I'm new and I need help. I have a 70 Chevy Malibu, conv. My son pushed in the head light knob and the head light casing came loose inside the dash. I took off the top dash and I can't find any empty screw or bolt holes. It doesn't look like anything is missing, however, the switch is just sitting there attached only by the wires. It seems as though I'm missing something on the front of the dash, between the knob and the dash. Does anyone know the answer to this?

Yes. There should be a bezel that screws into the headlight switch and traps the switch against the back of the dash panel . If thats still on the headlight switch and the whole thing went thru the dashboard and thats not good news. To me that implies that you now have a large hole in your dashboard where you used to have a small hole.

Frankly I don't understand how pushing the headlight switch knob in caused the whole thing to drop from the dash panel.

Exactly what I said when my son told me what happened. Anyway, I don't have a large hole in the dash at all. The front looks perfectly fine. I do see a flattened metal disk that when pushed toward the casing for the wires, snaps back in place like its magnetized. Otherwise, it doesn't look like anything has come undone or broken. Someone told me it might be a c clamp that has fallen off. What do you think? I'm supposed to take it in tomorrow but it's a pretty high estimate just to look at it. Fortunately, I've already taken the top dash off, so that will help. I wanted to try and fix it myself but maybe it's out of my league.

It IS easy. There is a metal threaded 'nut' that goes outside the dash and screws into the light switch. Is that still there? It is a male fastener and has a slot across the top of it for screwing it into the switch. The flat metal piece is the ground strap. It goes between the switch and the dash. PM me before you spend a bunch of $ if you need more help. I doubt very seriously they will have that part if you're missing it anyway. I can't imagine it's missing. That's what holds it to the dash. It must've come loose somehow. If by chance it is gone, you will have to look for a replacement. I did a quick search on ebay and didn't find any for the 70. It's the same for 70-72 and maybe more years. Someone on here will have an extra.

Exactly what I said when my son told me what happened. Anyway, I don't have a large hole in the dash at all. The front looks perfectly fine. I do see a flattened metal disk that when pushed toward the casing for the wires, snaps back in place like its magnetized. Otherwise, it doesn't look like anything has come undone or broken. Someone told me it might be a c clamp that has fallen off. What do you think? I'm supposed to take it in tomorrow but it's a pretty high estimate just to look at it. Fortunately, I've already taken the top dash off, so that will help. I wanted to try and fix it myself but maybe it's out of my league.

DO NOT take the car to a mechanic for this simple problem.
We can walk you thru it I'm sure.
There should be a nut under the knob that will screw onto the threads after the headlight switch is thru the dash.

If you can take the dash pad off, you can surely fix this.

Well, I found the broken pieces today. The nut or bezel is in two pieces. The notched washer and the inside threaded piece. But, like I said, it's in two pieces. I went to Kragen, called a few Chev dealerships around, and nothing (no surprise there). Can you make any suggestions besides going to a junk yard?

What do you mean it's in 2 pieces? The nut broke in half?? Or is the headlight switch busted? If it's the switch you can buy one at the autoparts. If it's the nut, someone here will have to cough one up or you'll have to go to a junkyard. You might be able to get one for a fortune ($2 for the part and $19.95 to ship) via the year one type guys.

Yes, 2 pieces. The base is broken off of the screw part that goes inside the light switch knob. How weird is that? I have searched every chevy used car parts sites on the internet and can't even find the piece listed. I can't even find a replacement knob. What to do??? Until I find this piece, I have to keep the dash off in order to turn the lights on/off. And that's just sad.

Go to truckandcarshop.com. Download the pdf catalog for Chevelle and look on page 83 (according to the catalog, not the pdf page, its always off.) Part number 64-07720 is the Headlight Switch Retaining Nut, listed for 64 - 73. There is a picture there too. $5 (plus shipping.)

I hope that it is the one you need. They also have the knob and switch.

I haven't used them, but their prices look good.

So you are saying that the threads broke down near the base of the switch? Probably from someone overtightening the nut in the first place.

Just buy a whole new switch.
Every aftermarket Chevelle catalog has them.
This sites sponsor sells one for $22.95
I believe it would come with the nut.

I personally do not like the new headlight switches. They are not made with the level of quality they were originally.
Search for an NOS headlight switch on eBay Motors. But be careful. Some sellers think that a 2 year old part is NOS.

Okay, thanks for the info. I'll check it out Burbank.

Do NOT buy a new switch cause the nut does not come with them.You need to buy the nut by itself.Different Chevelle places have them as stated before like OPG and others,but they are not available at regular parts places.When mine broke I checked at Advance,Autozone,and even the local GM dealer and nobody stocked them anymore.Be careful sometimes the little button you push in to get the headlight knob out is frozen up and guess what.If you break the knob,that's something else that has to be ordered.

IF it is the nut/bezel/furrel/round thing that holds the switch in the dash, AND you can get the knob/rod out (by pushing the little button on the side of the switch itself) THEN you should be able to rig up a temporary fix with a fender washer and a nut until you can get the proper one.

The exact same thing happened to me on my '70 about a week after I bought it.

I got a reproduction peice form year one for under $20(cdn) after shipping.
I believe the part number was DM482.

I dont know why it was made of plastic, makes sence that it broke. I know on my '76 Valiant, the same peice was metal.