Yep, after removing it a couple of times now I can almost do it blindfolded.. And I thought that I was the only one that has removed the instrument cluster as much as I already have done... All the best, Robert Op Wo, 18 oktober, 2006 1:23 pm, schreef randalpark@xxxxxxx: > I agree and understand the issue of having to remove the cluster to > access the wiper switch. Amazingly, in the interest of servicability for > both the switches and the dash lighting system, the wiring to the cluster > in 1961 through 1963 was extended to allow for removal of the cluster > without disconnecting everything. In 1963, the addition of the automatic > parking brake release substantially interfered with access to some > components, but it still isn't too bad to work on. > > Even so, on the 1960 model, the cluster is pretty easy to remove. After > you have done it five or six times (haven't we all???), it becomes rather > routine. > > Cheers! > > > Paul W. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 1:02 AM > Subject: Re: IML: Progress of a sort/Working on a '60 Imperial > > > > Hi Paul, > > > I think you are making a very good point here, often one get confused and > distracted by all the wiring under the dash. Yes, the car was a little > over the top with all those new technology in it but most of it still > works in 2006. And when not, it is quite easy to repair both the radio and > powerpack for e.g. Been there, done that :) > > The only not so easy thing to repair, as far as I can judge now, is the > wiper motor and parking switch. Even the wiper switch is in-accessible, you > have to remove the complete instrument cluster to get access to it. > > But as said before, isn't that part of the fun of owning such a beautiful > car? > > I won't give up and will stick to it like glue :) > > > Robert > > > Op Di, 17 oktober, 2006 3:12 pm, schreef randalpark@xxxxxxx: > >> I have found one thing that can be said for working on the 1960 >> Imperial >> is this: when I decide that I want to work on a specific thing, I can go >> right to it, spend a few hours, and see the result. This has been >> pretty much true of all of my Imperials (newest is '68), while other >> stuff that I own is not that direct. Even when working under the dash, >> it is fairly simple to focus on one item without having to disassemble >> lots of other things to get to it. >> >> Human nature makes it easy to become totally mystified by a problem, >> and get bogged down in the idea of electrical gremlins, or jump to an >> incorrect conclusion, while in fact there are only a few things that >> can be wrong. I believe that the '60 Imperial is a complex automobile. >> Where >> there could be a light bulb, there is an electro luminescent panel >> powered by a transformer. That is one example of "over the top" >> technology for its time. The radio is a "hybrid", consisting of both >> transistors and tubes, as well as an electric motor, and more electro >> luminescence. Still, owning, driving, and maintaining the car causes >> one to become very familiar with those systems and features, leading to >> little difficulty in trouble shooting and making a repair. There are no >> computers, sensors, or interactive monitoring systems that can create >> multitudes of symptoms from a seemingly unrelated malfunction. >> >> Stick with it and don't give up, the more you do, the more you learn. >> The >> experience is invaluable, especially if you plan on keeping the car, or >> buying another Imperial. What goes wrong in one usually goes wrong in >> another without much variation on the theme. The bottom line is that it >> is a very repairable machine. >> >> Paul W. >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> Sent: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 1:05 AM >> Subject: Re: IML: Progress of a sort >> >> >> >> >> Hi Donn, >> >> >> >> Ahhh, the joys of owning and maintaining a 1960 Imperial... >> Been there, done that and as a matter of fact.. Still do!! >> >> >> >> Isn't it great fun to find yourself under the dash upside down (not too >> easy when you are size XXL :) trying to repair something that is >> hidden there? >> >> Right now I am trying to fix the wiper motor, it suddenly stopped >> working and haven't found out yet what is wrong. Since both the switch >> and the wiper motor are really hard to accesss this aint a job for the >> faint hearted! >> >> Another problem is that the EL dash lighting system from time to time >> fails to work, I have already thrown in a new (=rebuild) power pack but >> the dash still gets dark every now and then (after a few days everything >> is working again for an hour or so..) Must be one of the gauges that is >> shorting out I guess, so in a short time I will finding myself again >> under the dash pulling white leads from the gauges to find out which >> one is guilty. >> >> Then we have the strange problem with the dome-light, it stays on when >> the doors are closed.. And even stranger it shines it's light at half >> power or so. There must be a shortcircuit to ground (and no, the >> doorswitches are ok and so is the manual switch: with all those >> switches disconnected the dome light is still working at half power..) >> but I haven't found out yet where. >> >> I learned from Richard Burgess that there is a connectionpoint under >> the headliner, running from the manual switch to the domelight and then >> to left rear wheel well where it connected to the doorswitches, so >> problably the shortcircuit is in this area... >> >> Apart from all these electrical problems (the electrical system of the >> 60 >> model year isn't of the same quality as the rest of the car if you ask >> me) the car drives beautifully. Running strong and is shifting gears >> perfectly, all I have to do in this aspect is to sort out a rough idle. >> I >> might be in for a new harmonic damper since the timing mark seems to >> have slipped.. >> >> So enough work to do, but it is worth every minute of time that I have >> spend so far to make the car better then it was before I bought it:) It >> is fun, and to see all those faces of people looking at a car that they >> have never seen before...Well, it makes it all worth I guess! >> >> So Donn, keep up the good work and keep it runnin' >> >> >> >> All the best, >> >> >> >> Robert >> 1960 Crown 4 door Hardtop >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Op Di, 17 oktober, 2006 5:16 am, schreef Donn Reese: >> >> >>> In fits and starts the Imperial is getting more roadworthy, but good >>> grief is it putting up a fight! Maybe it's just tired and WANTS to go >>> sit in a pasture forever. I've certainly been ready to oblige a >>> couple times recently. >>> >>> The heater fan was making a loud scraping noise and the heater >>> control valve had been bypassed so I decided to pull the heater and at >>> least fix the fan. I was surprised how easy the heater unit was to >>> remove, just three screws. Turns out the plastic housing on the >>> outside face of the squirrel cage had deformed inwards pressing >>> against the squirrel cage itself. I used my heat gun to heat up the >>> plastic then pushed the face out, reforming from a concave to a convex >>> (btw, it's pretty crappy >>> plastic). But it's much quieter now and I didn't have to cut a hole >>> in the housing. >>> >>> With that fixed I removed the heater control valve and (assuming it >>> was just froze up with corrosion) proceeded to lubricate it and get >>> the valve working again. I reinstalled it and hooked up the heater >>> hoses and fired up the car. That's when I found out why it had been >>> bypassed, it leaks. Soooo, I bypassed it again and will have to scout >>> around for a new one. >>> >>> >>> I discovered the cause of the slow turn signals at idle that I >>> reported here recently.....bad flasher. I put a new one in and now it >>> works regardless of idle. Seems strange to me though. >>> >>> Amongst all of this, last week the speedometer started making a >>> horrendous noise and the needle would jump around. The OIC archive >>> came in handy, found the same symptoms there....who would have guessed >>> you have to lubricate the speedo head periodically. Definitely a new >>> one on me. Especially surprising considering they don't make it easy >>> to get any of the instruments out to do any kind of maintenance. >>> >>> I made another little test run down the highway and back and >>> everything seems to be fine for now. Let's hope it stays that way as >>> we're now getting frost at night and working outside is getting >>> chilly. >>> >>> Donn Reese >>> 1960 Custom 4dr hdtp >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- >>> This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please >>> reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be >>> shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the >>> Administrators >>> should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to >>> http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- >> This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please >> reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared >> with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the >> Administrators >> should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to >> http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm >> ________________________________________________________________________ >> Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and >> security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from >> across the web, free AOL Mail and more. >> > > > > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- > This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please > reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared > with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators > should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to > http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm > ________________________________________________________________________ > Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security > tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the > web, free AOL Mail and more. > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm