Instrument Panel Back Plate

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Oct 23, 2002 | 07:09 AM

firstonraceday

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 781

Likes: 18

From: East Texas

Instrument Panel Back Plate

I saw, at one time, a discussion on the panel back plate being the cause for no panel lights. I've searched the archive and haven't found the thread I remember seeing. My 77 has no panel lights and I'm fairly sure this is the problem. The thread I saw seemed to indicate that Ford still supported this piece. I was just wondering if that was true. I know I could get one from the wrecking yard, but I'm not overly enthusiastic about the prospect as any I find there would also be 20+ years old and probably brittle. While I'm behind the panel I also plan to change the IVR.

I've checked the online store here and it doesn't carry them. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Jason

1993 F-150 300 I-6 w/5-Spd.
1977 F-250 351M w/4-Spd. (289,000 miles - never rebuilt)

Oct 23, 2002 | 08:02 AM

Torque1st

Posting Legend

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 30,255

Likes: 37

Instrument Panel Back Plate

I have seen a lot of those flex circuits. They all looked to be good with a little cleanup, including the one that is sitting on my workbench at the moment. All you have to do is pull your cluster and remove all of the bulbs and instrument connections (IVR) also. Take a small amount of liquid copper kitchen pan cleaner on a small piece of rag. Wipe the contact areas down then rinse them in water. Allow them to dry and then coat all of the contact surfaces and gage terminal studs with a very small amount of silicone dielectric grease. Re-assemble the parts back into the case. The pot cleaner will remove the oxidation from the copper contacts. The dielectric grease will keep the xidation from returning. Replace all the bulbs with new ones also. Re-assemble the unit, check the wiring harness plug for oxidized contacts also and clean as required.

Have fun!

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Oct 23, 2002 | 08:22 AM

teschwab

Senior User

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 375

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From: nc

Instrument Panel Back Plate

yes the back plate is still serviced by ford. do you have the gauge package or the idiot lights. i would refer to the previous post for ivr work. if you can't find a dealer that will assist you on digging the back panel email me and i would be happy to help.