Super helpful post.
Just removed an old cracked dash pad from a 1971 F250 Ranger with the intention of replacing it, but the paint looks so good underneath that I'm leaving it bare. Best paint on the the whole truck!
The job was fairly easy. Just as the previous posts said - remove glove box insert, radio, and instrument panel and all the nuts are easy to reach. I was able to just use a 3/8 socket and they were all loose enough to take off by hand, didn't need the socket wrench. Of course it was filthy in there, so got to do some clean up, too. Since the radio needs replacing I just left it out.
I'll also agree taking the defrost hoses loose really helped make things easy to get to.
Advice - be more careful than I was when peeling back the dash pad if you think you might leave it exposed metal. I drug the bolts across the paint in a couple of places and did a little scratching.
While I was in there I found 2 loose hanging lamps. No idea where they go. Replaced the bulbs but they don't light up still. Any idea what these are? One has a single wire that goes to the block of wiring on the light switch. I didn't trace the other, but also a single wire.
Also tried to replace the bulb in the little light that is at the bottom left of the dash - not sure what it is called. Some interior light. For some reason it lights up only if I get the base of the bulb in contact with the metal of the truck dash. I'm guessing some sort of ground issue? It has a maroon wire and red wire with a yellow stripe coming off of a giant mess of wires behind the instrument panel.
If anyone has dealt with these while working on the dash and has ideas they would be appreciated. Or even what this lamp is called so I can look for replacement part if I need one.
It's my second month with the truck and I'm starting to dig into a few things here and there. I'll also look around to see if anyone has posted about these in another spot.
