The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 1946 Instrument Cluster Bezel

Hi All,

I began disassembling the instrument cluster from my 1946 1/2T. After removing the gauges, I noticed the chrome (painted) bezel is held on by several small metal tabs. I am concerned they will break when I bend them to remove the bezel. Are there any tips or tricks to remove the bezel without destroying the tabs?

Thanks

The tabs are stouter than they appear. Just be gentle using a thin blade screwdriver to pry them up. That was my experience in refurbishing the gauge cluster on my ‘46, at least.

Sparky, I appreciate the quick response. I will give it a try tomorrow. Did you clean up the chrome or paint the bezel?

Patrick

This one was in good enough shape it just needed cleaning and some polishing.

Any time I twist or bend "tabs" I try to make sure, if possible, I heat them up just a bit....especially in cold weather!

Thanks to you both. Sorry for the late response. I was able to gently bend them. It has more rust issues than I thought, however I think I am going to clean it up as best I can and paint it except for the highest point all the way around, which is in the best condition. I have seen others like that and it looks pretty good.

Patrick

Getting ready to remove the instrument panel from my 46 Chevy pickup, CK version. Wondering if it is easier to remove the whole dash. I don't have a radio or heater so not much under there. I see the clutch head screws and they look fairly easy to get off or grind off.

Looks like the instrument panel will be a bear to remove by itself. I can't seem to find any manuals that address this that are accurate to what I have.

Anyone have any pix or diagrams of this taken with an acrobatic camera?
Or experience with it?

There are two tabs, one on each side near the middle of the back of the gauge cluster. The tabs have holes for screw or a threaded stud; not recalling which. The cluster is held in place on that stud with a washer and nut.

The attached photo shows the tabs referenced. Note the areas circled in red in the photo.

Thanks,

I read some horror stories about getting the cluster our of different year models. This looks straightforward.

I assume once those screws/bolts are removed, the cluster comes out forward.

Thanks a lot,
Jim

Jim,

If you keep taking stuff apart, you’ll never get your truck on the road!

Chris

Yea, good point. I'm starting to have to store parts and stuff I'm taking off up on the second floor of my garage.

But I do have to rewire it. The original wiring is bare in more spots than it has insulation. To do that I need access to the instrument panel.

The wiring on a 1946 is about as basic as you can get. One fuse. It will have lots more when I get done.

Gettin there.

Once you get the instrument panel off. Make sure you ask wiring questions in electrical forms. You’ll get better responses.

Good luck, I might test drive my truck to your shop this week!

Chris

Just in case it’s not being done; it will save tons of grief when taking this all apart if pictures are taken from various angles and parts are bagged and tagged with part name. Doing so will ease reassembly.

Taking lots of pix. Had to go out and get another roll of digital film.
I used so many zip loc bags I'm probably on the DEA watch list.