More missing screws: '71 B Body Rallye Cluster dash

Hi all,

At the bottom of the Rallye Cluster panel, from behind the dash, there are two screws/bolts that hold the panel to the metal dash frame (circled in pic below). I don't remember removing these, so they may have been missing already. Can anyone tell me what type/size screws/bolts go in here? In the pic, the left hole has a sheet metal screw in it, but I'm sure that's not correct. Thanks for any help.

Roger

When I dissasembled my car they were already missed on my car, so I simply installed any selftapping screw what fits there. I think used the same used on glove box liner in fact. I guess could search on my 74 Mopar parts catalog on the STANDARD PARTS section for screw specs, but didn't go that deep on that area where is enough to get some that just work

That was my first thought also. Unfortunately, those are way too small. In fact, I've been trying progressively larger sizes, and I'm now up to the same size as those two silver bolts that hold the underside of the dash to the sides (the ones I asked about yesterday), and even those are too small in diameter. I can't imagine Chrysler using bolts that large for this purpose(?). I can't find anything around the garage that's just a tad larger, so I'm going to have to look at the hardware store. Loads of fun.

[Update]: Ok, just went to hardware store and tried a metric #7 (slightly larger than the 1/4" that I tried before, which was too loose) and it won't even go into the hole. I'm thinking that somewhere in the last 47+ years, some bozo stripped out both holes. I'll try using a couple of large sheet metal/self-tapping screws, and hope for the best. Although, I could probably get by without using any screws at all in those two holes, since the panel doesn't seem to be sticking out much at all. Either that, or try to devise some other way of pulling it in. Thanks for the help!!

maybe the J nuts inserts on cluster housing are worn out and needs to be replaced, being that the reason why screws don't fasten.

BTW just searched on my catalog and couldn't find any info about them

you are missing also one of these at least ( can tell the one further down )





aside the column ground reinforcement wire with it

check if the cluster got one of these fasteners there



Can't recall which one exactly is, but pretty much similar to the 9879

You're very sharp-eyed! Yes, I was going to ask about that eventually. Thanks for the link - I only need one.

As for J-bolts, there are none at that point. These holes are in the metal part at the bottom of the instrument panel. I have an idea how to fix it. If it works out, I'll post my solution here. Thanks!

Gotcha! there you have the answer... you need to install couple of U nuts ( I thought it was called J nut, but is U ) on circled areas to be able to fasten the screws.

To be clear, the u-nuts go on to the bezel, not the cluster frame. #8 screws pass through the cluster frame locations indicated.

true!!! my memory failed! ( 6 and a half years without my car at this moment )

I have several of those star washers. PM me your contact info and I will send you one. Joe

Thank you, Joe - you have a PM.

NachoRT74 and 72roadrunnergtx: Thanks for the additional info. I've gone through all my pics, and can't find one of the back side of the cluster. I also can't believe I never noticed this when I had everything apart. I *assumed* the cluster was only held in by the four screws near the top (should have known, that didn't seem like enough). I found a pic online (below) and I think these are the two tabs that are resting up against those two holes I showed in my earlier pic. Unfortunately, there are no u-nuts on them, and I really don't want to pull everything back out to put them on. Instead, I'm going to devise a simple fix, which I will post when it's done. Thanks again!

as mentioned, the U nuts are not on housing but on bezel... my bad

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the terminology used. What part are you calling the "bezel"? There are at least three parts to the instrument panel and "rallye cluster":

1. The metal dash frame, which runs across the entire front of the car.
2. The plastic, wood-grain "panel" that you see from the driver's seat.
3. A metal housing that mounts to #2 from behind, to which the instruments, lights and wire connections are attached (actually, this itself is in two pieces: a white plastic frame at the front, and the silver metal housing at the rear).

Numbers 2 & 3 are attached together, and the two tabs at the bottom of #3 (where I'm missing u-nuts) are attached from behind at the bottom of the dash (#1), on either side of the steering column.

At the top, there are four screws that go through the plastic, wood-grain panel (#2), and screw into u-nuts that are on tabs at the top of the metal dash (#1).

I don't know if this is the same for 1971 thru 1974.

1. Full dash frame
2. Cluster bezel, the two u-nuts in question are fitted to the bezel not the cluster frame tabs.
3. Cluster frame.

Ah, thank you, that makes sense. So, it sounds like the two attaching screws first go through the holes in the cluster frame tabs, then into the u-nuts that are on the bezel? The screws must be pretty long, correct? Now I'm wondering if my u-nuts are actually there, and I just didn't reach in far enough? Do you happen to have a picture of the screws? Are they hex-head? How long are they? Are they sheet-metal type, as the four screws that hold the cluster bezel in at the top of the dash frame?

I have those U nuts and corresponding screws for your dash cluster. And I also have the steering column star washer.

If you're still looking for the hardware and want to use OEM please LMK.

Thanks

already replied by 72roadrunnergtx so nothing else to add

( bezel is the exterior plastic cluster mask )

Thanks guys for the additional info, and for all the help. Further investigation today confirms that the u-nuts are not in place on my bezel.

A little history: my car was born a Satellite Sebring Plus (made into a RR clone/tribute by the prior owner, also a former Moparts member). I believe the Rallye Cluster instrument panel was an option on this car, correct? Decoding the data plate on my car does *not* show Rallye Cluster. An old picture I got from the PO (below) shows a Rallye bezel sitting in the trunk, with no instrument housing behind it. I suspect the PO likely put it together from different sources and was either unaware (as was I), or failed to notice the absence, of the u-nuts on the bezel's lower tabs.

At this point, I really don't want to pull the bezel/cluster out to install the u-nuts - my panel wiring is connected, radio installed, and I'm afraid I'll scratch my freshly-painted dash frame. It looks like the bezel/cluster is resting against the pads on the dash frame where the lower screws go, and it doesn't appear to be sticking out on the passenger compartment side. I found that I can insert a screw in one of the lower holes, pulling the bezel in fairly snugly, and I think that will be satisfactory. This is not a concours restoration, just a clean driver.

So thanks again - this board continues to be an invaluable information resource!

actually you could just remove radio and loosen the cluster. That could be enough pull out a bit the cluster assembly... then be able to reach that area