Well, today for the first time I took my 74 on an all day run, it behaved beautifuly! That was until nightfall, when I noticed that I had no dash lights . While seeking the problem back at the shop, I noticed some rust on my fuse panel, tryed to get to it and hit the flasher unit. It came off quickly, the connectors still in the panel.

The short of it, my new project is to redo the dash wiring harness. My question for the group: being of good general mechanical ability, about how long of a project is this, hour wise? I would hate to plan on it in 2 days when i should plan it more for my vacation time.

I sent my 70 Harness to be reconditioned and it came back as good as new. The shop I used is in Bellmar New Jersey. Their name escapes me. Good service with lots of good advice.

The hardest part of the project is removing the driver's side lower dash. I ended up removing my steering column. It was also easier to work once I removed the dash pad.

Getting the harness out was easy compared to getting the lower driver's side dash out. It is a PITA!

I should also caution you that you may want to change all the bulbs at this time. Good time to do it. You may also want to refinish your gauge bezels and repair/detail your gauges because it all has to come out to remove the harness. If you have your bezels replated allow at least 8 weeks to turn them around. I used Frankfurt Plating in Philadelphia.

It is a relatively easy project but will require at least a long weekend to complete once you have all the pieces in hand.

Patience, Patience, and more patience!

Finally, make sure that you do this on a hot day so that the vinyl is good and pliable or you risk cracking your dash pieces. I found out the hard way on my dash pad.

Have fun,



Bill

kind of late for me to reply BUT I honestly replaced my complete fuse box and harness in my 76 a couple of years ago after Mickey (or Minnie) Mouse though it was a good meal...

Anyhow I did drop the steering column and removed the
entire dash and pad... and it took me a good weekend more like 3 days...BUT I sure was not in any hurry....(retired
so time is available)

I did mine in the winter and the only problem I had with the vinly was that I cracked it (dash pad) (^%#^^%$) when I slammed it with my palm to get in back into place... SO beware!

Complete (Used Harness) btw cost me 40 bucks at Carlisle
not bad...

Bob Griffiths

Bill, thank you for the good advice! I was going to replace the bulbs, but never though of the rest of it while i was at it. I guess until Labor day weekend, its just a daytime car. I get a 4 day vacation then, so according to you and Bob (thanks Bob!), i should have no trouble getting it done. And, the big advantage of being in SoCal, all i need to do is park it in the sun for about oh, an hour, that dash will be no trouble getting it out.
Now, to explain to my wife why i need to get the extra parts.... Oh well, time to let her have a shopping spree.