Among the seemingly endless of loose ends on my car is the gear indicator. I have obtained the missing parts and am wondering do I have to remove the speedometer to install the indicator needle? I look at the CSM and it looks like it might be possible to do without pulling the speedo or dash. But, when I look under the dash I'm not seeing much to make me think I don't have to once again pull it all apart. I can only wonder why things like this are missing? Has anyone done this install or replacement?
thank you,
Steve

 

Remove the front seat. Lay down a heavy blanket, if you don’t the seat studs will shred your back. Have an assortment of 1/4 drive extensions, a 1/4 inch swivel socket and maybe someone with really small hands. The speedo comes out the front of the dash, once you get the 2 1/4 screws it’s not that bad. Reach up behind the speedo, locate the locking clip that retains the speedo cable. Push the clip, pull the cable. Reach up a little further and unplug the wire connector. Don’t wiggle it too much, the terminals are pretty fragile. Once all that is done, carefully push the speedo head out the front of the dash.


Once your repairs are done, now would’ve a excellent time to clean and lube the speedo cable. Pull the speedo cable from the casing, unhook they cable from the trans. Spray a bunch of brake clean down the casing, wipe the speedo cable clean. Apply a fresh coating of cable lube, reinstall the cable in the casing. I would suggest replacing the speedo bulbs, the internal lighting are 194 bulbs, the turn signal and high beam indicator are 168 bulbs. If the terminals are loose, either carefully resolder the pins, or completely remove them and replace them with 3mm screws and nuts. The 3mm screws are almost exactly the same diameter and the pins and are much more durable.


Carefully slide the speedo head back on place, reconnect the speedo cable and wire connector, get as comfortable under the dash as possible, and reinstall the 2 1/4 screws. There is a jumper wire that goes from the drivers side speedo mounting screw to the fuel gauge, if you forget the jumper wire the fuel gauge will read way past full. Reinstall the seat, and tend to all the little cuts and scrapes on your hands.

 

OK, thanks, so bottom line, I have to pull it out. Ohh boy, I've just gone through that removing the clock and installing a tach in its place. God, it's miserable getting hands up there. But thanks for the clarification. I had the whole dash out last winter. I just don't remember there being an opening for the needle/whatever you call it on the metal casing. I guess I'll think it through to make sure I take care of all possible dash related issue.

thanks,
Steve

 

I don't know about the 69 but on my 71 it seems I could see the little cable that goes from the column to the indicator needle. It attaches to the needle and the other end clips on the column sleeve that turns when you shift the column shifter. But on the 71 you can remove the gauge bezel and see in there, maybe not on the 69.

 

70-72 gauge pods use fasteners that can be accessed from the front. The 68-69 gauge pods do not - you have to reach up behind the dash. GM (and most automakers) went through a "revelation" in the early 70s and redesigned dashboards to make it easier to replace bulbs and things like that.