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I had my instrument cluster refurbished and now I'm having an impossible task of getting everything connected to the back of the cluster. There must be a trick or procedure to do this, I can't be the only one who is having difficulties in doing this. I hope someone has an answer.
After going through this problem many times I decided to solve it once and for all. I brought all the wires together into one large connector. Now I don't have to mess with all those wires. If I have to work on the cluster I simply take it out. Note that I did this as part of a complete custom wiring system on my 65 restomod.
I had my instrument cluster refurbished and now I'm having an impossible task of getting everything connected to the back of the cluster. There must be a trick or procedure to do this, I can't be the only one who is having difficulties in doing this. I hope someone has an answer.
Did you purchase a new dash wire harness? Some of the new ones are a bear to seat the bulb holder into the dash.
Do this, get...4 or 5 bolts, 1/4 - 20 x 8" and cut the head off of the bolts...
Screw them into the dash and slide the cluster onto the bolts, let it hang far enough to extend away from dash to give you room to install the harness connections...
Cover your steering column if its still in the car....
The cluster is maybe 1 1/2 inches away. The steering column is in place. I bent a piece of strong wire in the shape of a hook to fish the three warning lights up to the top but then trying to plug the lights in with such a little bit of space just isn't working. I guess I'll have to take your advise and try to pull it further out but then the individual light wires are too short. I guess I will loosen the wiring harness so it comes forward. Thanks for all your suggestions.
You might want to consider pulling the steering column out. You'll then have quite a bit more room to get your hands behind the cluster to plug lights in. Using bolts in the mounting screw holes is a good way to support the cluster spaced away from the dash, but you can use the speedometer and tach cables to do the same thing. Screw them into the cable sockets and let the cables hold the cluster up. Done this more times than I wanted to.
I just completed this on my '66 and benefitted greatly by searching "instrument cluster wiring" (search titles only). Currently there are 11 threads on the subject. Take the time to read each one and you'll learn a lot. I did! Removing and reinstalling the cluster took some time and patience but it turned out great thanks to all the info found here on the forum.
Don
I did this winter of 2021-22 on my 66 vert. Pulling the steering column at the rag joint, and removing it from the car is defiantly helpful, the more room you have to work the better. I did a friends a year earlier and while reinstalling it I too struggled as you have, often realizing that a light worker itself back out while I was trying to set others in. Ultimately prevailed but with very cramped up fingers. Originality was a big concern for him so I did it with that in mind. When I did my 66 I groomed all the wires in the dash into (3) high quality plugs with enough of a pig tale that I can make or brake the connections with the dash out 3-4" suspended on the 1/4-20 rods by reaching over the top of the panel. All of the light plugs could then be installed in advance on my work bench and tested prior to re-installation. Took about 3.5 hours to reinstall my friends panel, to 20 minutes to do mine.
Here's a link to an LL video on the sockets. Maybe not too much help if you are installing them in the mounted dash but perhaps that alignment tip might help.
Dave Z
Using the studs, Removing the column and removing the drivers seat makes a huge difference. I like to use an LED light headband. With some patience, it all goes back together.
After going through this problem many times I decided to solve it once and for all. I brought all the wires together into one large connector. Now I don't have to mess with all those wires. If I have to work on the cluster I simply take it out. Note that I did this as part of a complete custom wiring system on my 65 restomod.
03-15-2023, 04:31 PM
Plugging in the lights and instruments
Dennis
