68 Center Console Wow!!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 33
Left Lower Dash
If I had to do a again I would sell the car!!! The left lower dash was the worst part of the restoration yet! Tring to fit the huge wiring harness where it needs to go then dealing with the lower astro duct tube and the hood release then hoping it lines up with the center console, and on top of all that I haven't got to the steering column that I had a problem with clearing the center cut out. I will be tring to install the steering column to day and make a follow up post on this, AL.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 33
Steering Column is in!!!
Originally Posted by sweethence
well you should have to trimm anything at all, its more a question of position ans sequence, it is possible to send me a pic of how it gets stuck?
there is always a way
pics would help
tim
there is always a way
pics would help
tim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by IDOXLR8
Tim, I got it in and the only real thing I had to do was remove the one lower left side dash screw and gently pull the dash out (not much) to clear the steering column bracket. I took her out for mini test run around the block (oh what memories) AL.
Hey great!
Knew you could do it, now send me a pic of it done
Just kidding, I know what a beyatch that job is, I personalyy had to walk away from it three times lest i would have broke something
Congrats
tim
PICs???????
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by Bob Onit
Its a lot of work
It took me 10 hours to swap out the speedo on my 73
Took my time and paid attention to where everything was from the start
It took me 10 hours to swap out the speedo on my 73
Took my time and paid attention to where everything was from the start
Shouldn't take more than about 45 minutes.. That's what it took me..
1: remove the bolts that hold the steering column to the dash
2: loosen the bolts that hold the steering column to the firewall
3: drop the steering column down enough so that the dash can slide forward
4: remove the screws that hold the lower dash (drivers side)
5: slide the dash forward (removal not necessary)
6: remove the bulbs that are in the gauge backing bezel
7: disconnect the speedo cable
8: remove the bolts that hold the entire speedo assembly (not just the backing bezel)
9: pull out the speedo assembly including lens etc...
10: remove the speedo part from the entire speedo assembly
Install is the reverse of the removal...
Not that difficult. I don't see how it could take that long unless the dash design changed for '73 (compared to '68 and '69 but I doubt it... Shouldn't be more than a 1 hour job
Last edited by GrandSportC3; Jul 11, 2006 at 08:10 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 33
Originally Posted by sweethence
Hey great!
Knew you could do it, now send me a pic of it done
Just kidding, I know what a beyatch that job is, I personalyy had to walk away from it three times lest i would have broke something
Congrats
tim
PICs???????
Knew you could do it, now send me a pic of it done
Just kidding, I know what a beyatch that job is, I personalyy had to walk away from it three times lest i would have broke something
Congrats
tim
PICs???????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by IDOXLR8
Tim, I will post pictures of the finished deal but I need to steal my batteries back to my camera that I kids keep taking, AL.
Dadgum childrens
Cool, just happy you were able to get the job done
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 33
Originally Posted by GrandSportC3
10 hours to swap the speedo??
Shouldn't take more than about 45 minutes.. That's what it took me..
1: remove the bolts that hold the steering column to the dash
2: loosen the bolts that hold the steering column to the firewall
3: drop the steering column down enough so that the dash can slide forward
4: remove the screws that hold the lower dash (drivers side)
5: slide the dash forward (removal not necessary)
6: remove the bulbs that are in the gauge backing bezel
7: disconnect the speedo cable
8: remove the bolts that hold the entire speedo assembly (not just the backing bezel)
9: pull out the speedo assembly including lens etc...
10: remove the speedo part from the entire speedo assembly
Install is the reverse of the removal...
Not that difficult. I don't see how it could take that long unless the dash design changed for '73 (compared to '68 and '69 but I doubt it... Shouldn't be more than a 1 hour job
Shouldn't take more than about 45 minutes.. That's what it took me..
1: remove the bolts that hold the steering column to the dash
2: loosen the bolts that hold the steering column to the firewall
3: drop the steering column down enough so that the dash can slide forward
4: remove the screws that hold the lower dash (drivers side)
5: slide the dash forward (removal not necessary)
6: remove the bulbs that are in the gauge backing bezel
7: disconnect the speedo cable
8: remove the bolts that hold the entire speedo assembly (not just the backing bezel)
9: pull out the speedo assembly including lens etc...
10: remove the speedo part from the entire speedo assembly
Install is the reverse of the removal...
Not that difficult. I don't see how it could take that long unless the dash design changed for '73 (compared to '68 and '69 but I doubt it... Shouldn't be more than a 1 hour job
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by IDOXLR8
Be easy on him, I got one even better! I'm a mechanic and I could not remove the transmission Manual) from my 68 Corvette! I fought with it and after hours and hours got it out because it would not come back far enough. The I talked to another mechanic and he said there not that bad, well I ask him how he did it and he said you need to rotate the transmission a quarter turn and it will come right out and he was right even the book said thats the way it was done. (I know it's a man thing about directions) But I will admit all my "Bo-Bos", I'm not perfect, AL.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 33
Originally Posted by sweethence
Ha, here is one, on all pre 1970 350 the stock timing mark is in a different location on the balancer that the post ones, sooooo... if you have to replace the stock timing chain cover and dont reatain the tab, and use an aftermarket cover with the original balancer, then try to set the valve lash to mechanical zero, you will be doing so 4 degrees off, which makes a huge difference to the cam
. That first time really screwed me up the first time 
, AL.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by IDOXLR8
I remember that one at the dealership . That first time really screwed me up the first time , AL.
. That first time really screwed me up the first time , AL.Funny i thought i was the only one. I happend to be reviewing one of my engine masters books, and sure enough it was in a little caption as a side note, once i saw that, went back out, reset mechaincal zero and vroooooooom
pays to keep those old books around
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by IDOXLR8
Be easy on him, I got one even better! I'm a mechanic and I could not remove the transmission Manual) from my 68 Corvette! I fought with it and after hours and hours got it out because it would not come back far enough. The I talked to another mechanic and he said there not that bad, well I ask him how he did it and he said you need to rotate the transmission a quarter turn and it will come right out and he was right even the book said thats the way it was done. (I know it's a man thing about directions) But I will admit all my "Bo-Bos", I'm not perfect, AL.
, AL.
