I'm going to dismantle the dashboard this weekend in my 70 144 to fix the following:

- Replace the instrument cluster

- Replace the radio

- Replace the air conditioning vents/panels (and possibly the blower)

- Replace the headlight switch

- Possibly replace the entire dash pad itself

How hard is it to get to these items? Where are the screws to get the pad and panels out? Can you pull the radio out from underneith? Do the A/C ducts make this work a lot harder? I was also thinking of replacing the wiper motor/assembly while I'm under there (because the wipers stop sometimes midway up the windshield and it takes a bump to get them going again). How difficult is that?

Changing out the wiper assembly and the blower motor in tandem is a good move.

For the wiper assembly: Once the dash is fully removed it's pretty straight forward...especially if your replacement assembly is intact (wires wound properly, etc.) Remove the exterior wipers and the rubber grommets. Inside the car, undo the retaining clip at the motor/assembly connnection. Remove the mounting screw s for the assembly. It's that easy. Might just be the motor. As I recall, the assembly itself either works fully or not at all. The wiper motor is a simple matter of a couple of mounting screws, plug and play power connection, and then that retaining clip for the wiper assembly arm to motor connection.

The blower motor isn't too bad once the dash is out. Keep track of those clips for the blower housing. All the ductwork is straight forward. Once it's all out, cleaning all the ducts and vents is a good idea. They get grungy and you're breathing it in. Are you changing the controls for the (new) motor?

That was all on a '73....and it's been awhile. Never have done more than jump the rheostat behind the dash and change a couple lamps on this '71 - but it looks pretty basic, even upside down by flashlight. The job's are more time consumption than any real hardship.

If you have an instrument cluster you want to get rid of I would be interested if its in decent working order.

The night time illumination in the instrument cluster dosen't work. I have replaced all of the bulbs, but still no light. All of the warning lignts work ok, but I cannot see the instruments at night.

Let me know if anybody has any suggestions to correct this. The rehostat maybe????

I have a '71 142S

Definetly check out the rheostat. My dashboard lights were intermittent with the rheostat control. I opened it up and the rheostat was lightly corroded. Very easy to fix. Instrument cluster is not that hard to take out, i could do it in 5-10 minutes now. Now lights work great and i can even adjust them!

Asa

First, pull of the dimmer knob. Sometimes they pull easy, sometimes they break. Remove the rheostat, by way of two phillips screws, from behind the dash. You'll need two female spade connectors that are the same size as those on the rheostat and a short loop (2") of insulated wire. Make a jump connector of the spades and the wire loop. Plug them into the male connections on the back of the dash (where the rheostat was). Lights!