Idiot Lights

[TOM-WA-]

Is there a way to access the Idiot lights for alt and oil on a 54 Wasp from the front of the dash rather than from behind??

Too old to be a contortionist (sp)

[Ken U-Tx]

Nope. loosen nuts on back of dash panel and pull the panel back towards steering wheel, then you can pull the sockets and change bulbs. Helps to take the radio speaker cover and speaker out, then you can reach in to get the nuts to the right, but ones to left require, you guess it, the contortioning.....I did it laying on my back on the lower seat cushion, with legs up over the seat back in Steve T's '54 Super Wasp. Don't do this right after eating a heavy meal or Mexican food! Seeing that your car is a stick shift, don't get your head/ neck caught between clutch and brake pedals! Did that once, thought I was gonna be stuck in there!

[Ken U-Tx]

PS: disconnect the battery first before doing anything back there!!! It's all too easy to ground the many live terminals on the back of dash with a wrench or nut driver! Hot sparks will fly, and you will panic while being in a contorted position there! (Been there, done that, years ago)

[Pacemaker500]

PS: disconnect the battery first before doing anything back there!!! It's all too easy to ground the many live terminals on the back of dash with a wrench or nut driver! Hot sparks will fly, and you will panic while being in a contorted position there! (Been there, done that, years ago)

Speaking of all those live wires in the dash....Has any one moved them off the dash and on to the firewal using a fuse panel or something similar to that found in newer cars? Coloring my new 24" x 36" electrical schematic got me to thinking about that...................