Does anyone have the secret for installing dashes in 69s? I must have had mine out 10 times in the last week and a half. The problem is there is no clearance to work (install bulbs and hook up wires) on it when it is mounted to the dash. When you put the lights in place and start to put the dash back on the socket assembles come apart and the bulbs fall into the dash, requiring you to pull it out again to set the bulbs right. In addition, the wires are just too short to allow you to move the dash around with bulbs and wires connected.

The light sockets are so poorly designed that it takes very little movement to either loose a bulb or have the socket come apart?

When the dash is installed there is no way to get your hand near the upper portions to work.

Finally, the left vent and duct are almost impossible to line up.

If anyone has a method of working on this please post it or send me an email.

Thanks in advance


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Bob

My 69 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/bftrratutt5of01.jpg)

The secret my friend is patience http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif
I walked away from mine more than a few times.

Do you have the steering column dropped? Preferably with the steering wheel pulled. That will give you a lot better access. If the steering is off, two bolts drop it down out of your way and make the job easier. It is more comfortable to sit in the seat and work on it rather than on the floor getting a kink in your neck. I hate that!!!

Can you free up some slack in the main harness? Seems like it is held in place by a couple of metal tabs that you can slide the harness out of there and free up some slack? Do you have everything on the dash disconnected? Light Switch? Lighter? Wipers? that might be limiting your access? Mine was completely out, so I can't remember which order I reconnected everything? http://www.chevelles.com/forum/confused.gif

The sockets aren't the best fit in the world either, you could cheat and put a drop of glue from a hot glue gun to hold them in place till you wrestle the dash back in. The hot glue will pop right off when you need to remove it in the future. Sometimes a dab of silicone will work, the downside is you have to wait for it too setup, the hot glue gun is instant.

Are you talking about the Astro Vent? Flex duct too short? Black Duct tape works wonders here if keeping it connected is the problem.

Who knows... by the time read this you might already have it back in place http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif
It is a PITA and I don't envy your task or the kink in your neck.

Jeff:

The last time we did it this weekend we had the column and wheel out. It is back together right now but the dash will have to come out again. The left vent is binding up somewhere.

The tips on the glue gun and freeing the wires is good. I thought about trying to pull the harness from the firewall but that would have been my next step if Rick and I had not gotten it back in (still has to come out again).

Did you put the vent together and on before you put the dash in place or after?

I did I about 6 times last week with the wheel in place but the vent was not on and was getting pretty good at it but it's hard work.

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Bob

My 69 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/bftrratutt5of01.jpg)

Bob,

Hang in there! I just put my '68 together last week, took me 4 times. I kept forgetting to replace missing clips for screws, losing bulbs, etc. I too glued the sockets, worked like a champ!

Didn't have the Astro-vents though, that could suck.

Your car is looking great!!!

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David Reinecke - aka - FINE 68
1968 Chevelle 300 Sport Coupe Deluxe
http://home.att.net/~thereineckes/

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BobFmTyler:
Jeff:

Did you put the vent together and on before you put the dash in place or after?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
After. I had run new flex ducts for the Vintage Air so they were left long and sticking out thru the vent hole with the dash in place. Assembled the vent connected the flex duct and slid the whole thing back in place.


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TC #364
Aces #4309
Jeff's 69 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/daytonajeff1.jpg)