Reinstalling Dash... Tips?

[86Cutlass383SR]

Hopefully in the very near future I'll be reinstalling a dash in my 86 Cutlass. I've done a dash swap before so I'm not quite a newbie at it but doing (1) doesn't make me real experienced either. It's been about a year since I pulled the other dash out and did a clutch/brake pedal swap (f-body) and a steering column swap (from auto on the column to floor shift style). I have wires all over the place but I (think...?) I have everything plugged in on the steering column. It looks like a rats nest though.

I'm looking for ideas on cleaning up and organizing the wiring so it's a bit easier to chase problems in the future. Also, is it just easier to remove the harness and mount it on the back of the dash, mount the dash, and then plug everything back into the column or just leave the wiring off the dash and mount the dash seperately from the wiring?

Any ideas and possibly pics would help.

Thanks

 

[Bonnewagon]

I've done it both ways and I prefer to tie wrap everything neatly while off the car. Try to imagine it installed and tie down the big bundles like radio, heater, etc. Then when you reinstall it all you need is to reattach the fuse box/bulkhead connector. Of course the steering column stuff is allways bitchy, but you knew that. This is a good time to repaint the dash if it's a bit faded too.

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

I may try that. I'm guessing you just unbolt the firewall connector and then attach the harness to the back of the dash. After getting the dash back in, you simply (yeah...right) connect all the wires to the appropriate location. Sounds like a good time to do a write-up with pics.

At the same time, I'll be attempting to intall my Dakota Digital gauges. I'll try to document this as I go along, too.

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm? ... zm_485.gif

I will do something with the dash cosmetically. I'll either repair and re-dye or recover mine or replace it with a better one. I have a deal on hold until I see if shipping kills the deal.

 

[MrHernandez]

I recently found out they make complete dash covers for cutlasses, range from $150-$200 check ebay.....recently tried to recover my dash in vinyl...what a nightmare

 

[FcarPilot]

Those Dakota Guages are pretty cool. Do they intall in to the cluster housing? Does it matter if you have Gramma guages or Rallye Guages?

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

Those Dakota Guages are pretty cool. Do they intall in to the cluster housing? Does it matter if you have Gramma guages or Rallye Guages?

They are supposed to just bolt right in the stock location. I don't have mine in yet but hope to in the very near future.

It doesn't matter about the stock gauge cluster as both types bolt in the same locations.

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/ ... prd485.htm

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm? ... zm_485.gif

I had the bars above the speedo/tach blanked out. I never cared for them anyway and when I talked to them they said they could leave those blanked out for no extra charge.

I can say this, those pics do these no justice. They are NICE !!!