I’m getting used to removing the seats. The seats need to be removed to do any of the console work. When I get to the dash I’ll have to remove the steering wheel too.
The gauges weren’t too hard to remove once the console and radio were taken out. Only 4 screws to remove – the manual says five? It was a bit tight getting it out from behind the dash panels. I was happy to find out the gauges have a circuit board. So only one nice big plug to detach – see the hole in the centre.
I carefully removed the circuit board exposing the gauges – I removed the clock earlier.
Often times it’s a problem getting the clock setting knob off so you can remove the device. It was a headache in the Studebaker, but GM had a better idea this time and made the knob screw-fitted. You can just see the tiny blade screw driver slot in the centre of the knob.
The gauge panel has gotten itself rusted in spots. Another sign that this car was left outside and rain got in to damage various console components. I’ll clean this unit up and put on a bit of paint. I’ll leave the blue as it’s not too bad and it will be a bother to find a matching colour for a spray bomb.
I sprayed the circuit board contacts and each of the dash bulb connectors with electrical contact cleaner just to be sure to get a good contact on re-assembly. When I removed the gauge assembly someone had been in there before and used black electrical tape to hold a couple of the dash bulbs tight against the circuit board.
Next: more console work.