Common dash cluster issues question

Thanks for the tip on direct-connecting the gauges if needed. Do you have a recommendation on how to connect the wires without butchering the harness? I like the idea of a disconnect terminal for the pigtail to make it easier to remove the cluster. I see the phillips screw location you mention, and I'll take a look at the kick panel location. I've got the trace board sitting here next to me and I found a local radio shop that is willing to repair the pin for me - Sacramento Radio Expo. They've repaired the radios from a couple of my cars, including the Scamp. Very reasonable prices.

Since you mentioned it, what's the best practice for lowering the column to pull the cluster out? My steering box leaked at the input seal and I'm wondering if lowering the column several times to work on the cluster had an impact on it. Having just refurbished the box, I'd hate to damage a seal. For this job, I lowered the two nuts closest to the driver on the column as far as they would go without removing them entirely, and then the one nut near the firewall. I left the column to firewall nuts tightened. Just barely squeaked the cluster out over and to the left of the steering wheel. Previously, I think I fully removed the upper nuts to drop the column even more, but I think that may put a strain on the linkage to the upper steering box shaft.

-John