69 B-body dash & 402 oil pan questions?

[Clay Dots]

Hi I am in need of some advise, I need to pull off the dash pads to clean and re-paint. What is the easy wasy to get this off? I have pulled the glove box and door and gotten out the 3/8 bolt on that end and have unscrewd the ignition bezel and got that out. Where do I go from here? does the speedo have to come out?
Also I am dropping in a 440 from my c-body I know the oil pan needs to be changed to a 402 pan, does it have to be the 402 pan or do the less expensive ones, fit? Thank you in advance for your assistance! CD

 

[rrunner]

On the pads if it's a std. dash the switch panel needs to be removed and the nuts on the back of the pad. On the oil pan, what year C body? I have used C body pans in the past with the only problem being on some they just touch the center link. If it does touch it just takes a little massaging to make it clear.

 

[Clay Dots]

Thank you rrunner,

The 44o is out of a 1970 Imperial, any thoughts? also I took the screws (4) out of the instrument switch panel but it still seems to be holding on, should I try to pry it off? does the speedo need to come off? this is to get the lower dash pad off not the top dash pad. thanks so much for your help )

 

[rrunner]

The 44o is out of a 1970 Imperial, any thoughts? also I took the screws (4) out of the instrument switch panel but it still seems to be holding on, should I try to pry it off? does the speedo need to come off? this is to get the lower dash pad off not the top dash pad. thanks so much for your help )

The 70 pan will work out OK, been there done that. The pad will shrink around the switch panel most of the time making it hard to pop out. Also remember the panel needs to come out as straight out as possible or the dimmer will bind up on the dash.

 

[Clay Dots]

Thank you again RRunner

I really apprecaite your taking time to help me out, I am glad to hear I dont have to spend more money on the 402 pan, if it is not necessary. I will now be better equipped to get that dash pad out also.Thank you for your guidence and expertise. best wishes CD Boise ID.