I can only get you half-way there with my experiences, but since the most recent one is from your former 65 and is only a couple weeks past.


Step One - prepare.
Get a big roll of masking tape and two or three of those clear plastic nut-n-bolt trays from Home Depot (you know the lidded ones with the moveable dividers cost about $3.00 stateside), get a big box of heavy duty feezer bags and a whole box of sharpies. A couple of 18 gallon plastic storage boxes and newspaper also helps.

As Mr. Happ says, take many pictures. I don;t think you need too many given the simplicity of the 120, but photos of wiring connections are critical!

Step Two - small stuff.
Remove the headlight trim rings and buckets. Remove and store the grills too if you are afraid of damaging them. Removing the buckets give you easier access to the nose-fender bolts. Remove the trim rings, signal lenses, and tail lenses covers/reflectors, etc...

Step Three - big stuff.
Remove the Hood, Fenders, and Nose first. It makes *everything* easier.
Put all those weirdo acme screws into the divider box and put a bit of tape on the lid and label that "section" of the box (if you choose).

Remove the front interior kickpanels to get access to the door keepers (two bolts each). Remove the front doors and discard (on second thought you should probably keep them...) Don;t take them apart unless you need to.

Once you have these five principal pieces off, the car will be infinitely easier to work on.

I always remove the front bodywork before an engine swap.


Step 4 -The rest of it.
Just work logically from there forward as your needs require. Considering the damage to your A-pillars, you will likely want to strip the dash and wiring harness to remove the windshield. I can't imagine how hard it would be to get a replacement to you out there....

Your headliner is toast, I think it is impossible to remove one without destroying it.

Be sure you box all the like nuts and bolts. I used two of those storage trays for ALL the bolts from your 65. Be sure you tag (with tape) and label the ends of *all* the wires from your harness. double-bag (label the inner bag) of anything too big for the tray box and too small to be easily identified. Bundle up the big stuff in paper, wrap and label it, then put it into the 18-gal storage boxes. (I used two of these for the bigger stuff)

After taking a 122 and an 1800 apart, I really value the logic and simplicity of the 120s. If is supposed to come off, it does - simple.

This whole process will give you an unprecedented sense of confidence about these cars.