Gary's '66

Thanks, I'll try to remember that prior to detailing.

Gary

Jackfit

Same here, take out the cluster , the dust is in the gears speedo and everywhere else. Second time in 5 years, it is the way it goes

Jack

Gary's '66

Jack,

If that's the case how did you remove it from there? I realize too much air pressure could be detrimental so what did you use to clear out the gauges? Did you use an aerosol, such as what's used on computer equipment?

Gary

Jackfit

Hi, you have to take the cluster apart so you can wipe the lens. Gentle air from can or compressor, but mostly wiping. I would have taken out the cluster before, but I had to drive the car to painter.

Jack

woodsdesign

Gary,
I think you know the answer to this predicament. Bite the bullet and just pull the cluster and make it right.
Chances are that the above methods won't work to your liking. Also, there is chance of damage.
Just take an afternoon, pull it, clean it then forget it.
You won't be sorry you took the time. Everything will be fresh and clean including your beautiful new paint job. JMO.

ILBMF

I'm going to be taking the '66 to paint at some point and I want to avoid this.

StingU2

... that's better than wasting your time here trying to figure out a shortcut way of doing it!

-Bruce

Gary's '66

I wish you better luck I have had. I think that the only thing to POSSIBLY prevent it would be to stuff a bunch of cloth and or plastic all around the BACKSIDE of the dash as, that's where I believe that most of the dust came in from. Even then, it wouldn't surprise me if at least a little found it's way in.

Gary

Gary's '66

Hey Jack,

I knew about the general cleaning since I've already been down that road. I was wondering about the gauges themselves. Do I need to blow/clean them out as well?

Gary

Jackfit

Hi , you need to remove the gauges from the cluster to clean lens. Gently blow dust from them and wipe faces with moist cloth.

Take out seat , steering column etc to make it easer to remove. Use the 5" threaded rods as shown in other posts to hang cluster on while taking apart. I will post pictures when I get home

Jack

Gary's '66

Thanks Jack,

No need for the pics. As mentioned, I've had the cluster out before (still have the rods, found 'em last night) so my only question was pertaining to blowing/removal of the dust from the gauge housings themselves. Thanks again.

Gary

DUB

I also use a vacuum. AND YES...some make-up brushes that my wife got for me due to having such soft bristle's on them.... And..also something I use that many of you many not have thought of is a tack rag for when you are prepping your car for paint. IT DOES WONDERS on grabbing dust..and as many people KNOW..it does not leave a residue behind.....because I can paint over a finish I wiped down with it and it DOES NOT cause fish-eyes.

Gary...you are REALLY going to be GLAD you removed the dash cluster...because I WILL BET that there is a bit of dust on the dash cross member.

And or any of you planning on doing your body work...one thing I do is I pack the cowl areas with towels...so I do not have to worry about dust migrating into the cowl area...and thus...into the area where the blower motor is. I use a vacuum when I am pulling the towels out and then wash the cowl /plenum area with water.

DUB

rayvaflav

Looks like you've made up your mind to pull the cluster to do it right, I'm afraid that if you blow compressed air into the gauges from rear of the cluster that you're not going to remove any particles or dust from the gauge, you're only going to redistribute it. And possibly make it worse.

Ray

Gary's '66

Yeah, it certainly seems as though I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and do it again.

Before I do tackle it though, I think that I'm going to blow out the whole interior, then drive it around with the windows down, fresh air vents open and blower motor on for awhile. May as well try to get ALL the dust out of the car that I possibly can.

Then I'll blow it out once more and pull the cluster hopefully, for the last time!

Gary

Gary's '66

DUB,

I'm sure you're quite correct and, have resolved myself to do it the right way. The thing that really bothers me is the fact that there's so much more left to do on the car before I can even think about getting into redoing something I've already done once before.

Hopefully, it will be easier the second time around.

Gary

DUB

Gary,

Not meaning to be condescending...but ...that IS a part of the learning curve. TRUST ME....the process I follow now has taken YEARS to hone and the ONE THING I HATE is having to do something TWICE. So I UNDERSTAND completely.

AND you might also want to pull the glove box and liner due to dusts that can settle on top of it.

AS for driving the car to 'blow it out'...that is your choice...but at my shop I would rather wash out the interior and vacuum it up and MAKING SURE I have no dusts that will fall down on new black carpet (for example).

Gary's '66

DUB,

No offence taken. Damn, sounds as though the clean up is ALMOST as time consuming as the repaint.

Gary

Viet Nam Vett

Since I have pulled my clust 3 time over 35 years it is the worst job to me you can do on a Mid year..This time I made my self a promise than I an't do-en this ever again...

Hence ..Enter the Dakota Digital Direct fit dash No more tach and speedo cables and 9 bazillion lamps to deal with as well as oil pressure line.

Just one cat 5 cable... It's done and I am loving it. It's freken great!!!

I even did the clock..

Scroll down for all the info....

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd858.htm

Gary's '66

Thanks for the info and, believe me when I say that it's quite tempting.

However, I actually like (looking at but HATE working on) the stock gauges. Besides, my car is basically stock with it's matching drive train and, even more so now since I've had repainted to it's original Laguna blue.

If I have to do it again though, who knows!

Gary

woodsdesign

Those are very nice gauges. I wish I wouldn't have opened the link. Now you got me going, Viet Nam Vett. How tuff is the hook up?