Dirty instrument glass.

[Robert Smith]

For a wile there has been a coat of dust on the inside of my instrument glass! And since we had a little rain, some moisture fogged up the glass and then when it dried, it was blotchy.

My question is, I have no desire or confidence in pulling out the whole cluster… it’s a tangled mess of wires and I get a headache just trying to sit under there wile my long legs hang over the back of the seat… I can’t get up behind to unscrew anything… and I don’t want to break something wile if I were to try.

I guess what I’d love to know is if there is some how I can take the trim off the dash and then, clean the glass then put the trim back on.

I really want to have my glass cleaned… it needs it bad! If anyone in the area has an idea, please let me know… or wouldn’t mind helping me take it apart to clean it that would be great too… oh, and the sooner the better… I’ll be taking the car in to the paint shop on the 5th!

Thanks again,

=Rob.

PS. I drive a '46 P-15

[Guest rockabillybassman]

I've just done mine, but there's no shortcut that I'm aware of. I took the whole dash out of the car.

[Norm's Coupe]

Robert, there is only one way to clean that. Remove the instrument cluster, then remove the speedo, and all the gages. Only then can you get to the inside of the glass. So...........it's either keep looking at the dirty glass or remove it all and clean it out. You don't have to remove the dash to get the housing out, just disconnect everything.

[Robert Smith]

Thanks guys for the info... but, I sure am not happy about the prospect of doing it... looks like I'll hire someone to do it for me... this sounds silly to you guys I'm sure but, since I'm 6'3" I just have no interest in laying on my back and trying to see under there with a flashlight to unscrew everything and take it out... no thanks!

But, I'll buy dinner for anyone who wants to help me do it And maybe a few beers!

=R

[PatS....]

For a wile there has been a coat of dust on the inside of my instrument glass! And since we had a little rain, some moisture fogged up the glass and then when it dried, it was blotchy.

My question is, I have no desire or confidence in pulling out the whole cluster… it’s a tangled mess of wires and I get a headache just trying to sit under there wile my long legs hang over the back of the seat… I can’t get up behind to unscrew anything… and I don’t want to break something wile if I were to try.

I guess what I’d love to know is if there is some how I can take the trim off the dash and then, clean the glass then put the trim back on.

I really want to have my glass cleaned… it needs it bad! If anyone in the area has an idea, please let me know… or wouldn’t mind helping me take it apart to clean it that would be great too… oh, and the sooner the better… I’ll be taking the car in to the paint shop on the 5th!

Thanks again,

=Rob.

PS. I drive a '46 P-15

There are only 4 bolts holding the front seat in. Haul it out, put a soft blanky down and maybe an old pillow a have at it.

[55 Fargo]

Hey Robert, I am also 6' 3", I have done a lot of under dash work, it's not always fun, if you can lay in there with your feet pointing ou the passenger door, it is not as bad, or take out the fron seat, that is pretty simple usually what 6 to 8 bolts. Why would you use a flashlight, get a trouble light or better yed and LED portable light.I laso have to clean the glass on mine, in fact it is cracked, I have to go under to dashes, once in the parts car, and under the driver car.............Fred

[Norm's Coupe]

I don't know Pat, I think Robert has the best idea. Pay someone to do it. A few years ago I wouldn't have a problem laying under the dash even with the seat in the car. I'm 6' but I also have the other numbers Robert does in his height, because I'm also 63 with stiff and achy joints now. Pulling the seat is no picnic either. When I was trouble shooting my gas gage I got tired of going under the dash all the time. Finally pulled the radio out of the dash. Luckily I have skinny hands and long arms. By pulling the radio I was able to sit in the seat and remove the gage and do all the testing from there. Just stuck one hand through that hole and one under the dash while sitting in the seat.

Each year as I get older I farm out more work. That way it gets done faster.

[55 Fargo]

Supposed to be 8 Pat, 2 on each back corner and 2 on each front corner, oh I am assuming the P15 is like the C38. All the 46 to 48 Chrslers have 8 bolts, maybe the Plymouths and later model Mopars don't.When it comes to securing the seats down, you know how I can be, remeber the coke boxes, went 50 mph with those, now my front seat is bolted down with 8- 5/16 bolts.

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred the P15 also has 8 bolts holding the seat down. If you could drive 50 MPH with the crates not bolted to the floor, you should be able to do 100 MPH with the seat bolted in.

[Guest rockabillybassman]

My P26 also has 8 bolts. Although I'm a staunch do-it-yourselfer (motor rebuild, panelbeating, paint, upholstery, brakes, wiring), I appreciate some folks have little interest in the "getting there", they just want to "be there". Fair enough, but when you're looking to get someone to do the job for you, try and get an old guy who's been around old cars. A guy without old car knowledge may end up butchering something.

[TodFitch]

--snip-- trying to see under there with a flashlight to unscrew everything and take it out... --snip--=R

I find that a small headlamp works a lot better than a flashlight for working under the dash. The light shines where you are looking and you have both hands free. A drop light that uses LEDs or fluorescent bulbs is great too as it is not too hot to work near.

On my car pulling the front seats is trivial and that gets me more than enough flat area to keep my 6'1" frame from being too uncomfortable when working under the old car dash.

At the moment the seat is out and will be until be until my replacement fuel gauge sending unit arrives so I can check everything out easily before re-installing the gas tank.

[bob_amos]

Those headlamps are great. Craftsman has a set with 4 lamps that swivel. You can use any number from one to four at a time. But I have one better. I use rope lights. At some hardware stores you can buy them in 18 inch pieces. Add to this the plug cord kit and just drape them up inside the dash over some convienent point. No burns if touched and pleanty of light to see what you need to see. (And maybe even things you wished you couldn't see!!)

Rob, while it is a little time consuming removing the instrument cluster assembly in your car it really is within the ability level of the guys here. Removing the front seat sure would make it easier for you. Just pull the seat, turn on some music or an old radio show on the radio in the garage (not your car as the battery should be disconnected) and enjoy spending some time with your motor car. There really is no rush to finish it in a short period of time. That is why I love playing with my cars. I do this for a living and time is very important. Everything I do has to be done yesterday but not with my collector cars. And it is the same for you. Your car will enjoy you spending that time with it as much as you will. ... Guys, do you think he fell for that "PEP TALK"?

[Normspeed]

Don't listen to those guys Robert, working under the dash is a living hell! I'd sooner...well, you get the drift. I won't even get under my own 53 dash to put in a nice NOS fuel guage I've had forever. On top of that, if you have any original wiring under there, it's brittle and fragile. And dusty. Did I mention dusty?

Has anyone tried air-in-a-can, like dust buster, working the flex tube into whatever openings are accessible from underneath?

[47heaven]

Don't listen to those guys Robert, working under the dash is a living hell! I'd sooner...well, you get the drift. I won't even get under my own 53 dash to put in a nice NOS fuel guage I've had forever. On top of that, if you have any original wiring under there, it's brittle and fragile. And dusty. Did I mention dusty?

Has anyone tried air-in-a-can, like dust buster, working the flex tube into whatever openings are accessible from underneath?

Norm...you read my mind. I was just going to mention that. My cluster is dusty, too, but I think if I pull the speedometer (which is easy) and maybe the oil, fuel and amps, I think I can get enough air in there to blow the dust out. Like it's been mentioned...pulling that dash is a living hell, but being 5' 8", I can get under there somewhat, but it's easier with the front seat out.

Robert, I'll try it on mine, first, and if it comes out okay, I'll help you with yours. The only tough gauge is the temperature gauge because of the sending tube. That might have to be left in.

[james curl]

I have a friend who rewires cars for people, he is 6' 2" and he took an old ironing board shortened the legs and made them adjustable so that he can lay the small end up under the dash and the rest out of the door on the side of the dash he is working on. This gives him a flat surface to lay on and when he sits up he has a leg on either side of the ironing board so it is easy to get up. He is 65 years old and he uses one of the headband flashlights so that it shines where he is looking.

[Don Coatney]

Someone once mentioned dropping the linkage from the clutch and brake pedals so they fall to the floor. Gets them out of the way and a slightly better comfort level.

[Norm's Coupe]

All I do if I want to go under the dash is push the seat back as far as it will go. Then go under the dash from either side of the car. Depending on where I go under the dash and what I'm doing, I will sometimes put my feet up over the back of the seat. Taking the seat out, removing the dash or dropping the pedals is just extra work and takes more time to do the job. My son has been under my dash several times. He's 6' 7" and about 200 lbs. and does it the same way I do. It's no picnic for either of us either to get under there, but at least we don't add more work by removing things.

Point is, if my son being the size he is can get under there, others should be able to. How many of you are his size? And yes, instead of my son having to look up to his father, I have to look up to him because I'm only 6' and shrinking with age.

[BobT-47P15]

Nope, 'taint no fun getting up under the dash. I did it a few days ago to put a new speaker behind the radio grille.

And need to go again when the nos ammeter I just purchased on e-pay arrives. Been using one of those tubular flourescent drop cord lights....it's so-so in my book. At least it doesn't get as hot as the other type with a regular bulb. The headlight sounds helpful. I'm not quite as tall as some of you, only about 5'6" or so.....makes it a bit easier I guess.

I recently bought another instrument cluster which is dusty on the inside of the glass. However, it's not in a car...

just the nuisance value of taking it apart.

[splat1955]

I recently had to get back under my dash. I'd gotten under there about 3 months ago to do some troubleshooting recommended by another member here. I'm not tall, but I am wide. Getting under the dash was a pain. At the same time, whenever I drove the car I didn't like the fact that the seat didn't go further back...I felt too close to the steering wheel. So a few days later I pulled the front seat out....that took about 5 minutes. I spent the next couple of days making some plates about 2 inches wide and 4 inches long that bolted to the original mounts in the floor. Drilled & tapped holes matching the seat mounts about 3 inches back on the plates. Now my seat sits comfortably for me....and it's easy to pull out. So, a week ago I had to get back under the dash...pulled the seat, threw an old thick blanket on the floorboard that I keep in the garage for just this kind of thing....man, it was way more comfortable than with having the seat in the car....My Daughter brought me a pillow so I could prop my head up and I used my craftsman ball cap that has a couple, 3 I think, LED's built in. Put on some goggles and grabbed the air hose from my compressor...my daughter got in the other side with my shop vac turned on and we went to town...I blew the dust while she sucked it up with the vac. Got it pretty clean under there. But I wouldn't have been able to be comfortable enough to lay there that long if I hadn't removed the seat. I agree with the other member here that suggested putting on some music, take the seat out and just spend some time in the car...