I've noticed that the lights behind my gauges are very dim. When the sun starts to go down, it's too dark to see the gauges, but too bright for their backlight to help at all. I'd like to replace them with LED bulbs. My question, however: How do you remove the panel that houses the gauges? It looks like you can put something in the edge and pry from the front. I don't want to damage anything, though. How do you guys do it?
The one in my 1970 Maverick has been halfway out for at least a year. I came to the conclusion that I'd have to at least remove the steering wheel to get it out.
Start by taking the 2 screws that go into the top of the dash. Then tilt the top foward. Removing the steering wheel is not necessary. You will then have to get your hand behind it to unclip the speedometer cable.
It will feel like it's stuck at the bottom but there's a lip on the dash. The cluster will have to go upward a little to clear it.
Can you tell if they get brighter or dimmer when you try to adjust them with the light switch knob, if not the problem may be in the dimmer switch which is even more fun to get to. But yeah at their best they need improvement
Good point. If you take the cluster out, it would be worth it to go ahead and replaced the headlamp switch if you haven't already. The rheostat spring gets corroded with age. Maybe even do the wiper switch too. I bought new ones for mine just to save the trouble of taking the cluster out again later.
You can disassemble the cluster and paint the inside of the housing white and you will achieve this with standard bulbs! I like the amber better too! Notice the very dim shift indicator. It and the ac controls will get the treatment next!
Removing the cluster is substantially easier if you crawl under the car and disconnect the speedometer cable from the transmission first,and pop out the little clip near the transmission crossmember. This allows the cable to pull up inside the car and makes it far easier to get your hand back there to disconnect the cable from the back of the speedometer, and the wiring harness.
Why not reach up under the dash and disconnect the speedometer cable? While you're in the floor upside-down...unplug the wiring harness. Or if you're only need to change the bulbs...take the bulbs (and a flashlight) with you before getting upside down. I had my cluster out yesterday to run wire for courtesy lights.
Because I don't claim to be a contortionist or enjoy cutting myself up on random sharp crap up in the dash like always seems to happen. Takes 10 seconds to pop the cable out and then sit there comfortably removing the cluster.
I found it helpful to remove the ash tray (the entire thing not just the door) and slip my hand in to remove the speedo cable.
I know this is about the lighting, but, has anyone put in aftermarket gauges? I was looking at Dolphin guages. Just wondering how hard it is to modify the insert to handle the extra weight and different mount?
http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=5317 http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=60255 http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=39013 Those tech articles are very helpful for what you want to do. I personally converted my instrument light bulbs to LEDs and changed the background color to white. Very helpful.
