Remvoing Instrument Cluster

[SteinOnkel]

Hey gang,

there's a couple of things bothering me about my instrument cluster. I'd like to swap to LED for starters and clean some grounds.

Now, I unscrewed the fasteners and though it would just pop out. No such luck, the dash (cover?) has gotten bigger over time and is holding the cluster firmly in place.

Is there a trick to this or does this just mean it's time to refurbish the entire dash? I'd prefer not to open a huge can of worms just for a few minor hiccups.

Thanks
Steiny

[18Fiatsandcounting]

If you remove the 4 knurled screws (bolts) holding the instrument cluster in place, it *should* just pop out. Sometimes it helps to push from behind, and if you reach up under the dash on either side of the steering column assembly, you should be able to find something to push on, like the speedometer or tach housings. Sometimes also the speedometer cable is holding the cluster from fully coming out, but it should have enough slack to remove the cluster enough to unscrew the cable from the back of the speedometer. I believe on some model years the speedometer cable housing clips into place rather than screws on.

When I remove the instrument cluster, I usually remove the steering wheel and column housing to make things easier: Disconnect the battery (or the appropriate fuse) so you don't keep blowing the horn by mistake, remove the Fiat horn button/emblem by removing the round housing being careful not the break the 3 tabs, undo the nut in the center, pull off the steering wheel, remove the 4 bolts holding the steering column housing halves together, remove the two halves, and then rejoice in the fact that you didn't break anything. Right??!! If you remove the steering wheel, make sure you mark it somehow to make sure that you get it back in the same orientation. Or center the wheel and don't move the shaft or front wheels until you get the steering wheel back on.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

Yeah, that's the procedure I gathered from looking at it. But before I even got started I thought hang on a second this plastic dash is not going to budge without taking damage. It's warped and super brittle.

When I got the car, the glove box would not close, because there was plastic from the dash in the way. Because driving around like that is annoying, I forcefully closed it, chipping some of the plastic in the process. That's easy enough, but you can't really open it now without excessive force. I think the instrument cluster is the same story.

I'm 90% sure now that somebody installed one of these:

https://www.americandashcaps.com/fiat/1 ... -face.html

And over time it has warped so much that everything is a little out of whack. I'll upload some pictures later tonight. You guys are the experts and will be able to say if it's stock or not.

Who knows, maybe it is a dash cap and the dashboard underneath isn't completely roached? It's like that on my brother's 914, he installed a cap to protect the original dash.

Or if mine is ruined and the cap needs to be forcefully removed, so be it. $120 isn't bad for a new one.

Cheers
Steiny

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Steiny, I have a couple of instrument cluster wood panels in fairly good shape. 2 big holes and 4 small holes if memory serves. I also have a couple of glove compartment doors, but I think they're that wood laminate that was used on later model years.

You're welcome to have some of the items if you want.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

I appreciate the offer. I might take you up on that.

I'm planning to do something special with the wood. I've never done much woodworking, but one of our contractors is a wizard with the stuff. He's also into old cars and he's offered to show me the ropes. I'm thinking a really high-end wood will set the interior apart. A clear vertical grain Alaskan Yellow Cedar would look fantastic, give the interior a nice aroma and weather to something still pleasing over time. Seeing as we need basically a tiny quantity, the material costs are next to nothing.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I did my '69 Fiat in teak, both the dash as well as the panel down around the shifter knob. On my '71, I just did the dash and shifter panel with some "engineered hardwood" that I had leftover from redoing the flooring in my office. Looks fine, although opinions vary as to how durable this will be. But, I can always redo it.

Buy a wood grain that you like, find someone with a scroll saw (or perhaps you have one), and have at it. Not that hard.

-Bryan