So I'm restoring my grandmother's numbers-matching, all original '69. The AM radio has begun developing some electrical gremlins, and for the life of me I can't figure out how to take the dashboard out. I have sunk hours into it, and I'm getting really frustrated. Does anyone have the solution, or some diagrams I could reference?

Welcome NoFlame, I wish I could help you out, but unfortunately I am also having the same problem, so I will only be able to say that someone here will be able to help you out by telling you what you need to know! There are a lot of knowledgeable folks here! I will be following this and hope that someone gives you the clue to tearing your dash out! Good luck my friend!

Sorry, forgot to mention, I wish I had your grandmothers Bird there... looks like you have a charm! You have a keeper there!

First bookmark Vikki's site, she has all the technical paperwork online
http://thefirstgensite.com/

Second, does your car have AC?
Now IIRC, you seem to be combining two issues. The plastic dash panel doesn't need to come out to remove the radio. The radio should hust be held in by the two shaft nuts and one screw on a strap in the back passenger (I think) side. Along with the wires of course. The hard part is getting it out once it's loose. It helps to remove the ashtray and sometimes the glove box liner but thats not required.

If you are trying to get the dash panel out let me know and I'll look for some pics of the back side of it. There screws into it from the back.

I am trying to remove the dash panel, some wisdom on that would be appreciated.

Wow that site looks great! No idea why I was never able to find it before.

And no, it doesn't have AC (thankfully). I was also told that to remove the radio, I have to remove the entire dashboard, but if that can be avoided, would be fantastic! Although...I'll eventually have to remove it anyway for cleaning so some insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

On 67/68's, the dash is welded in. I would assume 69 is also.

OK, Ill try and do this from memory.
To remove the plastic dash panel, there should be 4 screws along the top into the dash pad. Another 3 or 4 screws along the bottom edge. That's the easy part!
You also have to get an arm up behind the dash to release the pin on the light switch shaft and remove the shaft. You can then remove the retaining nut on the headlight switch.
You will have to release the speedometer cable from the housing and the wiring harness from the instrument cluster to give you enough play to pull everything forward.
Here is where you need to have the ashtray out (and the glovebox liner may help too.) Take a look at the first pic, the circled spot shows where a stud comes from the dash panel, goes through the metal dash and has a nut on the inside of the metal dash. This one is a real pain to get to! (There is another mounting higher up, but mine didn't have a stud in it.)The radio wouldn't have to be out, but it would be easier if it was. Either way the knobs and shaft nuts have to come off. There should be enough play in the heater cables to get the dash pulled out and the you can disconnect them.
Oh yea, You also have to drop the steering columb or you won't be able to pull the dash far enough toward the seat.
Be carefull pulling it out there are several little clips and screws holding wire bundles etc. to the back side of the dash.

The headlight shaft is definitely the hardest part. Need to find a contortionist for that job! Loosening all the associated cables and dropping the steering column a little should do the trick.

Interesting!! Thanks for sharing that info on how to remove, I had no idea that there were so many things to remove.

One last thing - did you remove the nut on the inside, lower right of the dash bezel? I forgot about this, but got a different bezel myself today and was reminded of this.