How hard is it to swap out a headlight switch?
Can i just reach up under the dash & change it or is it more involved?

 

Ya...you can reach up and do it. A bit of a pain but do-able. You need to lie on your back...so if you are a big guy thats different.

Jim

 

Thanks Jim, I'll crawl up it there in the morning.

 

Derby, i was able to change mine out by removing the dash pad. tight but it worked

 

I had to remove the screws for my LH dash and loosen the column to get access in that corner on my 68.

 

jdp6000 is correct for '78 and on, with the dash redisign, but for us 68-77 crew, you have two choices. 1. drop the steering column (i'm not joking) and then you can drop the drivers panel out and access the switch.
2. remove the dash pad screws and CAREFULLY pull up on the pad untilll you can access it, if your not carefull, you can crack the 30+ y/o plastic of the pad.
No you cannot access it from below, there is a nice piece of metal plate between it and the air.

To drop the steering column there are 3 points that must be un-done. 1. the rag joint cross bolts. 2 the firewall plate- 2 bolts on the inside firewall, outside bolt comes out, pivot it on the inside bolt/stud 180° and remove, the inside one is a stud welded to the engine side plate, 3. the two bolts on the underside of the steering column. edit:***The problem with just loosening the steering column hold up bolts is that it places undo stress on the column lower bearing, when you move it.***

Reassembly, the rag joint bolts loosly, the steering column hold up bolts loosly, then the rag joint crossbolts in tight, then the column bolts tight, then the plate bolts tight.

 

 

The first time I did it on my 77 I used your number 2. The trick is finding the release button for the rod/****. I seem to remember removing some other parts down below....like the vent tube and something else. Sounds like a much bigger job on a 71.

 

thanks lads. I think i'm going to pull the dash pad as I plan to swap out the crappy dash speakers anyway so no time like the present.

 

I need to replace mine and I have the drivers side dash pad loose. I can't see how to get the switch out of there. Is there a screw holding the bracket on the backside of the switch? Like I said, my pad is "loose". Does it need to come all the way out?

 

disconnect the battery first, then you have to be able to get to the front top of the switch, pull the light switch to full on, then find the little push button to push to release the shaft, then there is a threaded hollow bolt that screws into the dash, holding the switch in. Be aware that the two vac lines will need to be marked, uninstalled and reinstalled in the correct locations. eiser if you drop the column.

 

I just replaced mine on my 1970, and all I did was remove the screws on the "Instrament panel" on that left side as well as the 3 screws that hold the lower portion of the steering column COVER on. Than just pulled the top left upper corner of the Instrament panel back and no prob. Never touched the dash pad itself. A bit tight, but it beats I.M.H.O. dropping the steering column itself. Might be a bit different on those later models though, I'm not sure. Job took me all of about 20 minutes. Good luck with it.

 

'68-'70 models can be changed just by pulling the front drivers side instrument panel forward to access the switch.

'71-'77 models you do have to drop the steering column.

 

Really? From what I can see AT LEAST 70 thru 72 look exactly the same. Whats the diff. that makes it neccsary to drop the column? Must be something behind the Instrament panel that can't be seen that make it so. They sure look the same from the outside.

 

69-72 should be almost completely the same...

mine's a 72 and I just loosened everything up and then pulled it open on the left side of the driver's side of the lower dash pad...I can easily access the headlight switch. But when I pull the shaft out to the on position and then depress the little button... it doesn't release. I tried a few different times but no go on letting loose... any other ideas?

thanks,

Sully

 

I got that info from my Haynes manual.


I fought with mine yesterday for nearly half an hour before it decided to cooperate. I don't really know what made it finally work though. I kept rotatting the shaft inside the switch in very small increments until it finally popped out. Make sure the **** is fully out though.

 

will try that tonight... i have the new switch ready to go in just gotta get that old crapper out! Thanks.... we'll see how it goes...

Sully

 

I picked one up yesterday from Advance Auto, but it doesn't have the vacuum ports on it.

Where did you buy yours?

 

autozone... wells switch 141... no vacuum stuff either but easy mod!

sully

 

Ordered mine from Mid America. Most any of those cataloge guys have them. I too tried autozone, N.A.P.A. etc. all did not have the vac. ports. B.T.W. I too saw in the "Haynes manuel that 71 thru 77 must drop steer column. Damn they all look the same.(71 to at least 73) Can't figure why that drop is neccessary.