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Joined: Mar 2004
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CEG\'er
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First off, currently I do not even own a Contour. I am seriously considering purchasing a near perfect 2000 SVT but I have a HUGE concern with this particular car. The car has the warped dash issue, and it's pretty bad off. I know I can still get the kit from Ford to fix it so that part is not a big issue. My biggest concern is removing the dash to install the kit to fix it. I'm sure that once removed, it will never be the same again. Right now, the car I drove has no rattles, or creaks from the dash, I'm sure after removing it and replacing it, there will be some.
So, here is my question; can the repair kit be installed if the windshield is removed? The car needs new glass anyway so I figured that I could have the windshield removed, install the dashboard repair kit, then have the new glass installed. This way, I would never have to remove the dashboard to fix the warpage.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,149
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Oct 2000
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Yes. Remove the windshield and it's a piece of cake; no more than 1 hour of labor after the glass is gone.
-- 1999 SVT #220 --
In retrospect, it was all downhill from here. RIP, CEG.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 216
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2002
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no, you can't install all of the kit with the glass out. there is a strip that goes at the leading edge of the dash that contacts the firewall. you can, however, install that ugly-ass plate over the defrost grill.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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And how would one remove the windshield? Won't this create a potential for leaks after it's replaced? I've heard bad things from those that have had windshields replaced.
2000 CSVT Silver Frost: #942 of 2150
HID Projectors and Fog Light Mod, Optomized TB, MSDS headers
2003 Silverstone Z
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Originally posted by epattonm:
And how would one remove the windshield? Won't this create a potential for leaks after it's replaced? I've heard bad things from those that have had windshields replaced.
The windshield has to come out reguardless because there is a huge crack in it. I will have a professional do that part of the job. There are many companies who will come out to your work, or home and replace the glass there. I own a shop so I would just have the glass company come out, reomve the glass, then I would fix the dash and have them put in the new glass the next day.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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CEG\'er
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Originally posted by GregH:
no, you can't install all of the kit with the glass out. there is a strip that goes at the leading edge of the dash that contacts the firewall. you can, however, install that ugly-ass plate over the defrost grill.
OK, could I just loosen the bolts that hold the dash to the firewall and pull the dash back enough to get the part in?
Thanks for the info.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 294
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Uhh I just had mine replaced by Safellite for $201 on a '98 SVT installed at my work....and no leaks or anything.
'04 Cobra Convertable!!
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by GregH:
no, you can't install all of the kit with the glass out. there is a strip that goes at the leading edge of the dash that contacts the firewall. you can, however, install that ugly-ass plate over the defrost grill.
You can't get to that piece with the glass removed? 
Regardless, IMHO unless your dash is peeling from the edge against the firewall I'd skip it. Since you're attacking the problem with the windshield removed, it isn't worth the hassle of pulling back the instrument panel to insall that one piddly strip; almost all of the clamping force is exerted through the revised defroster vent anyway.
-- 1999 SVT #220 --
In retrospect, it was all downhill from here. RIP, CEG.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 655
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
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Quote:
And how would one remove the windshield? Won't this create a potential for leaks after it's replaced? I've heard bad things from those that have had windshields replaced.
I see you live in Ohio. You haven't had too many broken winshields I take it. I used to live in Michigan, where broken winshields are a common occurance. Every vehicle we leased had the winshield broken one, two, sometimes up to four times. We always had the winshields replaced at our house or at work, and they never, I mean never leaked. Not even one drop. I will grant you that if a winshield isn't installed properly, it will leak. However, it can't be that hard to do correctly, because some of the people who replaced ours were frick and frack.
Now for the dash fix, if you need to remove the winshield anyways, why not do the dash fix from the outside, and not have to take the entire dash off. That way you won't have problems with squeaks and rattles, and you won't be putting yourself through the punishment of fixing the dash with the winshield on.
Just my .02
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Originally posted by red99sesport:
Now for the dash fix, if you need to remove the winshield anyways, why not do the dash fix from the outside, and not have to take the entire dash off. That way you won't have problems with squeaks and rattles, and you won't be putting yourself through the punishment of fixing the dash with the winshield on.
Just my .02
WHAT A GREAT IDEA!
-- 1999 SVT #220 --
In retrospect, it was all downhill from here. RIP, CEG.
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