondering, hope, you know what bulbs i need for my dash instrument panel and how do i get them out to replace them. thanks.
2014 ace 30.2

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by 1bigal

i am just wondering, hope, you know what bulbs i need for my dash instrument panel and how do i get them out to replace them. thanks.
2014 ace 30.2

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f8...lbs-20396.html

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by BrianA.C.E

Halibut214, I didn't take any more pictures, I should have taken a picture of the area by the windshield that you could see outside. The dash comes out pretty easy, start with the radio and a/c controls then the laptop table on the passenger side, Once those are out all that is left is the Instrument panel. there isn't much holding any of it in "which is the problem", as for the side mirror's mine has screws on the outside under the chrome caps that attach to the aluminum studs in wall.
Make sure to mark the HVAC hoses they are a tangled web of crap.
The Radio area and the instrument panel are secured with very small nuts on the back side.

Those very small nuts the hold the section of the dash the radio and HVAC controls are screwed to studs that are glued to the back of the faux wood trim panel. All but two of those studs were detached from the faux wood trim panel. The only thing keeping the HVAC controls from falling down to the top of the doghouse was the 12V power ports.

When I replaced the replaced the radio, I removed the two studs that were still attached to the panel and drilled holes in the panel for # 8 machine screws. I then put speed nuts with 1 1/2" 8-32 machine screws pointing out. Then when I put the panel back on I held it in place 8-32 stainless steel acorn nuts.

While I had everything apart, I took the opportunity to replace the 12v power ports with USB power ports. Now adays nearly everything I would want to plug into the power ports is a 12V USB power brick now with the USB I can plug in 4 devices where I would be limited to just 2 devices with the power adapters supplied with the USB powered accessories.

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by 1bigal

i am just wondering, hope, you know what bulbs i need for my dash instrument panel and how do i get them out to replace them. thanks.
2014 ace 30.2

I replaced the instrument panel lights with T5 led lights. Like these,

https://www.amazon.com/AUXLIGHT-Dash...61&sr=8-9&th=1

On my ACE there is a panel above the instrument cluster that you can lift off. Once you open that up the entire back side of the instrument cluster is accessible.

When I replaced the bulbs, I worked with the parking lights on and worked on bulb at a time. Some of the T5 bulbs are polarity dependent, if the bulb does not light just remove the bulb holder and rotate 180 degrees and out it back in. Caution the old bulbs will be hot. also, the panel sockets might have the contact pin pull out when you remove the bulb so work over a tray of some sort so that you do not lose the contact pin in the wiring.

I have posted a photo of the instrument cluster after the LED replacements.
I also posted a picture of one of the light sockets to show what the pin looks like if it gets pulled out.

[The Gritz Carlton]

This is a great post! Before we bought the Super C we were looking at the Palazzo. After a factory tour, I wouldn't have taken a Palazzo for half price. I saw how the front end was built before the hid everything with the front cap. I was amazed at how much plywood was used and cut so circular across the front. I built a stronger soap box derby racer better than that when I was a kid. Turned out...the same quality build was in the full wall slide of the Super C. A factory tour is the most educational thing a new buyer can invest in...if they only knew about it before purchasing. Great pictures!!