Eaglesfan

Guy's, Putting the dash back together on my 1969 442. I know somewhere on here there was some good pictures behind the dash- after it was taken out of a car. Cant find through search can someone either direct me the right thread or send some shots? Need to make sure i understand how everthing goes together.

Also need to advice on the steps: the order the parts go back in ( car has air and i took it apart about a year ago)

for example i think i took the gauges out first then lifted out the dash but i saw that maybe i should reinstall with the gauges already mounted in the dash pad. I have a new wiring harness as well.

Just need to advice from someone who's done this previously. Pics below of my current situation.

Thanks, John

John

tru-blue 442

A 69 assembly manual will be your best friend.
Perhaps wildaboutcars.com may have one on file?
Good luck with it, I took mine down over 5 yrs ago.

Eaglesfan

I do have one and using it-- just looking for any practical experience or advice. Sometimes couple little pieces of advice make all the difference.

Eaglesfan

Made some progress yesterday. Assembled the dash with gauges installed. Going to add the vents so that i can snap the plastic attachment and ductwork in after. Will remember to arrange all the vacuum lines and glovebox liner before i install the heater core box.

I noticed that one of the dash pad studs has a push in fastener-- let me know if theres a correct place to use that as it must have to do with what is reachable when then originally built the car.

Posting the pics of the dash

Thanks

John

Eaglesfan

OK -- found some items i cant remember how they came out, what they are or where they go---

- I know the grey wire goes on the back of the tac but i don't know where it connects.
- The blue wire was screwed to the firewall - cant figure out what it connects to -- is it factory? There are two plastic loops that hold it on the fire wall--seems like underneath the firewall pad? would it be a line to the console?

- The wire with the metal thing on it - not sure

The plastic clip - not sure

- I have one more wire to add with next post

Otherwise i think i am good to go and will get this dash on next weekend!

Thanks for any help -- John

Eaglesfan

One additional wire i cant figure out

tru-blue 442

John, here is a pic of my tic-toc-tac.
Hope it helps. I can't quite remember
but that clip with the 2 screws may be
for the glove box?
Seems there was at least 2 of the pins
attached to the dash that just push into
the fixed metal part of the dash.

Eaglesfan

Thanks it looks like that grey wire connects to the small screw on the back of the tac. In your pic its bottom right. The clip is definitely the glove box -- thanks now i remember that part. Not sure i understand what you mean about the two pins.
Best, John

tru-blue 442

You called them the dash pad studs, push in fasteners.
My memory was they were pins. Same-same.

starfire

Put the glove box "box" in last. You will find it much easier to access things with out that in place.

starfire

Plastic "clip" is the glove box latch catch.

First grey wire should be light for your tach, hooks into another grey wire that supplies power for all the dash lights.

The second wire looks like the ash tray light.

starfire

If that wire is brown, it is the wire from the coil to the tach. There should be a 2amp fuse in that fuse holder.

starfire

I don't remember any pins that just push into the metal part of the dash. All of the studs on the dash pad are screws on the dash pad side and bolts on the metal side. There are speed nuts (very specific ones, not just ones you can find on the shelf at an auto parts store) that then go on the bolt style end to keep the dash pad tight to the metal part.

Eaglesfan

OK - got it thanks!

starfire

This page shows the studs (lower left corner):

Page110_zps6cfbeab6.jpg



Wow, I was wrong (big surprise there). There is one place where the stud is held in place by a clip. Looks like the stud between the speedo and tach/clock pods. No wonder I had such a bitch of a time getting a speed nut on that stud. Mine didn't have that clip there. Damned previous owners

Page116_zps4660c0d7.jpg

steverw

My 67 has the same clip approx in the middle of the dash on top. I assume it was to hold the dash inplace while they put the speed nuts on, not really sure.

2blu442

Yes, I've seen the push in stud in a couple different locations, maybe from different years. Here's a 1969 Cutlass and you can see this clip in one of the holes. On this car it was just to the right of the speedometer pod. John


P1010603.jpg

P1010604.jpg

Eaglesfan

Ok I think i have the first grey wire worked out-- see pic.


Still cant figure out the grey one with the metal thing on it

Eaglesfan

The push in stud on my dash pad is to the right of the radio - maybe they put them in different places depending up the manuf plant?

Eaglesfan

It does have a 2amp fuse in it. Still don't know how it goes exactly.

I think i'm going to need some pictures if anyone has taken pics of a dash as they disassembled one. Want to make sure i plug in most of this correctly the first time.

Also is there any type of grease that should be used on the connections to the gauges so that if i need to move things around the connections will come apart without snapping any pins? ( they look fragile)

From a process standpoint--Do you plug in as much as possible and then bolt the dash in or bolt the dash first and then fish the wires to the gauges.

Sorry to ask so many dumb questions but i haven't done one of these before and want to make sure i do it right.

Thanks,

John

Eaglesfan

I figured out the blue wire screwed to the firewall goes to the rear speaker

starfire

If you haven't done it yet, remove your front seat(s). That way you can lay on your back and reach up under/behind the dash to connect the wires.

starfire

Methinks you need a Chassis Service Manual and an Assembly Manual. Go here:

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/

and sign up for free. Then access the 1969 CSM, AM, and Body Manual, all for free. A wealth of information that you will use over and over again.

starfire

I already told you. It's the ashtray lamp. Look inside (the metal thing comes apart) there is a light bulb in there. There is a small hole in the metal thing. The light comes through the hole and into the ashtray when the metal thing is screwed in place by the ashtray.

Like this:

Page114_zpsde2b7273.jpg

Eaglesfan

Thanks Alan-- i see now. took it apart and the bulb also needs replacing. Would of never looked in there..

Eaglesfan

wow-- this is exactly what i needed-- thanks!

spate51

Wire to the tach from the neg post on the coil should also have a wire mesh "shield" around it. shield needs to be grounded on dash inside firewall otherwise will get a lot of static on radio. after passing through firewall, tach feed is suspended from firewall and then goes to coil.

Octania

Also is there any type of grease that should be used on the connections to the gauges so that if i need to move things around the connections will come apart without snapping any pins? ( they look fragile)

From a process standpoint--Do you plug in as much as possible and then bolt the dash in or bolt the dash first and then fish the wires to the gauges.
John
==========================
Did you put all new correct type [number] bulbs in the holders? No time like the present.

I like to install and remove the dash and all wiring to the fuseblock as an assembly. Much easy. Your two little plastic loops hold the wiring to the dash plastic in the gages area.

I recommend silicone dielectric grease on the pins for the gage pod connectors. Makes dismantling later not only possible but easy, and yes the pins are very fragile. Bad design that thankfully is no longer used anywhere. Ever.

Eaglesfan

Guys - first off thank you for all the help. I don't know where i would be without the support.

Making good progress and shooting to install the dash on saturday.

That being said i have a couple questions:

- The brown tach wire with the 2 amp fuse will hook to my MSD box ( the right side of the box has a port that should work. I want to confirm where on the back of the tach that wire connects. The tach was rebuilt using modern internals and appears sightly different from the version in the assembly manual. ie the two bulbs only have the black plugs that turn in - no grey wires.
See the pic where i have it and let me know if its correct.

- Im going through and marking every wire and there are several i cannot confirm. Most i should be able to work out as i get everything positioned but im sure to have some additional questions.

Eaglesfan

For those of you that have installed a dash in a 68-69 - a question. Did you plug in the wiring harness to the speedometer before installing the dash or after? i cant tell if the wire is holding me up from getting the dash all the way in...? ( it appears i "could" route the wire for the speedometer around the back of the metal dash structure)

Everything else looks of so far

let me know

Thanks!