Hey - wondering if you can help me out with a couple quick & easy ones...I'm in the process of ripping my car apart for a redo

1) Instrument Panel. I've got all the screws out the hold the panel in, and was hoping I could pull it out far enough to disconnect everything not laying on my back and swearing. It doesn't seem to want to move more then 1/2 inch (and seems like it swivels into place with the bottom first having some sort of flange). Is there a trick to this (i.e. mabe just the speedo cable needs to get disconnected first), or do I have to bite the bullet and swear?

2) Engine bay main bulkhead. Any tricks to disconnect? I've played with it a bit, not that much, but just want to make sure when I do finally attempt it for real, I'm not doing anything wrong that will break something.

Thx!

I just pulled my gauges out of my 67 belvedere last night. You need to disconnect the speedo cable and also the headlight switch and wiper switch. They are held in in the front with something similar to a threaded nut. You can use a small screwdriver to take them out. You also need to unscrew the heater switch on the right side. Hope this helps.

Thx for the reply...Yeah, I got the heat controls removed. Oops, forgot about the wiper / light switches...thx. I figured the speedo as the needle was moving as a was moving the instrument panel.



Anyone on the bulkhead wiring in engine bay?

Someone has to have some advice on the bulkhead removal to help avoid messing it up?

the connectors pop out fairly easy. squeeze and pull the engine side harnesses, then squeeze the clips and push the bulkhead in. might also want to warm up the plastic with a hair dryer. don't get it too hot to where it will melt, just enough to help make it pliable and soften any old dielectric grease. we know how cold it is up there 'eh.
As for the instrument cluster, you might want/need to drop the steering column down an inch or so (sorry, 27mm or so) to allow it to come out of the dash without scraping the top of the column.

Todd

Thx for all the help...everything worked out perfectly. The instrument cluster was a PITA...seems I just couldn't get the right angle, but finally got it. It can be removed w/o disconnectng anything as there is enough play in everything to pull out and then disconnect. I think if the steering column was totally out (as it doesn't drop very far unless I'm doing something wrong) it would come out easier.

Next qeustion, and the last thing really to be removed from the car (less engine and transmission as I need cherry-picker / help then is will be totally bare ready for body shop)...the brake booster. FSM makes it sound SO easy...well, I have to say they had to have put that thing in the car before ANYTHING else. I can't get on the passenger-side firewall nuts for the life of me. I finally got the bottom one, but the top is impossible. Have to go to the tool store and get another extension and universal...hopefully that does it.

Just wondering if there is another trick to this?

I will be converting over to manual brakes so hopefully going to just a master w/o the booster is going to be easier assembly wise.