DigiDash Bezel Removal
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 564
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From: Riverview Florida
DigiDash Bezel Removal
In several posts and tech tips I have seen, reference is made to removing the bezel or "face plate" of the main instrument cluster. I can't get mine past the steering column. I have taken out all the screws, tilted the wheel down, and removed the tilt lever. I can slide the panel part way out but can't get it past the top of the column without having it feel like it was about to break. Am I missing a step or being too gentle? It seems like I should drop the column but nobody else has mentioned this as a requirement.
Any tips or tricks will be appreciated.
Any tips or tricks will be appreciated.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 2
From: Douglasville GA
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (es)
On my 86 I pull out gently on the left side that goes parallel to the door, and tilt upward. This rotates the top of the front flat panel towards the driver. Then the whole panel can easily come out over the lock cylinder and the top of the steering column.
Tom Melton
82 CE
86 Z51 Coupe
Tom Melton
82 CE
86 Z51 Coupe
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 564
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From: Riverview Florida
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (tommelton)
I've tried tilting out the top but the upper edge catches on the dash pad before it clears the column. Maybe I should show less respect for the 14 year old plastic and pull harder! Or maybe :smash:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (Juliet)
I think youre just being too gentle, i didnt remove my tilter and still got it out. I just pushed up on the dash pad a bit.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Riverview Florida
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (vader86)
Juliet, thanks for the pix!! Is there any plastic trim that comes off with the carpeted panel or does the molded carpet come off by itself when you remove the screws around the edge? I've had the plastic panel with the light in it off before but not the carpeted part.
vader86, I probably will try your method first. It takes less time :lol:
vader86, I probably will try your method first. It takes less time :lol:
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,388
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From: X
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (es)
Juliet, thanks for the pix!! Is there any plastic trim that comes off with the carpeted panel or does the molded carpet come off by itself when you remove the screws around the edge? I've had the plastic panel with the light in it off before but not the carpeted part.
vader86, I probably will try your method first. It takes less time :lol:
vader86, I probably will try your method first. It takes less time :lol:
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 564
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From: Riverview Florida
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (snaketr)
snaketr, thanks for the lead to the Corvettemagazine articles. In transferring to our new computer, I lost my list of "Favorites" and had forgotten all about this great resource. I appreciate the tip :)
Pro
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 740
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From: Chelmsford, MA USA
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (es)
es:
I just removed the cluster from my '87 last month and I had the same problem. I was afraid that the bezel would break. Here is the secrete:
Get a flashlight. Open the driver's door. Get down on your knees. Now point the flashlight up and look under the dashpad. There are philips head screws holding the front of the dash pad down (5 if my memory serves me). The one on the end nearest to the door is a little tricky. You will need a long philps head screw driver (it helps if it has a long shaft). Remove all the philips screws in the bezl first so the bezel is loose. Move it forward away from the dash. Now use your left thumb and apply preasure upward to the end of the dash pad. You now should have room to get the screw driver up and into the head of the screw. The other 4 are easier. Once the front of the pad is liftable, the bezel slides right out.
Bob
I just removed the cluster from my '87 last month and I had the same problem. I was afraid that the bezel would break. Here is the secrete:
Get a flashlight. Open the driver's door. Get down on your knees. Now point the flashlight up and look under the dashpad. There are philips head screws holding the front of the dash pad down (5 if my memory serves me). The one on the end nearest to the door is a little tricky. You will need a long philps head screw driver (it helps if it has a long shaft). Remove all the philips screws in the bezl first so the bezel is loose. Move it forward away from the dash. Now use your left thumb and apply preasure upward to the end of the dash pad. You now should have room to get the screw driver up and into the head of the screw. The other 4 are easier. Once the front of the pad is liftable, the bezel slides right out.
Bob
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (es)
I must agree with tommelton, it can be comes out rather easily.
I remove the bezel screws and headlight **** and pry out the left end slightly. I then lift tilt the bezel forward till it hits the dash pad. Then I lift slightly on the front edge of the dash pad while working the bezel top out under it (it doesn't take much), with a little manuveing and it comes free. Then the bezel can be lifted out over the turn signal lever and steering wheel.
The first time I did this was to replace the current bezel with a very nice used one from Contemporary Corvette (cost ~$25) so I wasn't worried. Since then I've had it out several times and never cracked anything.
[Modified by 65Z01, 8:21 PM 1/13/2002]
I remove the bezel screws and headlight **** and pry out the left end slightly. I then lift tilt the bezel forward till it hits the dash pad. Then I lift slightly on the front edge of the dash pad while working the bezel top out under it (it doesn't take much), with a little manuveing and it comes free. Then the bezel can be lifted out over the turn signal lever and steering wheel.
The first time I did this was to replace the current bezel with a very nice used one from Contemporary Corvette (cost ~$25) so I wasn't worried. Since then I've had it out several times and never cracked anything.
[Modified by 65Z01, 8:21 PM 1/13/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 1
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (65Z01)
Scorp, wait till you break a dash pad. I don't think you will be using your method after that. For all other if you are going to remove the front screws of the dash pad so you can lift it up, well you had better remove the two screw that go through the defrost duct or else you will have a nice chunck missing from your pad.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
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From: Boston, MA
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (snaketr)
Scorp, wait till you break a dash pad. I don't think you will be using your method after that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 904
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From: Langley, BC, Canada
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (snaketr)
i recommend resoldering every connection inside it. The solder in mine was completley rotten. I spent 2 hours and redid the entire thing. It cleared up all my flickering/black problems i had.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
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From: Maryland
Re: DigiDash Bezel Removal (nsimmons)
es - did you get it out yet? Sorry I missed your Q yesterday for some reason I didn't get the e-mail notification on this thread. :(
The carpeted piece is attached to the lower trim plastic. It comes off as one unit. Before you take that off there's a second hard plastic cover under the dash down closer to the pedals. There's then these 2 little tunnels in the carpeting on either side of the steering wheel. You'll need a socket to get into there and remove those 2 bolts. Then with those 2 lower panels removed it's just 2 more bolts to drop the steering column.
About the lifting up on the dash - I tried that and was able to get the dash bezel out by lifting up a bit, but I was afraid to flex it any further to clear the tabs on the digi dash unit itself. That's why I dropped the column. I've got enough vinyl repair work to do on interior trim pieces on my '70 I don't need any more on my '87! :D ~Juliet
The carpeted piece is attached to the lower trim plastic. It comes off as one unit. Before you take that off there's a second hard plastic cover under the dash down closer to the pedals. There's then these 2 little tunnels in the carpeting on either side of the steering wheel. You'll need a socket to get into there and remove those 2 bolts. Then with those 2 lower panels removed it's just 2 more bolts to drop the steering column.
About the lifting up on the dash - I tried that and was able to get the dash bezel out by lifting up a bit, but I was afraid to flex it any further to clear the tabs on the digi dash unit itself. That's why I dropped the column. I've got enough vinyl repair work to do on interior trim pieces on my '70 I don't need any more on my '87! :D ~Juliet
