eyedocs96

I have the instrument cluster out of my 65. I noticed on the back side of the cluster, there is a gap in the housing by the ignition switch. There is something that looks like masking tape cover the gap. It is painted black. It is the same on an older cluster I have as well. Anyone know why that is? I was thinking about replacing it with black duct tape.
Thanks
Brian.

68hemi

If I remember correctly I believe it was done to control "light leakage."

vmaxpwc

My 64’ has a metal cover that screws to the housing and a light goes inside for the ignition switch.

1snake

64's are different than 65's.

BWT

In 1965 the ignition switch had the housing for the lamp socket cast in the main body. This eliminated the need for the bulb holder that attached to the cluster housing with a small Phillips screw that was used in 63 and 64. One problem, the new switch design interfered with the casting where the socket attached. The casting was modified leaving a large opening and the factory used a cloth like tape to close the opening, and prevent light leakage. Not pretty, but effective. All 65-67 housings would have had this tape applied, before the inside was painted.

Mike Geary

my '65 had what looked like white cloth medical tape.

1snake

Does anyone have a pic. of this tape and where it's installed?