'73 corvette interior restore: speedo/tach dash removal

[KinleyDog]

i'm in the final stages of removing components from the interior restore on my '73. i've gotten all but the driver side firewall sound & heat proofed. i'm at the point where i'm ready to remove the instrument dash panel for the speedometer and tach, but i'm a bit puzzled on how to do it. i read on another post where the steering column "may" have to be lowered.

here are my questions:
- does the top dash panel need to be removed first?
- do the panels on the front window support frame need to be removed?
- does the steering column have to be lowered?
- does anyone know of a site or a document that explains how to remove the instrument panel?

i've been documenting my each move with pictures on the restore and will compile how i did things once i've gotten this final step complete. i'll be happy to send this to anyone. some interior parts needed to be replaced, and i will need to order them. the parts that can stay have been repainted/cleaned as best as possible.

then, i'll get to the task of verifying electrical components/switches working before installing new sound components. after that, i'll begin closing her up.

thanx in advance for any comments.

 

[rgtrough]

Dash removal

Hey Kingleydog, if you do a search on dash removal I'm sure you'll find step by step instructions. It's how I learned. I do remember that I lowered the steering column. No big deal, just loosen the two bolt under the column and if your lucks better than mine you won't hit your head.
peace Bud

 

[KinleyDog]

found something....

after doing some searching, this is about the most complete set of steps i found. it assumes having removed the passenger side panel and the console panel. it comes from pedro'74.

• Remove the screws on the top, right side and left side of the panel.
• Remove the lower steering column cover (that small vinyl covered part at the column's base).
• Contort yourself under the dash and unhook the tach and speedo cables (press the clips and pull the cables). The panel is loose now, but you will barely be able to move it, because of the steering column. So...
• Look under the dash and you'll see two large bolts that hold the column. Remove them, and the column will drop a bit. That may or may not give you enough room to maneuver the dash out and disconnect all the stuff. If not...
• Loosen the bolts that secure the column at the firewall. That will lower the column a little bit more. However, even after doing that I found not enough room to safely pull the dash (remember: after so many years those panels are quite brittle, and can break very easily, so better not force it too much). So I had to...
• Remove all the windshield molding and remove the top dash pad. (Guess you did that already, didn't you?) Then I had a lot of room to disconnect all the stuff and remove the dash.

Needless to say, label all the wires and vacuum lines, so you know how to put everything back together.

There was no mention of getting a noogy when the steering column drops on your head. I guess that's so all newbies get the same inauguration.

thanks to all. this forum is awesome and is the number one tool in my workbench!!!

 

[Alan76]

Had trouble with mine and found the odometer cable was looped around the steering column brace from where it attaches to the bottom of the leftside dash. diconnected it from the bottom left dash sliped right out. good luck they are a pain in the *** the do

Alan

 

[KinleyDog]

speedo / tach dash removel

Just wanted to tie off this thread to say thanks for all the help on removing the speedo / tach dash. Since this is my first vette, I was a bit tentative, as I didn't want to rip anything out and cause some breakage.

Basically, once I removed the thick wire harness that was resting on top of the instruments and lowered the column a couple of inches, I was able to rotate and pull out the instruments.

I replaced all the bulbs, got the trip odometer to function again and repainted the vinyl. I constructed a template to cover the instruments while painting. I also had to repair the duct on the side of the panel. It was completely rusted and non functional. A bit of rust remover, spray oil and some grease got it back to working. I also had to repair the mounts as they had cracked and were stripped.

When putting the panel back in, make sure to put the wire harness that branches off the thick wire harness and that runs north-south between the tach and speedo. It's also a good idea to put the set of bulbs that go to the tach on one side, and the ones that go to the speedo on the other side. I found that you should put the bulbs in their slots before sliding the panel back in. The vent pipe basically slips right in, but may need a bit of coaxing from underneath. It helps to have a set of hands on the bottom and top. It's also good that I marked everything that had a unique location otherwise you have to rely on a faded memory. The tach and speedo cable slip on pretty easy from underneath. With my t-tops off, my feet were basically resting where the driver's head would normally be. Before putting the screws back in, make sure that the instrument lights have a good ground contact. If not, you'll do what I did, and have to take the panel out again to clean the contacts . It gets easier with each cycle though!!

I'm now on what I hope to be the down slope of putting components back in. I've taken a bunch of pictures and have put them into a presentation so if any one wants it I'd be happy to email it when the interior project is complete.

Thanks again for all of the help!!!