I've inquired before,...but I'm still having trouble replacing my speedo cable in my 1989 IROC. I have removed all the bolts & screws,..but the gauage cluster will not pull forward enough to get my fat hand behind there to release the cable. It looks as if it's hitting against the steering column which is preventing it from pulling out further. I haven't removed the dash pad as instructed in the Haynes manual. Will this give me better access? (I actually don't see why it calls for removing the dash top pad).

Is there any tip or trick to doing this? Can I drop the steering column down a little? If so, how do I do that?

Thanks in advance,
DT

 

There isn't much "slack" in the cable housing to pull the cluster forward. The cable needs to be unclipped for it to come out. Or you could try disconnecting the cable from the trans, and fishing it through the firewall to get the cluster to pull out more.

 

Finally,...SUCCESS!!!

Just for the record,...I ended up dropping the bottom section of the dash, directly below the steering wheel.

I then loosened the two bolts holding the steering column to the dash and allowed it to drop down about a 1/2". I didn't remove the bolts completely,...I just loosened them as far as I could without actually removing them. This allowed the column to be suspended without someone holding it.

This allowed the gauge cluster to slide out far enough to reach behind and release the speedo cable clip.

The entire job took about an hour. Speedo works perfectly now, accurate and quite.