I am going to change the dash bezel on my 69 and after reviewing some posts I have a few questions before getting started.
1. I understand the bulb sockets are a particular source of grief. If I puchased replacement sockets could the metal clip and bulb falling out problems be avoided?

2. If I replaced the sockets I could probly gain a few inches of wire to the sockets. Is the wire length to the sockets a problem?

3. I plan on replacing all the bulbs. I see where some are using led's, as they are brighter. I am not familiar with led's, is it just a simply a matter of plugging in another type bulb or are there other problems associated with changing to led's?

4. I noticed a few had problems afterward with the headlight switch. Should I change it out when swapping the bezel and consier it preventitive maintenance, or is that just a waste?

Thanks in advance for your replys. I've learned it is sometimes easier to hear from someone that has traveled that road before.

I just pulled my dash to try and fix (ended up f-ing up ) my guages.

Drop the colum and but a rag between the colum and dash when you drop in down. Its all very tight - not much wire to allow the bezel to come out. You may want to disconnect your battery so something doesn't short out.

I didn't think the bulb sockets were too bad myself. The astro ventilation if you have it is a PIA a little.

Just take your time, relax, have a radio on (not the car one) and you'll be fine. I didn't even have to mark anything - it's pretty clear what goes to where. This isn't something you want to hurry. If you have funds, yes, change out the dimmer switch cause this appears the only way to get to it.

Only thing I'm not sure about is this fiber-optic looking wire that hooks onto the back of my gauge cluster and directs light somewhere. The wire appears to have been cut - anybody? :(

Too bad I didn't talk to Vince before I did mine, the rag between the column and the dash would have kept me from scratching up my freshly painted steering column. :o

The 69 dash light sockets do come apart very easily which lets the bulb drop down inside the cluster. (at least mine did.)
The best way to get them out is to get a knife blade between the metal prongs and the cluster housing.
If some do come apart, you can epoxy them back together.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/dlapart.jpg

Fiber optic from dash light would go to ash tray.Look in the top of your ash tray housing and see if there is a small rectangular cutout.

Another item to consider before the switch to LED replacement "bulbs" is light dispersion.

An incandescent bulb radiates light nearly 350 degrees. The dash housing was built/painted with this in mind, and reflects this light all around inside the housing. LED's (with any "ummpahh") radiate light at best about 30 deg's. "off center". They do make LED replacement "bulbs" that have LED elements that disperse around the sides, but usually only in the larger sizes.

This translates into "hot spots" of light straight ahead, and not a lot of "fill" or "splash" of light to the sides.

Another inherant property of LED's is they really can't be dimmed. They require a certain range of voltage to work. There is a small area (within the operating threshold) where they will increase/decrease brightness, but below this they flat don't light, and above they blow up.