Has anyone out in Chevy Chatterland put a new dash pad in a 1966 Chevelle? In what order is the dash pad installed? Does the front removeable metal painted dash get put into place first and then the top dash pad put in last?

dtm

This is the procedure that was used in the assembley plants: On "weld in" instrument panels the dash pad,when required,(in the early years the dash pad was an option but later became standard equip.) was the first item that was installed and secured. The accessories, radio, cluster, htr. control etc. were installed after the dash pad.
On removable instrument panels the panels were assembled "off line", the same assembley procedure was used as the "weld in".
Once the instrument panel was completed the panel,with wireing harness, was installed as a unit into the body.

DD

The 1966 Chevelle Malibu has a weld-in top dash panel. The dash pad is standard equipment on the 1966 Malibu. Do I put the dash pad on first, and then install the front - verticle dash panel with all of the gauges? If so, the dash panel would slid into the seam created between the weld-in dash and the removeable front dash panel.

dtm

Dave,
It has been several years since I was involved with the assembly of the Chevelle and I don't have one for reference purposes. Normally the pad would be installed first and secured and the cluster and other accessories would be installed afterwards. You should be able to determine the installation sequence by how the two fit after they are installed. I am attending a show today and will be on the look out for a 66 Chevelle for comparsion.

DD