[DML] Re: Removed my own binnacle! Cleaned/replaced lights

["cbl1739" <cbl302@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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.
>




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