Electroluminescent Gauge Cluster Removal
1960 Chrysler
Step 1:
- Disconnect the battery ground cable
- Remove the steering wheel
- Remove the steering jacket tube cover from underside of the jacket tube
Step 2:
- Disconnect all the wires at the terminals before loosening the cluster attaching screws.
- Remove the two screws (one each side of steering jacket tube) and remove the steering tube bezel
Step 3:
- Remove the two self-locking nuts which retain the instrument cluster and plastic dome retainer to the instrument panel and remove the retainer. These stud nuts can be reached through the opening between the panel and the jacket tube.
Step 4:
- Remove the two screws holding the junction block to the instrument panel and swing the junction block out of the way to allow for loosening of the screws attaching the astrodome supports.
- Carefully pull the supports away from the steering jacket tube to afford clearance and release the base of the cluster from the supports and at the same time, tip the complete unit towards you to clear the back of the cluster from the instrument panel eyebrow.
Step 5:
- Disconnect the speedometer cable and the ornament lamp socket at the speedometer head, remove the four screws and remove the speedometer head assembly.
1960 IMPERIAL
Steps:
- Disconnect the battery ground cable
- Remove the chrome retainer ring retaining screw at the bottom of the retainer
- Pull the bottom of the retainer forward and raise the retainer to release the upper tab located at the top of the retainer
- Remove the screws attaching the instrument panel cluster
- Disconnect the wire connectors at the back of the instrument cluster and the bowden wire at the clock
- The speedometer can be removed in the same manner as the instrument cluster after disconnecting the speedometer cable
1961-1962 CHRYSLER
Step 1:
- Disconnect the battery ground cable
- Remove the steering wheel
- Remove the steering jacket tube cover from underside of the instrument cluster
Step 2:
- Disconnect all the wires at the terminals. Loosen the six slotted screws which attach the instrument cluster to the dome, approximately one turn. Disconnect the instrument ground wire.
- Remove the screws which attach the instrument cluster bezel to the instrument panel. Remove the bezel and disconnect the speedometer cable.
Step 3:
- Loosen the two screws (one each side of steering jacket tube) and remove the steering tube collar
Step 4:
- Remove the two long screws and spacers attaching the dome and cluster assembly to the dome support. These screws are located just behind the steering tube collar attaching screws.
- Remove the four screws attaching the Astradome to the instrument panel
- Carefully release the base of the dome from the supports at each side and with a pointed instrument, carefully move the dome away from the opening in the instrument panel, so that the top of the dome and cluster can be tipped outward, towards you far enough, in order to reach the parking brake warning lamp socket. In some cases where the dome fits tightly in the support, it may be necessary to remove the six slotted machine screws that attach the cluster to the dome. Push the cluster up into the dome, and the dome can then be CAREFULLY compressed to clear the supports on removal.
- Snap out the parking lamp socket and bulb and remove the dome and cluster assembly from the car.
- Snap out the turn indicator bulbs and sockets and high beam indicator lamp from the back of the speedometer housing. Remove the four speedometer housing attaching screws and remove speedometer and housing assembly.
Shipping Instructions:
For shipping, reattach the Astradome to the speedometer housing, carefully installing the four speedometer housing screws. Gently tighten the six slotted screws which attach the instrument cluster to the dome. These ten screws must not be over-tightened to avoid cracking the acrylic dome.
We suggest wrapping the entire instrument cluster assembly with bubble wrap before packing the cluster in a box with a generous amount of packing material. Select a carton large enough to accommodate enough packing material to protect the cluster from shipping damage. Always insure the package.
