'71 guage cluster removal

[Jim Strathearn]

Well, it's time to repair the clock in my '71. I have my trusty Haynes manual along with my Assembly Manual, and I still can't figure out how to get that guage cluster out! My chrome trim piece is already broken at the narrow point, so that top section is out, along with the wiper switch. All the black screws along the sides of the cluster are out. The nuts on the studs at the bottom are off. The radio knobs and nuts are off. I can tilt the cluster forward from the top only slightly. It almost seems like it's pivoting near the center of the cluster.

Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks in advance!


Jim & Linda's Corvettes

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

Jim: There are two studs that protrude dowmward from the bottom of the cluster bezel and are fastened with nuts from underneath. It is almost impossible to reach these nuts but it is do-able. When I remove the bezel from my 69 which is the same as yours I find it easier to remove the radio first. When you put the bezel and cluster back in you might consider not putting the nuts back on the studs since it is just as hard to re-install as it is to remove. The first time I removed my cluster I found that the nuts were not there. I have owned the car since it was a year old so I am convinced that they were never put on at the factory. I replaced a clock in a 71 not long ago and the hardest part of the entire job was getting these nuts off. If you are going to do much of this type of work I highly recommend an assembly manual for a guiide. Good luck! Jeff

[Jim Strathearn]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

Thanks Jeff.

Those nuts are not on the studs. I can actually pry the studs out of the holes. I just can't get the bezel out. Also, I can not see any way for me to get the radio out without first removing the bezel. I do own the assembly manual and from what it appears, I have all the fasteners removed. I just can't get the bezel out! It feels like it's being held in around the level of the lower gauges. This is driving me nuts... I must just be missing something. Should the thing just flop out or do I need to be a bit "persuasive?"

Thanks for the reply.




Jim & Linda's Corvettes

[Roberto L.]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

Will commnent something from my experience removing the same part in my 70. Try to loosen the right pad. Perhaps central and side pads/clusters are a little bonded after many years. Remove front side console screws to access radio housing from the sides. Check for incorrected positioned wires that could avoid easy dissasembling.

Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC

[Robert C.]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

Jim, It should fall out. You don't think someone glued the broken bezel back together ,where you found it broken, and when the glue dried it glued itself to the left and right pad???? Bob


Texas Chapter NCRS

[Jim Strathearn]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

No Bob, It doesn't feel like it's glued. I can tilt the top, where it is broke, out a bit, and raise the bottom studs out of the holes. I just can't get the whole thing to come out. Someone suggested that I remove the screws which hold the radio in and I will try that tomorrow. (Rear of the radio, passenger side.) Is it possible that the face of the radio, where the buttons are, is such a tight fit that the radio is holding the bezel in? Could there be anything else holding it in? Some connectors going to the gauges or something?

Thanks!


Jim & Linda's Corvettes

[Terry M.]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

Jim,

When I do this I remove the passenger side dash pad completely. Gives better access for my big hands. Also remove the screw for the mounting bracket at the rear of the radio. That allows the radio to move around more.

Nuts on studs at bottom of the bezel do not need to be removed completely as the studs go into slots. On my 1970 I can access those nuts from the small side panels beside the radio. Can not see the nuts, but can feel them and get to them with 1/4 inch rachet and 7/16 (I think) deep well socket.

One other thing to check - could someone have shortened the oil line enough to make it hard to get out or maybe the line is or gauge wiring is caught on something. Another advantage to the passenger panel being out is that you can look behind the gauge bezel from the passenger side an maybe see what is hanging up.

Terry

[Jim Strathearn]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

Thanks Terry. As soon as the snow melts this morning I will pull the beast out so I can get better access to the passenger side...

FYI, I do think the bezel/gauges have been out before. I've been told that the black screws I have holding the bezel in are supposed to be chrome. Also, the nuts were already off the studs, and the bezel was broke when I purchased the car. (Top piece from the bottom...)

Hopefully with a better viewing angle I'll be able to get this thing out!

Thanks.


Jim and Linda's Corvettes

[Terry M.]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

Jim,

Those bezels brake very easily, as someone already mentioned, so that is not telling regarding previous R&R, but the lack of nuts on the studs makes me think someone has been there before.

Questions about the fasteners - unless I go to the garage to look - are usually referred to Reba Whittington. She has seen and judged more 1968-1972 interiors than I want to think about. She is aces on those fasteners too. Try her at webals5@aol.com.

Terry

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal

Jim: Everyone who has suggested removing the passenger side map pocket/pad are correct. I forgot to mention that in my response. Also I have found it helpful to remove the small pieces of rigid plastic at the front sides of the console (both sides). The radio WILL come out with the console on. Remove the side brace and antenna and as you wiggle it out depress the station presets to gain clearance. The service manual says to tape all buttons in the depressed position. but I have never done that. There are gobs of wires back there so something may be hanging up. As you know this part is VERY fragile so don't even think of prying on it. I'm sure that once you have removed some of the side pieces you will see the hangup. Remember that this is just a machine and you are far smarter than it is. Godd luck! Jeff

[Jim Strathearn]

Re: '71 guage cluster removal - It's out!!!

Well, it's out! Never did find anything I couldn't do as long as I had the correct size hammer! OK, just kidding... Thanks for all the super advice. (It WAS Reba who mentioned about the incorrect screws...) Believe it or not, the problem was actually pretty straight forward. The assembly which the gauges are affixed to is slightly wider than the bezel. This car just happens to have two spots, one on each side, where the dash covering (vinyl?) sticks out a bit just behind where the bezel mounts. The gauge mounting assembly(name?), being wider than the bezel, was getting caught there. I had to take a screwdriver and pry the sides of the dash back a bit then walk the bezel out.

This had occured to me yesterday, but I guess I just didn't pry the dash covering back far enough then. Either that, or I was REALLY ready for the thing to come out today!

Thanks again!


Jim and Linda's Corvettes

[Jack H.]

Wrong books!

Reason dash center cluster bezel is broken is because someone attached the R&R (remove and re-install) process equipped with the kind of support literature you're using.... The Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) is an excellent book for what it was intended (how to put the car together), but the factory seldom took 'em apart!

The Chassis Service Manual (CSM) devotes an entire section to the Corvette body (only pony in the stable that was NOT Body by Fisher) and takes you step by step through this/that R&R sequence. Specifically, in the section dealing with center cluster removal, you'll find a neat little 'duzzie' tag line that warns against prying on top of the center cluster to free it from the dash pad.

It goes on to talk about the INTENTIONAL weakness designed into the center cluster (apparently a crash breakaway 'feature'). But, almost every Shark I see in the shop comes in with it's center cluster bezel broken in the 'standard' places. Oh well, makes money for the restoration parts/service channel....

[Jim Strathearn]

Re: Wrong books!

I may not have been too clear on this. I have the AIM, 1971 Chassis Service Manual and a Haynes Manual for the car. I guess I didn't mention all of them in my prior posts. My problem was that I followed ALL the instructions I coud find and still couldn't get the darned thing out! Guess that's what makes this hobby so much fun! :-)

Thanks again for everyone's input.


Jim & Linda's Corvettes

[Patrick H.]

Re: Wrong books!

Jim,

Be happy you didn't try and work on a Tilt and Tele column for that car...

Patrick


Patrick Hulst