[SS_Dave]

Anyone know were I can get these new?
Boneyard is last resort. The things are so cheezy, when you pull them out of the back of the instrument cluster, a lot of them leave the springed forks in the cluster. You are left holding the wire and plastic socket. I need 4 or 5.

Thanks.
Dave

 

[Steve S]

I beleive these are the same for 68 and 69 and you are right - what a pain. Most of the time the bulb then drops down into the cluster where you can't get it. I bought a bet up old cluster at a swap met ($10) just to get these. As far as I know I have never seen any aftermarket- but then I don't know everything. I will look and see if I have 4 or 5 left over. I assume you need the metal piece because it broke? You can retrieve the metal piece out of the cluster by prying out with a screwdriver then reinsert into the socket. Are the sockets broke or did one of the forks break?

------------------
Steve Strasemeier (70SS 396, Fathom Blue/White Stripes)

 

[SS_Dave]

Steve,

Thanks for the input. I was beginning to think no one looked in the electrical board.
I am missing 3 sockets completely. Four of the ones I have the metal clips/fasteners/springy things pulled out of the plastic socket. They didn't really think they would stay in there did they? If you have extras and don't mind parting with them, I'll send you 10 bucks and a small box to ship them back to me. If they are hard to come by though, you might want to hang on to them. Let me know.
I have my dash out now and am not going to put it back in until I get this all sorted out. I have until late March the way I see it. bummer

Thanks again
Dave

 

[RDJunc]

I purchased a new engine harness from M&H Electric and knew that I was also going to repair my instrument panel harness. I asked if they would sell me about ten sockets along with the harness that I was buying and they were nice enough to oblige. I don't know if they will just sell them directly but you can always ask. You might also try the other harness makers like Painless.

Good luck!

Bob

 

[SS_Dave]

I just got off the phone with Year 1.
They carry a 5 pack with bulbs for 8.95.
They did not have a picture of them and they are not in the catalog. I orderd them anyhow. If they are the wrong ones I will send them back. Hopefully they will be ok.
I forgot all about Painless. I bet they would sell them. I'll look there next if Steve doesn't get back to me and or the year 1 stuff isn't right.

thanks

 

[Trevor11]

I guess discussing the bulbs is a little off-topic, but since you started it...

We sell a 10-pack of those bulbs (#1895) for $8.50!!

------------------
Trevor
69 ElCamino SS 396/400
69 ElCamino 350/350
Auto Obsession

 

[Dean]

Dave,
The design of these things really suck don't they. It is almost impossible to get the sockets out without breaking them apart, letting the bulbs fall down inside the cluster.

what worked for me was to epoxy the metal part back to the plastic socket with a tooth pick

I have a few extra sockets too if anyone needs them.

Probably can't see the epoxy in the pic

------------------
Dean Call
Team Gold member #3
A.C.E.S. # 00235
Mid America Chevelle Club #001
chevelles.net
My 69

May the hinges of friendship never grow rusty.

Love your enemies. It will drive them nuts


[This message has been edited by Dean (edited 01-17-2001).]

 

[SS_Dave]

Dean,
Yup! Thats the rascal!
Miserable little beasties.
I'll bet that guy doesn't work for GM
anymore.

Maybe I'll try the epoxy trick too.
Thanks
Nice picture!

 

[Steve S]

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. I don't have any sockets, just 2 spare metal bulb holders.

------------------
Steve Strasemeier (70SS 396, Fathom Blue/White Stripes)

 

[SS_Dave]

No problem Steve.
It looks like there are a few out there anyhow. Thanks for your reply.

Dave

 

[Hammy]

After the first two sockets that I removed came apart, I began removing them a little differently. I rotated the socket clockwise and counter clockwise back and forth a few times before pulling them. I also kept this up while pulling them out. With this approach, I had no further separations.

Now I just need to figure a way to get a bulb out of the cluster. Maybe I'll put a little super glue on the tip of a cotton swab or something and stick it through the hole and try to make contact with the bulb. Any other ideas?



------------------
Randy Hammett
69 SS Silver Bullet
TC #985
ACES #4252

 

[SS_Dave]

Got the sockets from yr 1 yesterday. Yup, not the right ones.

They are for a 70. Twist in not push in. Made double sure the guy knew I had a 69 too.

------------------
Dave
"Fire all your guns at once and
Explode into space."
Steppenwolf "Born to be Wild"

 

[SS_Dave]

I revived this post cause I found a place to get these sockets new and I thought some people might be interested. NAPA. Go figure.
The ones I got the NAPA guy and I matched up in the book. They are NOT original equipment, but hold the correct bulb and fit in the dash opening ( 5/8 ) and have only one wire attached. A little pricey at 3.50 ea. But they are put together much better and should not drop the bulb in the instrument cluster.

Thanks to all you guys that replied.

Dave