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When disassembling my cluster for cleaning and paint I discovered this cut away in the housing. I first thought that it had been tampered with but after looking at pictures of other clusters it seems they all have it. Was there ever a purpose for the cut-out portion on the cluster housing? I really can't tell for sure if it is made that way or cut away after production.
The casting for the 63 and 64 clusters had a provision to mount a lamp socket, as part of a holder held on by a screw to illuminate the ignition. In 1965, the revised ignition switches had the provision for the lamp cast into the switch housing. The cluster housing tooling was revised to remove the mount for the lamp. Not needed with the new design switch. That left the open area of the housing. Easy enough, they started using tape to close the area. Kept the dust out and light in.
I've done two clusters in the last year or so, one from my 65 L78 and it's got the exact same 'textured tape' in the same area (second pic). I never messed with the tape and just cleaned everything and sprayed away. The first pic shows the 66 Cluster before all the cleaning but you can see that tape-job on the drivers outboard side. I have no idea why the factory did that.
The casting for the 63 and 64 clusters had a provision to mount a lamp socket, as part of a holder held on by a screw to illuminate the ignition. In 1965, the revised ignition switches had the provision for the lamp cast into the switch housing. The cluster housing tooling was revised to remove the mount for the lamp. Not needed with the new design switch. That left the open area of the housing. Easy enough, they started using tape to close the area. Kept the dust out and light in.
I am really glad you posted this question. I just did the same thing with my '66 cluster. I found the heavy-duty tape there and I just assumed a previous owner or mechanic had cut it for some reason and then used tape. Wow.
Cluster Curiosity
