I'm working on my 69 and Trying to install my dash cluster on the drivers side. It was tight but I think I got it. The bottom filler part, under the steering wheel doesn't want to line up with the plastic tab on the steering column. It's almost an inch off, the column needs to go forward or the dash needs to go back farther an inch. I'm not sure what to do. Does anyone have some advise? I've never seen the car together and I'm not the one who took it apart. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Where is your wiring harness routed? It's supposed to go over the speedo/tach. If you run it behind the instrument cluster it can push it forward about an inch.

 

I have the wiring harness running over the steering colomn and in the clips behind the speedo and tack. Is that what you mean?

 

The wiring harness was routed behind or below the speedo and tach on early C3's. This was changed sometime in 1970 to route over the speedo and tach, the wiring was lengthened. I've seen this noted in a revision on the AIM, don't have it handy at the moment to say exactly when this change was made.

It sounds like the OP probably has the routing right though there isn't much room to spare. Probably why the harness was lengthened and rerouted.

OP: Can you post a picture of the area which is not lining up?

 

Does the wiring harness go above or below the tack and mile per hour cables?

 

Hi m,
On 71 cars the small bracket that the lower dash pad trim piece's screw mounts in has some adjustment…. does your 69 column have that?
In 71 it can slide about 3/4".
Regards,
Alan



Here's the position of the dash harness when it runs above the tachometer and speedometer. The position of the harness clips on the rear of the dash pad should be a guide for how the harness is intended to be run.

 

Yes it does have the adjustable screw in the column but it doesn't even come close to lining up

 

I have it all out again and I'm moving The harness around a little bit to try to get a little bit more room .

 

Your clips are probably mounted low on the back of your speedo and tach (going from memory), not near the top as in later years. I recall seeing a note somewhere about the wiring harness being lengthened to allow routing over the tach and speedo.I doubt you'll get the wiring to follow this routing, too short. My 70 is an early car, March 3 build, wiring runs along the back side. There's little room for error, probably why it was redesigned. If you have the AIM for 69, take a look at the page around UPC12 B9 (this is for 70, 69 may be a different page). This will give you an idea of how it's routed.

I could try to take a picture if you're stumped, tough area to get to. Not sure I'd be able to get a good picture.

I had a 73 which had the wiring routed over the tops of the speedo and tach. I think the change was during the 70 model year production. If you look at what Zip offers for repo dash wiring harness, 1970, you'll see there's an early 70 and late 70.

Here's a link to an earlier thread on this topic. The routing is clearly not over the top of speedo and tach. I believe this was changed mid 1970 model year.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...g-routing.html

 

Just some general comments. After years of having the interior of my 68 removed, and also with new wiring harnesses, and moving the old harness around, I found I could not get the driver's side dash panel to install..this was even with the steering column removed!!! I removed the speedo unit and then went to install the panel...now with the speedo removed, I could see what was going on. I moved wiring harnesses around, and go everything to fit. Then I removed the panel, re-installed the speedo... and it went in well. Installing the steering column was easy.

 

That sounds like a great idea! There's not much room for error.

 

Hi M,
Here's another thought…. when I install mine I have the speedo and tach cables attached to the back of the 2 gauges but LOOSE in the engine compartment…. sometimes the stiffness of those cables prevent the dash pad from moving forward the last little bit… especially the tack cable because of it's short length and limited flexibility.
Maybe think about that after trying 68/70s method which seems like a good idea!
Regards,
Alan

 

Well I think I routed everything right this time, it is a tight fit. After getting everything just about where I wanted it, screwed everything down everything looked good. Did a little tap on the on the dash and of course I hear a light bulb fall out. Lol trying again tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help.

 

Alan- good idea. I am in the process of replacing all of my white face "el cheepo" gauges the PO installed (none are accurate) and am having trouble getting enough slack to tilt the speedo forward. I wanted to reach behind to unfasten the cables to the tach and speedo, but could not get my hand in there. I'll try your method- there is more room out in the engine area. RA