I'm sorry to keep posting this but I'm at my wits end ! I've been at this for two months now and still haven't got it !!!! I'm not sure if I don't have the movable bracket that the column bolts to in the right spot or if something else is wrong. I can't seem to get the dash pad in far enough at the bottom because the speedo & tach hit the column bracket. Should the speedo & tach sit above the bracket so it would push in farther on the bottom ? I keep knocking the lower two bulbs out trying to push it in so then I have to take it back out again. Nothing should be this difficult but I'm pulling my hair out trying to put this back together !!!!!!Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

@76yellow not sure if this will be helpful, but I just pulled my dash yesterday and as I recall the speedometer and tach fit in the red circle areas. I assume by movable bracket you mean the piece that bolts from the bottom to the rust colored section in my photo? How deep it goes I cannot be to sure right now.

 

Thanks pedalmore....that's exactly what I'm talking about. I just can't get speedo/tach up high enough to go back toward the fire wall !

 

I am assuming you have the steering column completely dropped when trying to install. Even when mine was completely dropped, every mount detached except the rag joint, I still have to turn the dash 90 degrees to the left and work it out the door. Perhaps the reverse is what is needed to get the bottom of the dash as low on the steering column as possible then work the top up?

 

Have you looked closely at the dash installation pages in the 1968 AIM? On my 1973 the large wire harness goes above the speedo and tach. The wires / harness are extremely Hard, and when I tried to push it back into the dash, the clamp on the speedo broke where it was attached. It may be helpful to try some very very low heat (hair dryer) to get the harness to go back in their original position. One of the top bulbs on the tach came out (after everything was put back) and there ain’t no way I am going to the remove the ____ dash panel. Good luck.

 

Have you removed the steering column? If not, then do it now. You don't want to break that fragile and old fiberglass dash pad.
It is quite easy. Believe me....I have done my dash about a dozen times and the last time I finally removed the column..... egad.... I should have been doing it all along.
Anyway--if you haven't then here are some pointers.
1. Ensure you wheels are pointed straight ahead.
2. take a few picture of the rag joint area so you can put it back together easily.
3. Support the steering wheel with whatever method is easy and convenient to you (mine is a convertible so I just used a roped from the overhead).
4. Disassemble the rag joint assembly
5. Disassemble the lower supports on the column.
6. Pull it out.

By the way-- separate from removing the column I previously extended the wires and added 2 connectors, one for the tach side and one for the speedo side, that allows me to disconnect the wiring from each side. When reinstalling I have sufficient length to either plug the connectors in before reassembly, or just plug them in afterwards and then tuck them in. You may want to consider doing something like that.

This is just FYI - also installed LED strip lighting because those dadgum bulbs would fall in, fall out, or just go dead routinely.... my blinker and brake indicator lamps are still incandescent. If you're up for projects (while you're at it) you may want to look at this:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-and-tach.html

 

Can someone with a 68 give me the measurements of an installed steering column from the floor to the center of the column and the hub of the column to the lower dash pad ? I can then determine if my column isn't sitting right or the dash pad isn't where it needs to be !!!!

 

Had my own thread on this not long ago, and got it installed last weekend.

Could help if you hadn't seen it. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1606428552

For me, a seriously dropped column, removed top dash pad, and feeding the odometer reset cable over the bracing (which I don't think you have in a 68) allowed me to get it in. But, still not easy and very stressful with the potential of breaking the 50+ year old fiberglass which supports the vinyl dash pad.

 

So do you think in your picture that the harness should go straight across the column bracket or should it kinda wrap tighter around it and down on each side ? I'm thinking about drilling holes in the cast iron bracket and zip tying the harness in tight to the bracket !

 

76yellow
I would get these measurements for you but I don't understand what you are asking for. Rephrase it or attach a scribble and I can get that in a few minutes.

 

also make sure that the tack and speedo cables are not hooked up to the distributer or trans, hook those up after the dash is completely installed
you could be fighting that if they are hooked up

 

I feel your frustration as I had my '69 apart not to long ago. I think it took me 20 tries before I could get everything in place where the dash would fit.
Most of the problem is that the harness blocks the dash from fitting unless it is exactly where it needs to be. The assembly line must have hated it.
Somewhere in the '70 model year they lengthened the harness and ran it above the speedo and tach where there is plenty of room.
One thing I did while fighting the dash was to put a ty-wrap on the harness where the steering column goes to try and reform the harness so that everything would fit.
It wasn't easy, but after a couple of more tries I got it back together. Got the engine running and found out that the tach had not been calibrated correctly and had to pull the tach out and have them calibrate it again.
You have probably increased your vocabulary on words that you should not use in public areas. I know I did!

 

My 71 has the harness running across the top as you mentioned. Got so frustrated, screwed a hook under the top dash against the firewall in the center above the column using an electrical conduit mount wrapped with tape to avoid any abrasion on the harness insulation. Laid the main harness onto the hook which held it up while I fitted the drivers dash pad and gauges. Acted like a third hand when fitting the dash.

 

76yellow
Some measurements for you.
Also I POR-15 that rusty bracket on mine. I am fairly sure I was able to run a tye-wrap behind it to move my harness up also (but it was a while ago)...but I did move my harness up and extend leads.

 

Thanks Much !!!!

 

Thank You !