To
Go to Part One of "Restoring the 1969-'72 Pontiac
dash pad", Click Here
To Go to Part Three of "Restoring the 1969-'72
Pontiac dash pad", Click Here |
FLIPPING THE SWITCH
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(Click Here to view a larger
photograph)
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Removing the headlight
switch is best demonstrated
in plain sight. Trying to
show this under the dash would
be virtually impossible, so
after it was removed the photo
was taken. Like the radio,
the headlight switch is secured
to the dash with a threaded
ring removed from the front.
But to get the switch out,
you must first remove the
pull handle. Here's the trick.
Reach under the
dash and feel around the switch.
Do not unplug any wires, it's
not necessary. There is a
little button on the flat
metal side of the switch that
must be depressed while slowly
pulling the arm out. It might
take a few tries, but the
button is the key. Depress
and pull gently until the
shaft disengages and comes
free. |
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(Click Here to view a larger photograph)
This is an early '70 GTO made in
1969. This stamp was found on the foam
at the back lower corner of the pad
under a side vent. It indicates the
pad was made in 1969. |
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The instrument cluster easily removes
from the dash pad. I took the cluster
apart and cleaned the faces of the gauges
and polished the original lens with
a fine polish. Wenol or Semichrome work
well on clear plastic. At this time
I also installed a quartz movement in
the original Borg clock. |
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(Click Here to view a larger photograph)
Once all the ducting was removed
it was washed and the inside areas scrubbed
with a soft brush. Years of dust and
stuff accumulate in these air passages
and it only takes a few minutes to thoroughly
clean them like new. |
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Another date was stamped on the
back of the printed circuit. This GTO
was manufactured the third week of December
'69 so this is the original part. To
the left is the master plug-in rectangle
for the wiring harness. |
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The speedo cable fitting in the
cluster was lubricated with Graphite
powder as was the cable itself. This
prevents any noise and keeps everything
turning smoothly. |
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At Just Dashes the restoration
process is started by grinding away
all the old vinyl. If necessary the
pad will be cleaned down to the metal
frame and completely built up again
with new materials. |
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(Click Here to view a larger photograph)
A surface of thin material is now
cut and glued to the pad. This provides
a working base for the restoration.
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A layer of high-density closed-cell
foam is glued to the base material and
the hand shaping starts. The restoration
of a large pad like this is labor intensive
as you will see. |
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Click Here to return to Pontiac
Perfection, Part One.
Click Here to go to Pontiac
Perfection, Part Three.
Click Here to return to the magazine
articles listing. |
