Is the beam that the dash mounts on a major structural component? Could it be safely removed?

 

Not for the car body, but for the dash it is.

Yes... and it can be safely re-installed too. Why do you need to remove it?

 

Well ... heh ... the dash is out and I don't have a replacement. The beam is a major safety hazard without the dash over it. It's placed so that, in the event of a crash, the passengers head would hit its edge.

 

wear a seat belt? lol, use a dash? you shouldnt drive without a dash, plus how can you even start the car without a dash?

 

I mentioned I don't have a replacement dash at the moment. I wear seatbelts but I'd rather not depend solely on the seatbelt catching.

I still have the main gauges in the car so the car starts. I had to leave the hazard switch box in or the rear lights wouldn't work though.

 

Where is the original dash? And you're daily driving the car????

 

Orig dash is broken all the way through in several places. Not sure what happened to it. I had a free replacement for it before I pulled it but the guy decided yesterday that he changed his mind.

Yeah it's a DD. I'm thinking about pulling the beam and sticking some sheet metal up as a temporary dash. (to help out in case I get pulled over)

 

Why not put the old dash back in until you find a replacement???

 

what do you want to do with this car? just drive it for fun? nice DD? or drive for fun but also want to race? if your very interested in racing, might i suggest building your own light weight aluminium dash? then you can to custom guages to? will probably be just as expensive as finding a replacement dash. maybe even cheaper. just a thought

 

I have started my Z, with the dash removed. And my gauges sitting on the floor. While the car is running. It can be done. Though I wouldn't suggest driving it without a dash either. That would just look strange. lol

 

Take the beam out.

duct tape big blocks of foam up front where the dash used to be. Then you don't need seatbelts...

 

lol, replace everything with foam pads. that would be ill. then just drive a bunch of people around in it at high speeds swerving everywhere.

 

Took the beam out and then put it back in. The steering column felt very unstable heh.

 

buy some of those water pipe foam insulation strips. One of those would wrap around the support beam. (like some roll cages have)

 

Unfortunately, "those water pipe foam insulation strips" are NOT like the padding used on SFI/FIA approved roll cages. There is a specific density and consistency required for certified "roll cage padding". It's actually designed to protect the driver in the event their helmet impacts the roll cage during an accident.

 

that bar actually is also there in case of side impact, kinda helps the car not get totally squished. and kjeeps the doors from ripping the side of the car off and make cracks over time.

 

Yeh it does add some strength to the car and of course supports the steering column. During the rebuild I thought of replacing it with something stronger but decided it did the job OK.

Did brace it down to the transmission tunnel though and forward under the windscreen.