The speedo head is frozen in my 54. It ate 2 new cables before I verified it. What is the best way to remove the speedometer head? I've seen on 55s people say its best to take the top of the dash off. Is this also true for the 54?

 

The 55 and 54 are literally identical. Here is what my shop manual says for the 54. The instrument cluster is fastened to the instrument panel with 5 studs, flat washers, lock washers and nuts. The instrument cluster contains the speedometer, the gauges and the shift indicator. According to the picture, the studs are at the top corner of the cluster, each side of the speedometer and one on top of the speedometer. It says the gauges and speedometer can be removed from the back of the cluster without removing the entire assembly. The shift indicator is installed on the speedometer housing. I am not even sure the top of the dash is removable. I hope this helps. If you do not have a shop manual, I suggest getting one. It is one of the first things somebody with an old car should buy. There are plenty of them on ebay. Shop for the best price because prices will be all over the board on them. Mine now has Gorilla tape on the binding. It came from George T. McNaught Oldsmobile - Chevrolet in Stamford, NY and their phone number was 310. The original price was two dollars.

 

Interesting - I will pick up a shop manual, and I guess I'll try pulling it out from the bottom. I actually haven't looked real closely at what all that will involve yet.

 

When you do it, it's easiest to leave the oil pressure gauge in place. Leave the oil line connected, and remove the two screws that hold it in the gauge assembly. Unbolt everything else, remove the light sockets, mark the wires, and remove the assembly through the front of the dash.