The lens on my sweep speedo is really dusty on the inside. How can I remove the lens? Does it require removing the whole dash?

Originally posted by Autoengineer:
The lens on my sweep speedo is really dusty on the inside. How can I remove the lens? Does it require removing the whole dash? I think you can get to it by popping off the dash pad and pulling the cluster out that way. I just yanked my dash this last weekend (70 SS) but I did it all in one piece. When I had the pad off it looked like you could yank the cluster without ripping out the entire dash. Try removing the pad first and take a look. Pad would need to come off to remove the dash anyway (gotta get to them screws up front and the two bolts on the outside corners)

You sure its dust and such on the inside and not light scratches in the plastic on the outside from wiping off the lenses when they were dusty?

Don't have a clue how to remove it, but once you get it out you need to get a Micro-Mesh polishing kit (http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=80939). It's great for restoring plastic lenses, and pretty much any hard plastic part. I have used it on several lenses and a lot of miscellaneous stuff like shifter knobs and other interior parts. If you use it right they'll look like new. Can be a little bit tedious, but will give you excellent results.

you have to remove the guage unit. Just did this last weekend.

remove dash pad, there are three or four small hex head bolts across the top into the dash sturcture 1/4 I think facing you, then on each side about half way down the unit there are two that you have to feel but can't see that face the firewall, they are 3/16 then on the very bottom on each side of the column there are two more 3/16. You have to pop the speedo cable loose, it has a funky clip you push in and the cable pops off, then there is a set of lights for all the idiot lights on either side of the unit that are mounted into a strip that has an expansion clip on either end, that is the biggest pain to get loose, I broke mine. also you have a wire clip on the gas gauge and clock if you have one. Then you can slide it out accross the dash toward the center and then up and out above the glove box. It won't come straight out over top as the windshield is in the way... take your time. I had to remove the center speaker and the plastic diverter for the defrosters to get it out.

After it is out there are several more screws, including three behind little plastic covers in the idoit lights themselves, you'll be able to see them from the back. Do it somewhere where the little covers don't get lost.

it took me the better part of the day to change out the unit, I removed my front driver's bucket for more room to work under there.