my 1969 2+2

ABC123 · Uber Guru

RE: my 1969 2+2

Jacob · Addicted!

she definitely looks good is this a grand Parisienne?

ABC123 · Uber Guru

Nope, just a plane jane Parisienne Convertible with only two options ordered.

Parts of the Grande Grill came from Canadian Poncho Members and my Grande from the 1980s

The 427 teasing come from the fact that one of our Moderators had a 69 vert with a 427 and he would love to see one rebuilt that way.

I think the only way that would happen is if that member came up with a decent 427/400 wink

I apologize, we do this a lot.

We get someone else's topic turned into a different one.

The 2+2 will be a great car !

When you start the Convertible, we would love to see that story.

Please post any questions that you may have.

Some members have 69 parts not to far from you.

So don't be afraid to ask.

Jacob · Addicted!

hey nothing wrong with that different topics add to the conversation. It is a great car such a blast to drive finally got to drive it this year now that the snow is gone and the roads are dry. cant wait for cruzs night to start up this year.

Glenn Musgrave · Addicted!

Lots of good work there. Please keep sharing.

dcneric · Poncho Master!

Jacob, I like the 2+2 project. Keep us posted on your progress.

Are you short some gills for the right 1/4 panel? It's been a while but I should have a couple extras. Just can't remember which side they are for.

Jacob · Addicted!

i have them i just need to pull the interior to put them back in. I had them out because i needed to patch that far forward.

Jacob · Addicted!

dcneric · Poncho Master!

Good to see that you have the parts. Best of success with your build.

Dom 68 · Member

Nice job Jacob!!

Jacob · Addicted!

so quick update on my car. i had my dash all apart to change my fuel gauge haven't driven it after dark tell last Sunday. i noticed when i turned my lights on my fuel gauge stops working and my instrument cluster lights are not working properly. high beem light stays on same as turn signals. i have stuck my hand up in there everything seems good nothing is lose or touching that i can tell. i put new bulbs in well i had it out. Im not sure what i messed up but its quit the ordeal to pull the instrument cluster out. i guess my question is do you guys have any ideas where to start or do i just need to pull it apart and check over everything then put it back together?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

First thing I would do is make a ground wire that runs from the cluster to the main metal part of the dash. I'm betting you have something as simple as a ground problem between the cluster and the dash frame. Everything worked before?

Jacob · Addicted!

yes everything work before except the fuel gauge and a few dash lights. will try a ground strap and see if it fixes the problem

North · Guru

Despite loving these cars I'm honest enough to say the 69-70 dash is a disaster. The high use of plastics made it a mess. Bad grounds like you are experiencing, warping and distortion. And the serviceability is atrocious, particularly with AC. Not one of GM's shining moments engineering wise.

North · Guru

Sorry for the above switch of subject matter but my Catalina ragtop started blowing AC fan fuses last week. Turned out to be the master fan switch on the control head. Accessing it was a nightmare. 8 hours to diagnose-disassemble-correct and reassemble. My arms and hands look like I ran threw rose bushes in a T-shirt.

What you described is almost certainly a ground issue. As mentioned running a ground wire from the body structure right into the steel case of the cluster is the best solution (same for the clock if you have one).

Jacob · Addicted!

ruing a new ground wire seems to have fix the issue. the clock was working fine though witch is grounded to the cluster.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I'm not surprised. Very often when multiple electrical components start acting weird all at the same time it comes down to a simple ground wire.

Jacob · Addicted!

just surprising with all the metal brackets attached to the cluster it would have no issues with a good ground. Maby i put them back in the wrong order. it was apart for 3 weeks

Jacob · Addicted!

i do have to say thank you for the ground tip. would not of thought of that on my own. electrical is not my strong suit

Howmac · Guru

North wrote:
Despite loving these cars I'm honest enough to say the 69-70 dash is a disaster. The high use of plastics made it a mess. Bad grounds like you are experiencing, warping and distortion. And the serviceability is atrocious, particularly with AC. Not one of GM's shining moments engineering wise.

I agree ... working on a 69/70 Pontiac dash has been the most challenging I've ever come across ...

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I've had the cluster surround out in my cars numerous times, but haven't come across this problem.

The only problem I have had is when putting the new cluster surround in was that the top trace got cut by the tab that extends out from the body. That trace is for the left turn signal indicator, and I had to run a jumper wire to the bulb.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Questions:
Did you take the entire cluster surround out (that's the entire plastic piece including speedo, clock, heater control, headlight switch, wiper switch etc, etc)?

Or did you just take out the speedo? I've seen it done, but it's nearly impossible to get back in.

Jacob · Addicted!

just the interment cluster could not get the heater control to disconnect . i did get everything lose to give me room to get it out

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Do yourself a favor and take the entire cluster surround out. That way you can see what's what, and everything will be ok.

You'll need to undo the underhood & grille harnesses on the engine side of the firewall, and unscrew the fuseblock from the firewall from down in the footwell.

Remove the steering wheel and drop the column. You may need to remove the hard plastic protector piece where the column meets the firewall, and get to the 4 screws to loosen the column from the firewall.

Disconnect:
Body harness,
Door switches,
Glove box & passenger door switch harness (if I recall, this is the harness that includes the clock wiring),
Turn signal switch (it stays with the column)
Ignition switch (it stays with the column)
Radio - and remove the radio.
Brake switch,
Emergency brake switch,
Heater cables (3 of them are easy to remove from the heater box).
Speedo cable.

Once you get everything disconnected, you can pull the entire cluster surround out. The heater cables & entire wiring harness will come with it.

Check everything on the bench, and once ok just reverse the process.

Watch out for the sharp edges of the tab that extends rearward from the dash above the column. As I said, I sliced the top trace from the printed circuit board, and had to run a jumper to the turn signal indicator.

The above list is from memory. I have a hand written list saved on my pc.

Jacob · Addicted!

might have to wait tell the fall for that been driving the car every sunny day