Instrument panel disassembly?

[halr75]

I poster a while back and received excellent advice on picking up a flood damaged 82. I am in the process of working through and sure will have other questions on water sensitive parts! Question for now is best way to get the plex off the front of the instrument panel. It has muddy “high water” marks on the inside of the plex and on the front panel. Warm water, a drop or two of washing up liquid and some patience has cleaned up the gauges themselves but I need to get the plex off.

I’m thinking I need to either grind the back side of the metal inserts but thought there may be someone here who had faced the same trouble. Hopefully attached images help explain the predicament…

Thanks for all and any input!

 

[EricH]

I’m thinking I need to either grind the back side of the metal inserts but thought there may be someone here who had faced the same trouble. Hopefully attached images help explain the predicament…

If there is an alternative to grinding off the rivet heads I haven't found one.

 

[halr75]

If there is an alternative to grinding off the rivet heads I haven't found one.

I presume the peened over backside?

 

[EricH]

I presume the peened over backside?

Yep. I have no idea how that was done at the factory, but I expect that whoever came up with it was the same comedian who put a 7mm hex head screw on the underside of the grates over the scuttle at the front of the windshield and on the underside of the side vents into the engine compartment.

 

[LarryC]

Yes, that 7mm hex on the grates in the front is the only time I have ever used the 7 mm socket. But I have never found one under the side vents. Must be a particular year on that one.

 

[halr75]

Thanks for the input guys, clean up is progressing well. Little ways to go yet…

Thought I’d document approach here for prosperity. Disclaimer, I took a minimally invasive approach so freed it up enough to gain access to clean and no more. Used a dremel bit chucked in my drill.