My tic-toc-tach is only lighting on the left side. I'm assuming one of the bulbs is out. I have read on here about upgrading to LED bulbs and love the results (Thanks Rob for the before/after pics). My question is can I gain access to the bulbs by removing the cluster bezel from the front or do I need to go in from behind/above?

 

You will need to pull the gauges out to access the bulbs.
Remove the front bezel (screws below that hold the blue lenses in for the floodlamps) and remove the gauges - pretty easy.
BTW, I never used LEDs - the pictures I took were with plain ol' 168 bulbs and a fresh repaint within the gauges. The shiny new paint with just the right color make them really light up well!

 

Thanks Rob! It's on my 'to-do' list for next week! I see a few screws under the top of the bezel overhang above the guages are there more on the bottom? Also is there enough freeplay in the wiring and speedo cable to pull them foward to remove the bulbs?
Also I was mistaken, it was 'Pete' (Boldsmobile) that had the before/after shot after installing LEDs. Quite a difference.

 

Two screws at the bottom also - the ones holding in the blue floodlight lenses (or covers if you do not have the lights.)

Gauges have enough wire play, carefully remove them first. Remove speedo last - speedo cable can be disconnected through a gauge hole as it is short.
While the speedo is out, pull the speedo cable from the casing, clean with WD40 and lube with lithium grease to avoid noise later. Reinsert carefully and turn to reseat it in tranny recepticle.

 

Mike, you will love your Oldsmobile, the gauge light bulbs can be changed without pulling the dash like in the Chevelle you onced owend.

Here is a photo of the backside of my '70s tic-toc-tach. Like Rob stated, just remove the four dash/ gauge bezel screws and you are there. IIRC there are three sheet metal screws that hold in the three different dash gauges.

IMG001.jpg

My tic-toc-tach lights stoped working due too corrosion inbetween the gauge mounting flange and the gauge housing gounding strap. So be sure and check for that.

 

Thanks Lance! I just finished doing it. It took me MAYBE 7 minutes!! Like you said, The Chevelle gauges all come out from the back after removing the dash and SUCK to do. These are GREAT! I just replaced the bulbs with the correct bulbs because I read a little further about the LEDs and found out they won't 'flood' like these and need additional stuff. As a bonus, I must have jostled some 'dust bunnies' in my clock when I had the tach out because it started working again too!!!