insturment cluster

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Jan 15, 2020 | 11:45 AM

mjrobne

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insturment cluster

Bought a new dash bezel and lens for my '66 f100 custom cab and figured it'd be a snap to pull the old and install the new. Maybe not. Took out all the screws around the bezel and pulled the dash pad out enough to set it free, but there ain't enough play to see how to separate it from the actual cluster component. Figured I'd ask before I broke anything.

Can anyone tell me what to do?

Jan 15, 2020 | 11:55 AM

TA455HO

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From: Seattle

You'll probably want to disconnect everything and remove the entire cluster to replace the front bezel. At least that's the easiest way. Hard to get enough slack in some wires to get much clearance with it installed.

You might need to reach behind and disconnect the speedometer cable, too. If it is attached sometimes you can't pull the cluster out very much at all.

Jan 15, 2020 | 12:39 PM

mjrobne

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Ah, and there's the rub. Literally. The plan is to do exactly that but I can't pull it out far enough because the speedo cable is just too tight. If I try hard enough, I can lie on the floor and shove my arm up there far enough to touch the nut, but there's no way I can grip it to unscrew it. Is there some kind of trick to getting in there? There really isn't any way I can ever reach it the way it is.

Thanks very much for replying!

Jan 15, 2020 | 12:44 PM

TA455HO

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In that case you can probably disconnect the speedometer cable at the transmission end and pull enough slack on the engine side of the firewall to tip the cluster out far enough. I hope....

Jan 15, 2020 | 12:48 PM

mjrobne

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Great idea. Wish I could think that much but I'm a little limited in brain capacity. Might just be the solution but I don't know if I can get to it today. May be a week or two now but I'll let you know.

Thanks again.

Jan 15, 2020 | 04:17 PM

ruger761

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From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

You might also check to see if the speedo cable is clamped to the inner fender to get a little more slack. Mine was.

The cluster ground wire is pretty short too once you do pull it out, simple connector to pop it off just remember to put it back on