i searched and found a write up on taking a dash out, pretty informative yet he reffers to pictures, and they "pictures" are now little red x's. can anybody point me in the direction of taking my dash out? 84 se

 

I don't have any pictures, but when I was taking the dash out of my '80, things quickly got out of control. You have to remove almost all of the interior to get to the bolts. I can't emphasize enought the need to stay organized. Otherwise you will end up like me with bolts and screws everywhere! It was not a good experience. Good luck, and I hope someone else can help you out with pics from an '84/'85.

 

I'm watching this post as well. I lost the gauge lights in my instrament cluster. I noticed it's a printed circuit board like my vette has, so I'm a little concerned about fixing the problem. But it does look like the dash has to come out.

 

The dash does not have to come out to get to the instrument cluster, MakoVai. The steering wheel will, however. It basically involves reaching up behind the cluster while lying on the floor and disconnecting cables. Swearing is mandatory.

 

I had lost my gauge lights, before. The dimmer had a bad ground. We just bypassed the dimmer; leaving the gauge lights on high.

 

I have the pics archived and plan to add the tutorial to my site very soon

 

whats your site

 

www.rotorhead.ca

 

done.

http://www.rotorhead.ca/howto_dashremoval_1.php

 

ah yes... i did this just 3 months ago.. swapped my red SE interior with my S grey interior, all in a day's work... swearing was very mandatory, and i left the 2 bolts under the radio that bolted to the floor out.. those were PITAs to get out with the touch and feel method..

 

great write-up!

 

This post has been

A-A-A-A-A-ARCHIVED!!!

Jon

 

Thanks Manntis, saves me more typing. A point has been added to your rep. Stay on the distinguished road.

 

The steering wheel and cluster can stay on...I just did it.

 

i had this same problem and i bypassed the dimmer switch also and everything works great now.

 

Exellent write-up mantis, but do I really have to take the whole F'n dash apart just to get the instrument cluster out?

 

no way its much simpiler than that. do a search, im sure theres a thread telling you how

 

For the instrument cluster, you need to take the steering wheel off, the cluster shroud off, which should be just 4 phillips screws. And you should have access to the whole cluster from there. I may be forgetting something, but it shouldn't be very difficult.

 

You do not need to remove the steering wheel in order to get the instrument cluster out.

 

Kind've depends on how far out, doesn't it? For completely out, you need the wheel off, unless I missed a way to fight that thing past the dashpad and wheel.

 

Out as in "all the way out," i.e. completely removed from the vehicle. I did not take the steering wheel off to remove, or re-install the cluster. It might have been easier, but was not absolutely necessary. (Did not drop the steering column down either, although I did remove the plastic shroud from the column.)