67 dash switches and harness help

[Killa67]

How do you remove the knob switches from the dash on the ignition,lights,wipers and such. I want to remove the whole harness from my 67 F100 to clean it up and retape and such. Also how do I remove the whole dash frame and pad as one unit. I have been looking under there for an hour and the 2 tabs on either end on the dash look to be welded. HELP!!!

[steveheer]

Well, I believe that the headlight knobs just pull off as do the windshield wiper knobs. I'm not sure on removing the whole dash frame--do you need to? I know with the internals out, IE guage panel, radio, glove box, the dash pad is easily removed and it would probably be a good idea to remove it first so it won't get damaged--if I'm understanding your question.

[Killa67]

Well the only switch I got a connector plug to come off of was the headlight switch. I probly dont need to take out the entire dash piece but wanted to to do a thorough cleanup and repaint inside the cab/dash area. I am probobly going to delete the heater box and all wiring-hoses-blower motor and stuff to mount all my ignition and timing box's. I dont want to do any hacking of the original wiring if it is good. But have been thinking of getting a complete painless wiring kit with fuse blocks and relays to install, also a flaming river or ididit column kit with a manual steering rack and pinion. I am going back with the instrument cluster being a complete autometer cobalt series gauge set. So I need to clean up all the wiring I can, and remove all I dont need.

[FORDification]

To remove the headlight knob you reach under the dash and push a small button on top of the switch. Hold that switch down and pull the knob/shaft out. Then to remove the switch you just use a large screwdriver and unscrew the inner bevel retainer and remove the switch.

The windshield wiper knob is removed with the Allen wrench. To remove the switch you'll need a special tool to remove the bezel retainer. If you're careful you can get by with spinning the bezel retainer off with a needlenose pliers, but you're likely to mess up the chrome finish that way. Here's a picture of a disassembled switch and the special too needed to properly remove it, available at any auto parts store.



To remove the lighter you simply unscrew the back lighter retainer from the socket. Hold the socket by sticking your finger in there (be sure you unplug it first!) and then reach up under the dash to unscrew it.

The rest of the knobs are simply held on with a small Allen-head screw, loosen it up with an Allen wrench and pull off, then unscrew the bezel.

The main dash frame is welded in...you're not going to remove it without drilling out about a million spotwelds along the windshield area. Here's a picture of one I removed a while back. You can see that all the spotwelds will drilled out along the top..not something I'd want to do again if I could help it. Needless to say the windshield must be removed to do so:

[Killa67]

Keith thats just what I needed to know thanks buddy.

[steveheer]

Oh, yea, I do remember the truck having set screws--YOU know your stuff!!!

[mercman1953]

The painless harness is a good harness. I am using one from Haywire myself on my 68. I have a ididit column in my truck and I used a borgeson u-joint instead of the rag joint. I made an aluminum insert for my dash and put 6 VDO gauges in it, it is great to have aftermarket electric gauges.

[jor]

Hey, Keith, where did you get that nifty little tool for the notched bezels? Thanks.
jor

[FORDification]

Actually, I got this one from a friend who ran a body shop and was going out of business. After he and his employees vacated the building, they told me to take anything I wanted from what was left. Scored a lot of cool used tools. However, I'm sure that you can order these through the local parts outlet.