Just a helpful idea...If you MUST USE a old fashion drop light that uses the old incandescent light bulbs..do yourself a favor and go out and buy a screw in type fluorescent light bulb..it will not only save you from getting burned or melting something plastic under the dash,but it also will not stop working when you need it most !! Claude --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "daviddelorean" <daviddelorean@...> wrote: > > It was a lazy sunday today and I had nothing to do. I decided that > instead of giving a shop $200 to remove my binnacle, I'd do it > myself. Wasn't hard at all once I studied the underneith of the dash. > In fact, it only took 30 minutes. It was important to have a good > work light; I used one of my construction portable halogen lamps. It > lit up the underneith like a football field. > > First, I had to take off the 2 decorative trim pieces under the > steering wheel. They are held on by 4 nuts. No biggie. > > Next I removed the plastic air duct that runs under the dash to the > door vent. My door vents are plugged up anyway, so removing this > didn't make a difference. > > With the plastic air duct gone, everything I had to do to remove the > binnacle was right there. 6 tiny nuts. I needed to go to the store to > get a 'metric' set of nut drivers though (remember our cars were made > in Ireland). After the nuts were removed the binnacle slid right > out. I had to remove the wire harnesses (which are just snap ins). > Then I took off the plastic front. > > I cleaned all that pesky dust that was stuck in place for 25 years. > It was fun seeing how everything works and touching the gage needles. > I cleaned everything so it looks brand new. > > Finally I replaced all the bulbs with LEDs (except for the alternator > light - I assumed it won't work with an LED). The tell tale warning > lights are now a brilliant, piercing color. I also put white LEDs in > for the gage illumination. It looks awesome! The gages now light up > a brilliant pure white light. > > On a side note, while laying on my back on the floor, I saw the front > dashboard speakers. They are held on from underneith with 2 nuts and > can easily be replaced. The wires are just snap ins. I got a quote > for $1,000 for this job. I can do it myself in no time now that I > know where to look. > To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/