Dash disassembly

[Jim Yergin]

Stephen,
On the knobs, you may want to check with Floyd Carlstrom (http://www.dashknobs.com/).
Jim Yergin

[elmo]

if you are not able to source new knobs and you know some one with a lathe, and still have the old ones for a pattern you could get new ones turned out of nylon , that is what i did with my 39 desoto, they turned out okay , and being nylon you can dye them to the right color

[notdavidspade]

Since I took apart my dash this weekend, I feel the need to offer a point of clarification.  To remove the headlight knob... pull the switch to the "on" position, and place the screwdriver on the rod, behind the knob.  Pull the screwdriver and clip towards you (no prying action needed) and the headlight knob will release.  This weekend I can confirm that pulling, twisting and cussing do not remove the headlight knob.  Putting the screwdriver in the slot and prying the wrong way will not remove it either.  Only putting the screwdriver on the rod, outside the knob, and pulling the clip into the slot on the knob will release the knob.  I can also vouch for not being able to remove the other knobs.  They are indeed part of the cable they are attached to.  I have whats left of the choke cable to prove it.  Now does anyone have any good leads on knobs??  I'll hate to put this thing back together with what I have.

[Cotterpin]

 ;DThanks for the advice I removed the headlight indicator without destroying!!   ;)

[Lindsay McConnell]

First, it might be nice to know what year dash you are working on.
I can only give you advise that I have found true on the 1941 Plymouth models. This may ring true with other years too.

The headlight beam indicator can be removed from the underside of the dash. There is a small collar that you can simply un-screw from the tiny, visable dash bezel. You will find a small bulb in this unit too. Carefull as to not break either.
Second, the headlight knob is the only dash knob that can be removed. On the underside of the knob there is a small slit with a clip recessed inside. With a VERY tiny flat blade screw driver, put the driver into the slit, and carefully and lightly pull the screwdriver towards you. The knob will loosen, and fall into your hand. You can help this process by GENTLY pulling on the knob as you work the screwdriver.

The throttle and the choke knobs are molded onto the cables that weave their way into the engine compartment. DO NOT try to pull these knobs off! they will break and will never be able to be used again.

As I stated at the beginning, this is true for 41 Plymouths. Not knowing your application, you may have a different situation.
Take your time, and don't force anyrhing.
Hope that this helps!

[Cotterpin]

I am redoing my woodgrain dash and I have all the components taken off except the speedometer and gages.  I am having problems with removing the speedometer due to the headlight indicator on the top of the dash.  It seems it is attached to the speedometer unit and I don't know how to remove the headlight indicator on the top of the dash and it won't slip through the hole in the dash.  Also how do you remove the knob (clip type) without messing up the knobs?  Please help so I don't destroy anything. ???   Thanks.