Dash dismantling question

Post by **Dave D** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 9:38 pm

Guy's,

I was having a drive in the XB last night & I now decided to fix the last few things that are annoying me & anything that would stop me for getting a road worthy cert for it. So I decided to swap the GT gauges out with the one I got with my new XB since the original ones I had the tacho didn't go past 3000 due to a badly bent needle, the globes behind has all gone, the plastic windows over the top four gauges where missing etc etc. So I started to remove the dash centre all was fine until I had to disconnect the speedo cable from the back of the speedometer.

I know it must be a simple job but at 11pm with a couple of beers in me there was no way I could figure it out, since I can only move the gauge assembly out just enough to get my fingers behind. Do I have to pull the whole dash out just to get the gauges out????, surely not since you should be able to replace the globes with easy I would have thought.

Anyone done this before & care to enlighten me.... Does the whole dash have to come out, well doesn't matter is it does I guess since I need to replace/recondition the heater anyway so I guess the dash has to come off eventually.

Dave.

roadwarriormfp · Post by **roadwarriormfp** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 9:08 am

I had that trouble too the first time i tried to pull it out to Dave, I honestly cant remember how to do it!!! But it does come out... I think the plastic bit at the end of the cable needs to be pushed over sideways a bit then it slides out..... Its been a while though since i have done it.... Have fun!

Sam

Post by **Wrinkles** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 5:58 pm

yeah, it's quite a while since I've been "in there" also.

The best thing to do is take lessons from a contortionist, and grow an extra arm. Hang upside down from the rearvision mirror, twisting your body 270 degrees, and make sure that you only stick your tongue out the left side of your mouth. (sticking it out the right side is for removing the heater).

You'll probably find it easier to remove the speedo cable if you're coming up from underneath. Last time I did it, I seem to recall having dropped the steering column, and that made life a little easier.

Post by **Dave D** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 7:16 pm

I see dash's people.......

Ah, well I got the cable off yesterday, simple enough in the day light when you've realised that the last nob you owned the car had used some sort of liquid nail to glue the plastic end to the back of the gauge!

Now this is where it get's interesting, my two dash's that I've been calling GT dash's are different, so who can tell me which one is a GT dash or if either are.

On the old one I've just removed the fuel gauge & the volt meter read from right to left. That is the E for the fuel & the 10 for the volt gauge is on the right hand side & the needle sweeps across to the left to hit the F or the 16.

The newer one I just put in which the stupid f***ing tacho doesn't appear to work at all, I mean crap that was the only reason I did the swap in the first place. I wonder if I can just swap the needles over between the too Tachos. Anyway this new dash the fuel & volt gauges read from left to right. That is the E for the fuel & the 10 for the volt gauge is on the left hand side & the needle sweeps across to the right to hit the F or the 16.

Can anyone out there with a genuine XB GT have a quick look at there dash & let me know which one is the GT one & I'm assuming that the other is a fairmont or maybe an XA/XC dash. If I'm going to spend any effort fixing one up I want to be sure it's the GT one.

Dave.

Post by **Wrinkles** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 1:46 am

As far as I know, the GT reads from left to right - and I've got a feeling it's a GS dash that reads the other way round. ...but this isn't guaranteed to be the correct answer, it's just my memory. (which has been abused by several substances)

Check with somebody like GT Ford Performance or Grand Tourer, they should be able to set you straight.

Post by **Dave D** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:25 am

Wrinkles,

It seems as though you haven't abused your grey matter enough, your right a genuine GT dash does read left to right. I been to GT Ford Performance before but never Grand Tourer, great new link for me thanx. They had a pic of an XB GT dash close up.

Now for another 10 points & a chance to aim for tonights grand prize of a honey & lesbian filed swimming pool is it possible (make that easy) to remove/refit the rev needle from the tacho without using either a lump hammer or a blow torch.

Dave

Post by **Wrinkles** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:33 am

I'm really not 100% sure, but I'm keen to go for the prize... so I'm going to say "No, it's not easy".

...I know that's probably not the answer you wanted to hear, but do I get the prize?

....even if I'm wrong, I think I deserve something for answering. tell ya what.. don't worry about the 10 points.

Seriously... this is something I've never done before, so I wouldn't have a clue. sorry. (I'm just here for the chicks)

Post by **Interdictor** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 5:56 am

Both of em? goodness Wrinkles, that's greedy.

Post by **Dave_H** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 8:01 am

I regards to the original question, try one of those Gregorys car fixit manuals, they usually have pictures of the dash and explain what goes where and how to dissasemble and reassemble a dashboard