69 center guage bezel

[Brad S.]

In the 69 AIM (upc12 sheet b3) it shows " nuts part of inst pnl asm" for the attachment of the bezel to the lower dash pad. Are these " nuts" under the vinyl or on top of the vinyl? I had Knoch recover my original dash pieces and can find holes in the plastic substrate with a needle but am not sure if they will hold a screw. My next question is does the seat belt warning light bulb use a twist in type connection to the small circuit board. Thanks for any help

[Mike F.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

My 70 nuts are seperate pieces (sounds good, huh), and a pain in the ass to get in or out. When I put the center console back together I did not install the nuts. I put the radio in place (instead of trying to slide it in from the pass. side) and then installed the center bezel around it.


Edit: I'm talking about the nuts that attach to these studs.

[Alan S.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

Hi Brad,
I believe you'll find those 'nuts' are not the typical metal nut we usually think of; and are under the vinyl skin.
As I recall they are a hard, but flexible plastic, and an oval shape, that the screw expands as it's turned in. It works like a hardware store plastic drywall anchor.
If you look right under the note you mention in the AIM you'll see another drawing at a different angle of what the 'nut' looks like.
On my 71 some of the bezel screws missed the nuts completely and were just held by being threaded into the hard 'nylon' (?) strip that the 'nuts' are in.
Your 'nuts' could well still be in place under the new vinyl. I'd think you might be able to feel them if you probe very carefully.
Regards,
Alan

PS: Added...I believe Mikes referring to the nuts for the 2 studs at the bottom of the bezel not the nuts for the screws on the sides

[Richard C.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

If i understand? there are no nuts for the SIDE screws a #8 sheet metal screw. if you want to call the shop 615-255-3939 and we will talk about it? richard

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

To add to this post, if the hard plastic is stripped out, I just fill the holes with JB Weld. let it cure, and then redrill the holes.

[Brad S.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

Mike , the plastic "inserts" I am talking about are the ones that hold the sices of the metal bezelto the lower dash pads. the AIM calls for a elongated plastic nut that is installed into the lower dash pad for the screws to screw into. The holes in my lower dash pad seem to be too wide to "hold " a screw. I actually found them at corvette central but don't know if they go over or under the vinyl. Thanks for the reply. Brad

[Alan S.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

Hi Brad,
In my reply I said I believe the 'nuts' would be under the vinyl.
But in thinking about it last night, and looking at the AIM again, the drawing certainly implies that the 'nuts' are placed on top of the vinyl skin. If it were done that way I'm not sure how the holes in the substrate to receive the nuts would be made (was there a slot?)....and wouldn't the screw location vary slightly from pad to pad and car to car, and thus the nut would have to move around before the screw 'set' it?
Now I'm confused. Again, on my 71, no sign of nuts, just screw holes through the vinyl into the substrate.
Regards,
Alan

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

I have had many of those bezels out over the years and have never seen a nut in the lower dash pad. Screws go into the hard fiberglass/plastic? edges of the pads. As I said in an earlier post, if the holes are too large, fill with JB Weld, let it cure and run the screws in. Works every time for me

[Jim T.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

Using the JB Weld in repair did you drill holes in the JB Weld repair to help start the screw?

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 center guage bezel

You can drill or you can do like I do now, use a cordless drill and the screws will make their own hole. Just be careful and not strip the hole by over tightning