Gauge mounting nuts

Is there an easy way to put the nuts on the threaded studs to mount the speedo and gauge cluster? I have tried a nutdriver, but there is very little room for its length. I have tried a 3/8" open ended wrench, but you can only make a 1/6 turn without hitting something else under the dash. Short of buying a miniature socket set, what is the best way to install these?


Greg

 

Thumbwheel ratchet

Harbor Freight sells 'em. Came in real handy for me.

 

Thanks Larry. That looks like a winner. It's still going to be a knucklebuster!


Greg

 

What you need is a teenage son

 

Cheaper & less hassle to bust your knuckles.

 

I use a 1/4 inch ratchet with an extension or 2.

 

Aaaghhhh!!!!

After a full morning of struggling the instrument gauge and speedo, I have decided if this had been my job in the 40's and 50's I would have committed suicide before I was 30.

GM must have had a squad of midgets with extremely small hands to complete this task. I have the greatest admiration for those guys that were on the line.

I also take back what I said about old cars/trucks being easier to work on.

FYI, the brake pedal does not make a good headrest.


Greg

 

I have to slide my head beside the brake pedal, my left arm around my floor shifter, and my waist just fits the door opening. If I have my cell phone on my belt, I can't get out of the floor...learned from experience. I generally manage to put 3 nts each, as the lower middle ones are damn near impossible to get to. Start the nut by hand, hold the guage as tight as possible, and run the nut down by hand. Now take your 1/4 ratchet and a short and a longer extension and a 3/8 deepwell socket, put the socket on the nut, then plug in the extensions. Swear a little...OK, A lot..and tighten. The outside bottom ones can be gotten with just the ratchet and the deepwell, the outside top can be gotten with the short extension, and the top inside usually needs both extensions......at east in my experience.

 

Thanks Russ. I learned all of his the hard way. I am 6' 2" and I am not the pretzel I once was. I did manage to get all 4 nuts on both gauges, but it took some effort. I had to use both the 1/4" ratchet with a 3/8" deep socket and a thumb ratchet.

I was glad my grandson had gone back to Dallas on Wednesday or he would have gotten an education his mother would not have appreciated.


Greg

 

I Hope :

You remembered to put a little star washer underneath each and every nut so the gauge clusters will not only illuminate properly (you DON'T want the Bourdon Tube grounding them) but the fuel gauge will be more accurate and the gauges won't vibrate loose in a year's time...

I like to use at least one new nut per cluster to ensure 100 % good grounding .

I occasionally get stuck under the dashboard too , didn't seem to be so snug there in 1964