66 Under Dash Harness Replacement
 

I'll bite since I'm hoping to redo my interior, including the wiring, this winter.

I would definitely remove the glove box, door and cardboard liner, for access, because it's so easy and I'm old and stiff.

As a matter of fact, I was planning on pulling the entire dash assembly to do this job - meaning the pads and the entire dash support back to the windshield.

I also plan to remove the seats to do this work, but for me this is also tied to replacing the carpet and rebuilding the seat frames.

I would be interested to see what you come up with.

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I just started installing a new Lectric Limited Harness in my 66 today so I can give you some pointers. Go ahead and pull the seats...really easy and nice to have them out of the way. If you haven't already, make sure your battery is disconnected. If your windshield is removed for painting it makes it easier to pull the instrument cluster but not too terrible with it installed. Get 4 1/4"x20 screws and install them for your mounting screws to give you the ability to slide the cluster out. I have attached a very helpful article I copied from a member about pulling the cluster and a labeled picture (also provided from a member). If you follow those instruction pulling the cluster you will be fine. Be very careful with the oil pressure line (should be 5/16") and the capacitors if you plan to reuse. The glove box needs to come out as well. I removed my clock and radio to be restored and I reinstalled them today, along with the glove box (picture attached). Last weekend I replaced the heater core and rebuilt the heater box (again, not a fun job but if it needs doing, now is probably the time). With the cluster out you can finish removing the harness on the drivers side floorboard fairly easily. There is a plug going to your chassis harness, one plug for high beams, and the turn signal harness connector(you said you already pulled your steering column). There are 2 firewall connectors that will have to be pulled below the master cylinder (be very careful with the plastic clips holding them on if you are not replacing your engine harness) and 2 bolts going thru the fuse block and firewall. There is a large rubber firewall grommet that the oil pressure tubing and wiring/plugs for the wipers, ignition, neutral safety etc go thru that you can push out from the cockpit side towards the engine to remove (probably will need to replace if it is original). I had to rebuild my steering column as I found my forward bearing was literally gone and had cut about 1/3 through the shaft (make sure you check your shaft and bearings at the very least). I am replacing all my instrument lights, courtesy lights and clock lights with LEDs after looking at some of the results from members. Also if you are ever planning to change your dash speaker, now is the time because for once you will have easy access. I almost forgot...if you don't already have one go invest in a really good LED headlamp with band (I picked one up from Lowes for about $15). Makes a WORLD of difference with this job. Now as far as restoring your cluster I just posted a couple of days ago about Ricks Restoration 410-538-4528 and you can look back to see my other pictures. Great service, excellent turnaround time and communication, fair price and excellent results. I think that's about it. There are a lot of knowledgeable guys that have tons of information on here that know a lot more than I do so if you get stuck just ask.

Could you please tell me where I can get the 4 1/4 X 20 screws, I need to put in some new lights. Thanks, Peter

Any hardware store should have them - its a standard size ... or you can by 1/4 x 20 "all thread" in rod form and hacksaw your own...

Yeah, Ace Hardware is where I bought mine...6" length screws works well or you can just buy all thread and cut to length.

Thank you. There's an Ace near me.

What I learned on this removal is the more stuff you take out the more room you have. After you remove the instrument cluster and glove box assembly, photograph the way all the wires run. As I unplugged a wire I took blue tape and wrote where it went, or at least most of them. I found having the driver seat out worked best for removing the instrument cluster. I then sat it back in and sat in it while I did the rest of the removal. Everything was pretty straight forward except I had to look up where the screws were on the fuse box. After disconnecting the harness from the engine side carefully, I searched and found you have to remove the flasher and lower left fuse to get to the fuse box screws. The other item was the door light pins. I unscrewed the pin first and worked out the connection. One side the plug came off fairly easy. The other I had to put some needle nose to hold the wire harness plug pin to pull against the door pin. Just take your time and go easy on the connectors.

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Now would be a good time to grease the pivot points on the wiper transmission rods. You can use 6" carriage bolts. They are soft, so you can easily saw the heads off and slot them with a hack saw blade or a Dremel if you like. Jerry

To remove the glove box just pull the screws around the top rim and the 4 larger screws on the bottom that go into the frame (2 on each side). You will need to disconnect the wire for your light/switch when pulling it out. I think just the instrument cluster was $750-$800? It depends on what is needed. Rick completed all of mine (cluster, clock, radio, glove box door) and shipped it back within 3 weeks.

The glove box should come out as a unit if you take out the perimeter screws and the large Philip's head screws underneath that go into the Z-bar. Note how the glove box door closes and how the spring is oriented (take pic) for reassembly. Disconnect the glove box light.

NOTE! The glove box light lead is ALWAYS hot - disconnect the battery while working. The one thing I modify on a factory harness is putting a "bullet" connector on that light with the female end on the power side....it keeps you from having to worry about a hot lead while working and also from screwing with that hokey glove box light connector that goes into the bulb socket.

Dash harness
 

Elwood - So you install the new harness and dash before painting? I just got me new LL harness and I wasn't sure what makes the most sense as to when to install.
Sorry all - not looking to hijack the thread
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OK.....so you're going to paint it with the dash in and do the harness last......sounds logical