signthere.com

Hi...Will i need to lower my steering colum to remove the speedo panel to replace. I have a set of digital gauges in there now and found a original 80 set. Never done this so thought i would ask first...whats the best way? :jester

Avette4me

No you don't. One portion of the shop manual says to remove the A/C duct, but the other does not - I think you can get by with out. Otherwise remove the clear, then remove all of the screws to the guage assy, pull forward slightly to access/disconnect speedo cable, light connection, and wiring harness - then remove speedo and tack assy.

Vettesic

I replaced the tach board and speedo cable in my 80. If I remember corectly I did remove the ac duct work...no big deal, and it's easier to get your hand behind the gauges if necessary. Follow Aveete's directions. There right-on. Good Luck, L8TER, Paul.

johnnyc

Disconnect the battery before you start poking around behind the dash...I found out the hard way....JC

mark79,80

Couple of additional suggestions to make things easier:

1. If you have cruise control, disconnect the speedometer cable at the
cruise control transducer. If you don't have cruise control, disonnect the
cable at the transmission. This makes it easier to pull the dash bezel
out, to gain access to remove the speedometer cable and the wire harness
connector. The speedometer cable has very little slack, thus if it is
not disonnected at the other end, it holds the dash bezel in place.

2. Place some painter's masking tape around (upper 180 degrees) of the
steering column. When you pull the dash bezel out, it rests against the
steering column, and the tape will prevent scratching the column.


[Modified by mark79,80, 5:33 PM 1/15/2003]


[Modified by mark79,80, 6:27 PM 1/15/2003]

homers3

removing the 2 nuts that hold the steering column up to the dash will give amore clearance for removing the speedo housing. (remove ac duct to reach nuts). The speedo cable connection is a little tricky...push towards housing, hold clip the pull cable out. :iagree:

Bill 81 F

When I replaced the heater core on my 81, I had to remove the center guage panel. While I was at it, I ended up taking the speedo/tach panel out to try to see what the problem was with the dim lights on that panel. I think I did drop the steering column. Just disconnect the speedo cable and unplug the wiring harnesses and carefully pull it out. I was able to get some of the dash lights lights in that panel working better by cleaning up the contacts where the lights twist in. The wiring is all on a thin piece of plastic with thin copper foil like wiring. Be very careful with it. Good luck. :chevy

signthere.com

:cheers: Thanks for all your replys...im going to try to change it over today! Hope all goes well....wish me luck...LOL