dash lights 68 cuda?

mrblugil,

i have had the dash out of my 68 fastback s several times during the restoration. this is a VERY difficult and FRUSTRATING procedure, however, let me share what i've learned about the easiest way to do it:

1. it is a LOT easier if you remove the steering wheel. if you do not want to do that, you can still get the dash out.

2. if you don't take the steering wheel off, proceed to remove the plastic "U" trim piece on the steering column at the bottom of the dash. then remove both nuts on the steering column u-clamp allowing the steering column to drop down about 2 inches.

3. remove all the phillips screws on the face of the dash - be sure to take every screw out completely from the dash.

4. now tilt the dash forward tilting the top of the dash assembly out about 2-3 inches. at this point, try to take a picture of all the wires and plugs before you disconnect them so you can be sure to plug all back in correctly. pull the assembly out enough to get your hand between the top of the dash and the assembly and disconnect the three or four major wire plugs and the speedometer cable. once you have all these wires disconnected, the entire dash assembly will tilt forward to where you can pull it out of the dash.

5. BE VERY CAREFULL! - when you tilt an a-body plastic dash assembly forward the right hand side of the dash is vunerable to breaking!! the thin plastic that extends around 5 inches over to the glove compartment door will break off if you don't do this carefully and SLOWLY!

6. there are six (i believe) dash light bulbs in the back of the assembly. these lights are removed by turning them slightly (clockwise i believe). be carefull with these sockets because the tabs that hold them into the dash are plastic and very brittle. replacement bulbs can now be purchased from a number of resto vendors or on ebay. i always test every socket and bulb before i put it back into the dash with a 12 volt battery charger switched on 2 amp. if the light lights put it in the dash.

7. putting the dash back in is harder than taking it out. you may or may not be able to get all the wire plugs plugged back into the dash from the top as you put it back in. and you may or may not be able to hook up the speedometer cable this way. be prepared to lay on your back on the floor to get everything connected again.

8. here's something i found helpful: get one of those "mirrors on an extendable post" and a very bright light to place under the dash illuminating everything. use the extended mirror to look at all the wire connections at the top of the dash once you push the dash assembly back into the dash.

finally, BE PATIENT!!! i have never removed and reinstalled the dash in my 68 cuda in less than 2-3 hours!! i'm sure there are other FABO "micanics" than can do this procedure much quicker but after doing this now about 10 times, i still can't do it easily.

good luck...

one other thing, because pulling this dash is SUCH a pain in the "you know what..." before reinstalling, i would suggest taking the dash apart and cleaning the gauges and gauge plastic covers. a good cleaning does make the dash look much better. this dash is not hard to take apart on a bench or table. just take all the screws out of the cast metal electric assembly first and this assembly will lift off of the rest of the assembly. you can then access and dismantle the guage covers. if you do this, BE CAREFULL when you lay the guage assembly down - DO NOT LAY IT GAUGE DOWN ON ANYTHING!! you will catch and bend the indicator needles on the guages if you do that...