Replacing Instrument Cluster Panel Lights
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Replacing Instrument Cluster Panel Lights
I Am In The Process Of Replacing All Instrument Panel Bulbs, Tach Cable And Headlight Switch.
The Dash Pad Is Loose And Can Be Tipped Up. The Left Instrument Panel Is Loose And Can Be Tipped Top Towards Drivers Seat. The Steering Column Has The Two Bolts At The Bottom Of The Instrument Panel Removed.
My Problem Is I Still Do Not Have Enough Room To Get At The Instrument Bulbs Or Tach Cable.
How Do I Get More Room?
What Have I Done Wrong?
Need Your Help.
Thanks.
Gm
The Dash Pad Is Loose And Can Be Tipped Up. The Left Instrument Panel Is Loose And Can Be Tipped Top Towards Drivers Seat. The Steering Column Has The Two Bolts At The Bottom Of The Instrument Panel Removed.
My Problem Is I Still Do Not Have Enough Room To Get At The Instrument Bulbs Or Tach Cable.
How Do I Get More Room?
What Have I Done Wrong?
Need Your Help.
Thanks.
Gm
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
From: ElP TX
I Am In The Process Of Replacing All Instrument Panel Bulbs, Tach Cable And Headlight Switch.
The Dash Pad Is Loose And Can Be Tipped Up. The Left Instrument Panel Is Loose And Can Be Tipped Top Towards Drivers Seat. The Steering Column Has The Two Bolts At The Bottom Of The Instrument Panel Removed.
My Problem Is I Still Do Not Have Enough Room To Get At The Instrument Bulbs Or Tach Cable.
How Do I Get More Room?
What Have I Done Wrong?
Need Your Help.
Thanks.
Gm
The Dash Pad Is Loose And Can Be Tipped Up. The Left Instrument Panel Is Loose And Can Be Tipped Top Towards Drivers Seat. The Steering Column Has The Two Bolts At The Bottom Of The Instrument Panel Removed.
My Problem Is I Still Do Not Have Enough Room To Get At The Instrument Bulbs Or Tach Cable.
How Do I Get More Room?
What Have I Done Wrong?
Need Your Help.
Thanks.
Gm
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,405
Likes: 791
From: Redondo Beach, California
1973 C3?
I think you can get to both the tach and speedo cable from underneath the dash. You'll need to remove the seat. The cables are held in by a clip.
Tipping the left front vertical dash panel toward the rear of the car should give you 2 or 3 inches to reach in the top. Undo the headlight switch (pull **** al the way out, push the little button on the side of the headlight switch body (by reaching through the opening between the dash panel). The "cans" of the speedo and tach housing will prevent allowing you to pull the front dash panel forward. They, and the green plastic piece, can be removed by unscrewing the three little screws. This should allow enough room to get your hand in to get to the bulbs at the top of the speedo/tach. You can loosen some by reaching in underneath.
..........
Now, how do you put the bulbs back in? I built a special harness for all the speedo/tach bulbs. I added a connector half to this harness. Then I made a harness to attach to all the bulb wires coming out of the main firewall harness and ran them into the other connector half. This way you install the front dash panel with all the bulbs already in. The last step is to just snap the connectors together.l
I think you can get to both the tach and speedo cable from underneath the dash. You'll need to remove the seat. The cables are held in by a clip.
Tipping the left front vertical dash panel toward the rear of the car should give you 2 or 3 inches to reach in the top. Undo the headlight switch (pull **** al the way out, push the little button on the side of the headlight switch body (by reaching through the opening between the dash panel). The "cans" of the speedo and tach housing will prevent allowing you to pull the front dash panel forward. They, and the green plastic piece, can be removed by unscrewing the three little screws. This should allow enough room to get your hand in to get to the bulbs at the top of the speedo/tach. You can loosen some by reaching in underneath.
..........
Now, how do you put the bulbs back in? I built a special harness for all the speedo/tach bulbs. I added a connector half to this harness. Then I made a harness to attach to all the bulb wires coming out of the main firewall harness and ran them into the other connector half. This way you install the front dash panel with all the bulbs already in. The last step is to just snap the connectors together.l
