Couple of dash questions

[mrduke]

I'm replacing my (flat) dash at the moment, and am bemused by the sheer inaccessibility of some of the fixings, to the point where I suspect I'm doing it wrong?

The bottom rail is fully unsecured and free-moving, but the top of the dash is totally immobile. I have removed the screen-heater vent and the 3 bolts under it, to no avail. Even with access gained by pulling the bottom rail forward, I couldn't reach all the studs on the reverse - as the old dash was damaged anyway, I cut large chunks of it away to make it easier (still couldn't remove the passenger vent section), but there's no apparent way to properly secure the new dash in place. I'm sure I'm missing some embarrassingly obvious procedure here, but I can't see it!

Also, as I'm replacing a 1300 dash with a SE one, I'll be needing a clock at some point. Will that need fitting from behind i.e. before re-fitting the dash, or can it be pushed in at a later date?

[Jon Tilson]

You have undone the brackets at the side which are bolted into captive nuts in the inner wing?
There is also some support bracketry for the steering column that is IIRC attached to the dash bash.
Normally comes out without much trouble. Certainly no cutting needed.

Ive done this to a couple of flat plankers and the biggest problem is the absence of brackets in a few places to get the
curved dash demister trim to fit.

Jonners

[mrduke]

Hmm... couldn't see any brackets at the side, just the ones that hold the lower metal rail in, which isn't a problem really. I have managed to sort the passenger vent section, albeit minus one bolt, so I should be able to bodge the rest back together

The other problem I'm having, is removing the speedo glass for cleaning. I've removed the twist-off chrome bezel but the glass is still stuck firmly in place. As the surface is flush with the metal case, I can't slide anything in from the side to lever it off, not without damage anyway. Is there any way to 'unstick' it without using solvents? I'm worried anything strong will damage the face.