accessing area behind speedometer and tach
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Holcomb Mississippi
accessing area behind speedometer and tach
Can someone tell me how to remove the lower drivers side dash without removing the upper dash? I want to be able to redue the plumbing for my vacuum lines to override etc.
Thanks,
andy
Thanks,
andy
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You can get to all the vacuum lines except for those that run to the headlight switch without removing the dash. Just remove the driver's seat (to gain easy access), the lower steering column cover, and the little plate with the "override" switches. If you have A/C in your car, you will also need to remove the ventilation duct just above that area by removing one retaining screw near the vent outlet. If you really need to remove the driver's dash panel, you can also drop the steering column to get it out without removing the dash cap.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
You need a few books!
Before starting this job first thing I would do is make an appointment with your Chiropractor!
Seems like you are going to enjoy your new Corvette for a long time, if that is correct you will need a few books, the Haynes Manual is helpful and can be purchased at your favorite auto parts store. A better book is the 69 Service Manual, it contains more specific information for your year. The Assembly Information Manual (AIM) has exploded views of how a Corvette goes together. These are available from sponsors like Willcox. PG.
Seems like you are going to enjoy your new Corvette for a long time, if that is correct you will need a few books, the Haynes Manual is helpful and can be purchased at your favorite auto parts store. A better book is the 69 Service Manual, it contains more specific information for your year. The Assembly Information Manual (AIM) has exploded views of how a Corvette goes together. These are available from sponsors like Willcox. PG.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Holcomb Mississippi
getting to light switch
Thanks for the info all but I believe I really need to get to the light switch as the vacuum lines aren't attached to the override switches. So I don't believe they are connected to the light switch either. I guess I'll have to go ahead and take the steering column out to get to it all correct?
andy
andy
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Well, if it were me, the last thing I would do in your situation is assume that those hoses are not on the headlight switch. I would attempt to hook everything up that I could find under the dash area and try it out...before going to the difficult step of digging down to the headlight switch. Just a thought....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Holcomb Mississippi
agree
I agree. I got upside down and sideways under the dash trying to figure it out and neither of my override switches have hoses coming to them. I can't find any loose hoses under the dash either so I figure that the hose to the switch must be missing. I don't think I have a choice if I want my overrides to work properly.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
IF you have to do the dash, tip of the hat to you....you should really go to Radio Shack and buy some molex connectors, and simplify the wiring, and pulling 50 lightbulbs and then getting them back IN the correct spots is a bit of a challenge, after 15 years of ownership on this car, I finally put plugs into the wiring harness, do one for the gray/lighting lights, one for the indicator lights/turnsigs....and one wire for ground, another for tach, and of course my speedo cable was brought under the carpet to inside the car, so unplugging IT was easy now
GOD, I"m lazy.....
GOD, I"m lazy.....
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 148
From: East London/SW Essex UK
I have just finished getting inside the dash on my '68 - 1. to replace ignition switch 2. to take speedo apart and repair 3. try and replace all the instrument lights and connections that came off when I removed the dash 
If you remove screws from front and left side of dash you don't need to remove dash top or lower steering column - you can get just enough room to get at vacumn hose connections on light switch and (with some gymnastic abilities) lay on your back and get under the dash by the footwells to get at vacumn connections to actuator etc. If its any consolation after half a days fooling around it all works now - well, I say almost - the courtesy lights have a will of their own - and they also come on when I pull on the parking brake - how weird is that
If you remove screws from front and left side of dash you don't need to remove dash top or lower steering column - you can get just enough room to get at vacumn hose connections on light switch and (with some gymnastic abilities) lay on your back and get under the dash by the footwells to get at vacumn connections to actuator etc. If its any consolation after half a days fooling around it all works now - well, I say almost - the courtesy lights have a will of their own - and they also come on when I pull on the parking brake - how weird is that