Instrument cluster removal

[Richard Dobson]

Could someone give me the directions for removing my instrument cluster? Looks like the steering column will have to be lowered maybe. All help will be apprectiated. Regards

[berencam]

Remove the black bracket underneath the steering column. Then all the screws all around the cluster and it pulls right out, cant mess it up as its straightforward. You'll see when you get in there

[powell72]

You will need to lower the column some. Don't forget when you're unplugging the harness and unscrewing the speedo cable to disconnect the oil pressure line if you have gauges.

[Longhorn Man]

I've never had to drop the column unless it has a tach.
The wiper knob has a set screw holding it on
The headlight knob... disconnect the battery, pull the headlight switch to the parking light position, reach up under the dash and feel for a button on there, depress that button and pull on the knob, the knob and shaft will come off.
Remove the 2 chrome trim rings from the headlight and wiper switches... they thread off, needle nose pliers will fit in the holes, the kind with a bent nose is ideal for this.
speedo cable threads off
harness plug
oil line if aplicable
retaining screws
tilt the top towards you
then pull up and out

[chvtrkman]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I've never had to drop the column unless it has a tach.
The wiper knob has a set screw holding it on
The headlight knob... disconnect the battery, pull the headlight switch to the parking light position, reach up under the dash and feel for a button on there, depress that button and pull on the knob, the knob and shaft will come off.
Remove the 2 chrome trim rings from the headlight and wiper switches... they thread off, needle nose pliers will fit in the holes, the kind with a bent nose is ideal for this.
speedo cable threads off
harness plug
oil line if aplicable
retaining screws
tilt the top towards you
then pull up and out

WOW! Do you know how many times I've tried to remove my headlight switch?.....Rather UNsuccessfully, I might add. I never knew that I needed to pull the knob out to the parking light position before pressing the button in that's under the dash.......Hmmmm, learn somethin' new every day I guess.
Well, I've already blown the budget for parts til next year, so won't be replacing the dash bezel anytime soon. Thanks for the "heads up" on correct headlight switch removal.

[Longhorn Man]

Oh yeah, if the truck is an automatic, and the column is a non tilt, the inner fuel guage light will have a black plastic fiber optic cable on it... twist and pull the light out of the panel.

[syncrov69]

What is the utility of the fiber optic? Lighting the automatic transmission display on column?

[Longhorn Man]

yep.
Only on non tilts... tilt columns have a light bulb in there.

[Richard Dobson]

Thanks guys "Got it out". I have a tach, oil press and everything but a vacuum gage. Joining this site is one of the best investments I've ever made. Happy Thanksgiving. We all have a lot to be thankful for don't we guys?

[cruiserman]

Just pulled the instrument panel out of my rig and didn't have to drop the column. I went to college in a little town not far from Easley, SC .

[mothertrucker424]

not to hi jack but i thought the fiber optic was for the high beam and i removed and replaced my cluster and my high beam light on the speedo doesn't work and i pulled out the tube and plugged it in and it worked then went back out any thoughts? and is there supose to be anythng for the colum indicator as in a light?

[Richard Dobson]

Originally Posted by cruiserman

Just pulled the instrument panel out of my rig and didn't have to drop the column. I went to college in a little town not far from Easley, SC .

Where was that, It had to be either "Clemson", "Southern Wesleyan". Small world eh?

[Longhorn Man]

your question confused me.
The fiber optic cable goes from the inner fuel guage light (as original, can be plugged into any of the 4 guage lights) to the shift indicator.
If you ran the fiber optic cable from the high beam indicator to the shifter, then the shifter would only light up when you have the high beams on.

[mothertrucker424]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

your question confused me.
The fiber optic cable goes from the inner fuel guage light (as original, can be plugged into any of the 4 guage lights) to the shift indicator.
If you ran the fiber optic cable from the high beam indicator to the shifter, then the shifter would only light up when you have the high beams on.

my optic cable doesn't work how do i fix it and there isn.t anything in my colum for it to light up should there be?

[Richard Dobson]

I am moving the instrument panel in question to a truck with a idiot light ins. panel, do I need to buy a wiring harness for the front clip that will support the added gages (temp, voltage). It has a tach & oil press gages also but I know they are self supported. Thanks

[Longhorn Man]

Richard, DON'T PLUG IT IN!
You have to rewire the plug in the cab... or replace the harness. Someone will link it, but on GMCPaul's site, there is a how to on it. If you plug it in as it sits, you'll fry the fuel guage after it does some wierd stuff.
TRUST ME.
mothertrucker, if you have a stock non tilt column, the pointer is supposed to light up, just the orange center piece in the pointer. If your cable is cut or broken, it is trash. There is supposed to be a holder piece... that's the best I can describe it, that holds the cable up against a light bulb.

[dave2953]

Here is the link Longhorn Man is talking about. I used it to change mine over from idiot lights to a cluster with gauges and it worked great. It's in the section underneath "crank pilot bearing removal". Hope this helps.

http://www.gmcpauls.com/Tech%20Tips1.htm

[mothertrucker424]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

mothertrucker, if you have a stock non tilt column, the pointer is supposed to light up, just the orange center piece in the pointer. If your cable is cut or broken, it is trash. There is supposed to be a holder piece... that's the best I can describe it, that holds the cable up against a light bulb.

i will look in some other colums at the yard maybe i can get one were does the other end plug too?

[Richard Dobson]

Thanks guys, you sure saved me a whole lot of potential grief. I better to ask questions and be cautious eh?

[Longhorn Man]

the cable goes from the one light, up into the column, and teminates at the pointer on the top of the column.

[Longhorn Man]

honestly.. for years, I would just pull the knob off the shaft, then super glue it back on when I was done.
Always did the trick.

[Richard Dobson]

Can I get you guys to break the change over down to lower on the food chain so that I can understand what to do. The GMC Pauls site shows 2 different schematics, what are they of, the fuse blocks? Do I need to get a new wiring harness or is this showing how to modify an existing one from a idiot light to a gage inst panel? I feel kinda outa my league, but I want to learn.