You guys amaze me, cluster removal question

[troutin55]

I sit behind a computer all day, and I probably spend way too much time trolling on this site. The stuff I see you guys do absolutely blows me away. I've had my 66 C10 for about 7 months, and I have a few projects in mind. My next project is refreshing my gauge cluster, and add a tach. After many hours reading over Classic Industries site and this site on how to do it, I decided last night to give a shot. I can't even get past step 1!! How the he!! do you remove the oil pressure line?!?!? Looks like you unscrew it from the cluster, but I can't get my fingers back there! Pretty frustrated and a bit worried that I'm not cut out for this.

[TJ's Chevy]

Unscrew the cluster from the dash and pull it forward so you can work from the top and not the bottom. Course I haven't pulled mine yet either so I think that will work. lol

[blown240]

On my 61 I can pull the cluster forward about 3 inches, but I can rotate it quite a bit. Enough to work on the back of the cluster while sitting in the seat. Its MUCH easier that way.

[Palf70Step]

I find it easier if you loose the steering column to let it drop that 1/4" to 1/2" before you try to pull the dash cluster out.

I am luck enough on mine I don't have the mechanical oil pressure gauge, but on my 70 I slipped a small wrench in there to loosen the line from the dash panel, then I could use my fingers to unscrew it. Be aware, you'll have some oil dripping out, so set up a rag to catch the drips.

Oh yeah, set the emergency brake (on the 60-68 models). it will give you a little more clearance to reach on up behind the dash.

[DPowers]

Pretty frustrated and a bit worried that I'm not cut out for this.[/QUOTE]

These trucks take a bit of patience at times, but just think how good you will feel after you have completed this by yourself (with a bit of help and encouragement of the people here on the board).

Have you taken off the spedometer cable yet? This is always the toughest for me. That will give you a bit of wriggle room also if it is detached. Also you can detach the line from the engine first may help some too.

[troutin55]

i haven't taken the speedo cable off yet, not even sure it's attached (doesn't work). i'll try and carefully pull out the cluster a few inches to reach the oil pressure line. You are correct though, the few things I've done on this truck, I'm extremely proud of. Thanks again for all of your time and help.

[DPowers]

This is what the back of the cluster looks like for a reference.

[forestb]

if your paint is nice make sure to lay a towel on the column and between the dash cluster and the opening after you get it out. I have scratched up my paint too many times doing this.

[troutin55]

Good point. Paint isn't perfect, kinda was thinking I would spray the column with some black paint while its in the truck. Probably a bad idea, but don't want to take it out just to paint it.
Posted via Mobile Device

[troutin55]

outside working on this and having a very difficult time getting the cluster out. the left side is pretty free, I disconnected the choke, lights and wipers. The right side won't really budge. I haven't taken out the lighter or ignition, because i can't seem to figure out how. the ignition has a screw on sleeve on the front, I've backed that off as far as I could, thinking it would come out, and I could remove the ignition switch from the back. problem is the screw on the front won't come off. Is there an easy way to take the ignitions switch and light out? Please help, I'm pretty much at the point of no return!!

[Danny#2]

The key switch outer ring will screw off. Pull switch out the back of the cluster. Unplug the lighter wire fom the back. The lightter housing on the back screws off from the back the lighter houseing will then come out the front
On my 66 the oil pressure line has a union under the hood by the fire wall. All I had to do is take it apart there and pull the short peace of the linr through the fire wall. Hope this helps.....

[AcampoDave]

Doesn't the key tumbler have to come out of the switch before getting ring to turn off?

[troutin55]

yes, my switch had 2 small pin holes on the front. I slid a paperclip into one of the holes and I guess depressed a spring or some sort of internal lock, that popped the tumbler out.

Good progress today, finally got the cluster out, completely disassembled, cleaned and painted everything. I've installed the tach, and now waiting for the paint to dry before I put everything back together again. Can't wait to see how it looks in the truck. Fingers crossed it all goes back together smoothly.

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by AcampoDave

Doesn't the key tumbler have to come out of the switch before getting ring to turn off?

No, it does not. Just twist off the ring and she'll slide out the back of the cluster.

[DPowers]

Originally Posted by troutin55

yes, my switch had 2 small pin holes on the front. I slid a paperclip into one of the holes and i guess depressed a spring or some sort of internal lock, that popped the tumbler out.

Good progress today, finally got the cluster out, completely disassembled, cleaned and painted everything. I've installed the tach, and now waiting for the paint to dry before i put everything back together again. Can't wait to see how it looks in the truck. Fingers crossed it all goes back together smoothly.

pics please...

[troutin55]

It's done! Thanks for all of your help. Everything seems to work, and it looks amazing. It was a bit trickier than I thought. Getting the cluster out was a pain. There's a small lip on the bottom of the dash that was holding the cluster it, after some bending and prying that little lip, it came out. Then I brought it in the house and began cleaning and painting.

Next project is taking the heater out, doesn't work and even if it did I would never use it, the motor puts off enough heat anyway! My problem is, the 2 lines coming from the water pump, do I just cap them?? If so, with what? Anyway, thanks again for the all the help and encouragement guys, really appreciate it.

[Palf70Step]

Don't cap them, just tie them together with a short piece of hose.

The dash looks good!

[DPowers]

very nice and you did it yourself- congrats

[Mathew21]

Great job troutin55. I really dig your steering wheel also.