Cluster removal pictures

[Jack P.]

The hardest thing to face is taking my car off the road. It is winter and time to finish my restoration in preparation for this summer's great adventure trip.

My cluster was installed before the paint job and the result was a cluster full of dust on lenses.

Here some pictures of the removal of cluster.

Fist , remove driver seat for room to work, take out steering wheel and column all in one piece

Very easy, just unbolt steering buckle, clutch spring, firewall cover of column and all 4 bolts that hold column under dash. Also unplug turn signal and horn wires





Next put long bolts in dash to allow extension of cluster to remove lights and plugs , air vent lines and oil gauge

Also unscrew tachometer at distributor so cable can be extended as you pull out cluster

You can then reach up and unscrew speedo cable and tach cable from cluster , also unscrew trip cable , but leave in dash support so that you can just screw back in later.



Slide out cluster and unplug everything






I have labeled the back of my cluster so that when I am upside down, I know where all plugs and wires go

My cluster has a lot of war wounds, ( Sun speedometer put in 1972 patched up hole in back of cluster)



Speedo out first, clean lens and dial and put back in , remove small gauges , clean and put back in



To put back in , long bolts to support cluster and plug everything back in , you will notice my harness has long wires, I added 4 inches to all wires on new harness so that I would have room to move cluster in and out and be able to reach up and plug in wires

Job done

[Michael G.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

Labor of love there Jack.....good job. Done it numerous times....however in my case the seat is left in and am curious why the lower bearing retainer and spring were removed. I've always been able to feed those through the firewall bracket. Doesn't like it but can be done.

[Jack P.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

Labor of love there Jack.....good job. Done it numerous times....however in my case the seat is left in and am curious why the lower bearing retainer and spring were removed. I've always been able to feed those through the firewall bracket. Doesn't like it but can be done.

No stress to get out column with spring and retainer removed. Also you can get the right angle to pull out column with firewall plate removed. I am also thinking about rebuilding my steering box while I have car off winter roads. Just need to find a 1 1/4 " socket to remove Pitman arm nut. I will leave the arm on the power steering valve because it is a pain to try to take arm off valve without ruining rubber seal. New valve and I don't want to mess with it, it is working perfectly .

Jack

[Edward J.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

Jack, The pitman arm nut maybe 1 5/16ths, I could be wrong. And you will need a pitan arm puller. sometimes the discount auto parts stores have loaners or rentals.

[Don H.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

Good job Jack. I think I have 1 1/4 socket. Happy to mail it to you. Use same box to return it when done. Have to wait til I return from FLA meet.

[Jack P.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

Oh how I wish I were there. Have a drink on me with Ed if he is going. (Send the check for the drinks to me, you may have to wait a bit) thanks for the offer, is it a 1 1/4 or 1 5/6 ? I have a lot of practice pulling things off cars, the puller is the least of my problems....

I want to go , I want to go, maybe if I leave tonight I could be there by Friday morning...... no wait , I forgot, my car is without a steering wheel or cluster....

See, dam , I knew I should not have taken it apart

Jack

[Edward J.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

Jack pretty sure the socket should be 1 5/16. On your way to Fla. stop by and pick me up. I am on your way.

[Tim S.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

Looks good Jack! Removing that seat does make things a lot easier (only one trip to the chiroprator)

[Don H.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

OK, Jack,
let us know if you need the socket. I probably have both sizes. Ed is here, and we are taking up your offer. Look for bill in your mail box. 75ish beautiful weather for 4 days predicted down here. We will miss you. Wish you were here. Ed says hi.

[Jack P.]

Re: Cluster removal pictures

I imagine by this time, you two judges are seeing double , I borrowed the socket from my local garage , along with a puller. The job took 45 minutes to finish. So now I have a car with no cluster , no steering wheel and no steering box. I guess that should keep me off the streets for a few day.

Make sure you use your sun block. Hate to have a fella from CA go back home sunburned.

Cheers to All

Jack