Installing Instrument Cluster -- Question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
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From: Long Beach CA
Installing Instrument Cluster -- Question
I'm hooking up the instrument cluster in my 66 to my brand new wiring harness. The problem is that the harness has nine dash bulb sockets but the cluster has seven mounting holes -- five in the speedo/tach and one each in the outer instrument groupings. The original wiring harness also has nine sockets.
No, I'm not getting confused by the clock bulbs. The clock is already all installed and I still have nine sockets left. What am I missing here?
Also, just for curiosity -- I notice the ignition switch has a connector pin on the back labeled ground, but there is no wire in the harness connector to plug onto it. Should it be grounded? Is that for a capacitor I don't have?
No, I'm not getting confused by the clock bulbs. The clock is already all installed and I still have nine sockets left. What am I missing here?
Also, just for curiosity -- I notice the ignition switch has a connector pin on the back labeled ground, but there is no wire in the harness connector to plug onto it. Should it be grounded? Is that for a capacitor I don't have?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
Originally Posted by LB66383
I'm hooking up the instrument cluster in my 66 to my brand new wiring harness. The problem is that the harness has nine dash bulb sockets but the cluster has seven mounting holes -- five in the speedo/tach and one each in the outer instrument groupings. The original wiring harness also has nine sockets.
No, I'm not getting confused by the clock bulbs. The clock is already all installed and I still have nine sockets left. What am I missing here?
Also, just for curiosity -- I notice the ignition switch has a connector pin on the back labeled ground, but there is no wire in the harness connector to plug onto it. Should it be grounded? Is that for a capacitor I don't have?
No, I'm not getting confused by the clock bulbs. The clock is already all installed and I still have nine sockets left. What am I missing here?
Also, just for curiosity -- I notice the ignition switch has a connector pin on the back labeled ground, but there is no wire in the harness connector to plug onto it. Should it be grounded? Is that for a capacitor I don't have?
I would strongly urge you to search the archives for JohnZ's post of a photo of the rear of a cluster labelled, the same picture appeared in his CE articles on cluster R&R - agree the missing two are lighter and ign switch
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
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From: Conroe Texas
Originally Posted by ctjackster
I would strongly urge you to search the archives for JohnZ's post of a photo of the rear of a cluster labelled..
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...+cluster+light
Last edited by 62Jeff; Sep 1, 2006 at 08:41 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
of course, one of DZ's excellent how to photos will also do the trick (DZ and his photos having been there for me during my steering column R&R)
Last edited by ctjackster; Sep 1, 2006 at 09:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
Nope, they're not for the lighter and the ignition switch. I have those sockets too. They're different style sockets and they take smaller bulbs. I have nine sockets with 1816 dash-lamp style bulbs in them, and still only seven sockets. Any other ideas?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
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From: Long Beach CA
Never mind. Thanks for the link 62Jeff. The pictures in that thread clear it up. The holes just above the lighter and wiper switch are missing on mine -- covered over or plugged or something. I'll give the cluster a good examination when I get home tonight. Thanks again.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
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From: Westport CT
so on the back of your cluster, the light socket hole located at 10 o'clock to the lighter unit hole, tas well as the hole at the 2 o'clock to the wiper switch hole, are sealed up somehow?
I guess I can appreciate your confusion now . . . .
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Long Beach CA
Ctjackster -- you're absolutely right. Not only are they plugged up, they don't exist....solid metal, unmolested, never existed. No problem, I can disassemble the cluster and drill the holes in the plate, but where the heck did a plate like that come from? It fits the cluster just fine, everything fits to it just fine....it looks factory (old), it's just missing two holes!
Gee, maybe it's a factory error and the only one in existence. I should put it on eBay and get rich!!
Gee, maybe it's a factory error and the only one in existence. I should put it on eBay and get rich!!
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
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From: Conroe Texas
Originally Posted by LB66383
Gee, maybe it's a factory error and the only one in existence. I should put it on eBay and get rich!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 868
Likes: 5
What you guys have are incorrect trim....the 64 had the same piece without those holes but they fit the clusters fine.
The 65-67s have the same piece with the holes....I can help if you need one.
Jason
VetteInstruments@aol.com
The 65-67s have the same piece with the holes....I can help if you need one.
Jason
VetteInstruments@aol.com
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
Originally Posted by JOliver
What you guys have are incorrect trim....the 64 had the same piece without those holes but they fit the clusters fine.
The 65-67s have the same piece with the holes....I can help if you need one.
Jason
VetteInstruments@aol.com
The 65-67s have the same piece with the holes....I can help if you need one.
Jason
VetteInstruments@aol.com
). If that's the point, then does LB66383 have a 64 cluster? What does the front look like? WHat does the ink stamp say?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 868
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by ctjackster
Jason, is your point that the 64 clusters did not have the two light socket holes that we are talking about here? (if so, figures the downtrodden 64 gets two fewer dash lights ). If that's the point, then does LB66383 have a 64 cluster? What does the front look like? WHat does the ink stamp say?
). If that's the point, then does LB66383 have a 64 cluster? What does the front look like? WHat does the ink stamp say?The 63s were close as well but in the bottom middle where the steering cloumn goes in there is a single srew in the middle instead of two on the outer edge.
Jason
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,062
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From: Hasbrouck Heights NJ
Originally Posted by 62Jeff
Interesting. The original poster of that thread I linked to above, also said they had 2 extra light bulbs, but we never heard how that turned out. I wonder if they too have an instrument cluster without all the holes in it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
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From: Conroe Texas
Originally Posted by bweaver999
Still do. Have not had a chance to look at it more but did check and have the lamps in the added openings. Thinking I need to pull the cluster and see what's going on behind it, cluster lamps still blow the fuse. Perhaps a winter job.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Long Beach CA
Thanks Jason for clearing that up. I think I have a 65-67 cluster, at least the gauges are that style, but it has the 64 gauge pan retainer. I drilled the two extra holes in it today, and it all went back into the car just fine....with homes for all of the bulb sockets!! No wonder the illumination seemed so dim when I was driving at night.