108 ignition switch

the ignition switch in my 70 108 style being faulty iread up in myservice manual the procedure for replacement. the manual says to remove the speedometer instrument cluster thereby gaining acces to the rear of the ignition switch. there appears to be two small nuts on a spreader bar type of arrangement holding the speedo-cluster in. how to loosen these nuts baffles me as access is extremely limited. does any one out there know how to gain access before i am forced to reinvent the wheel?

[MikeTangas]

Denny,

The speader you speak of mounts to the back of the cluster, but it doesn't hold the cluster in. About in the middle of that bar is a stud which passes through the dash mounting bracket, and the whole thing should be held in place by a knurled knob. In many cases that knob is long gone and the cluster sits in the opening nicely. Since you have found the nuts that hold the bar on, you should be able to locate the knob (or at leats where it should be).

Once the knob is off, slide the cluster out as little, then unscrew the speedo cable. This will allow a little more room, for you to access the main electrical plug, once that is removed you can move the cluster out a tad farther and access the line to the oil pressure gauge. Use two 10mm wrenches to carefully loosen the fitting. last is the temp gauge capillary tube. The temp guage is mechanical too, so you cannot detach the capillary tube unless done at the engine, be careful not to cut, bend or crimp the tube.

When the cluster is out a bit farther after disconnecting everything but the temp guage, you can disassemble the cluster and pull the gauge mount from the cluster. That should give you unimpeded access through the opening. Or you could try to carefully balance the complete cluster, but stand the chance of damaging the capillary tube.

Hope this helps, should be clear as mud

[MikeTangas]

I'd also like to suggest that while the cluster is out of the dash, you take the time to renew the dash lighting. FastLanes sell the proper 12v3w Osram bulbs, you can renew the dash lighting for less than $7.00, and it makes a world of difference.