Instrument Cluster Refresh

While I had the dash apart, I also took some time to freshen up the instrument cluster. The clear plastic cover was scratched and the inside of the cluster had gathered up some dirt and dust over the years. I had purchased another cluster from eBay a while back, and used it for parts to fix it up.



The clear plastic cover was cleaned and polished with Meguiar's Plastic Polish. I wiped down all the dirt and dust from the gauge faces. I also discovered why the coolant gauge doesn't work. The printed circuit board is cracked at the left connector, and the contacts for the coolant gauge are busted. Time to get a new circuit board. I'll be on the look out for one of those.



The last piece of the Instrument Cluster refresh was to be the installation of the silver faced dashboard (to replace the scratched wood grain dash). Here's why I still have the wood grained dash.

I previously ordered a radio delete plate for an Aspen/Volare/Diplomat police package. The plate is a bolt in piece that replaced the radio. I bought it in the event I ever wanted to install it to mount some gauges where the radio goes.



I then saw a silver faced dashboard on eBay. It said that it came with the radio delete as well, so I assumed it was a second version of the piece I already had. Imagine my surprise when it showed up and the radio delete was an integral part of the dash piece.





I didn't install it yet, because I would have to cut out the piece and I'm not sure if I want to actually cut up the piece. Stay tuned...