Instrument Panel Help

[Morepower]

I have a '86 4X4 with a 350 in it. The speedometer has gone belly upon me. My plans are to make a new instrument cluster with aftermarket gauges. Here's my problem. I tried to follow the instructions in the S-10 maintenance manual for the removal of the cluster and I don't see how anyone could get to the back of it to remove the 4 nuts holding it in place. I have tried to go from under the dash and no way, can't even see the panel. Can some one let me know what I'm doing wrong? I have got to be missing something. I would like to see someone elses replacement to give me more ideas. Thanks in advance.

[s10350racer]

if i remember correctly the 4 nuts are accesible behind the light panel and hvac controls. wait a minute does the 86 have the round gauges or the arched ones?

[Morepower]

It has the arched gauges, I took the switches out, but the nuts are behind the panel??? No room to get my hand in there.

[junky2]

I replaced the dash in my 85 s10 with one out of a 92 s10. My brother wanted
to be the one that removed the old dash and he had it out in no time without
breaking anything. Here are some pics of my new custom gauges.

http://www.mys10.net/showthread.php?t=832

[s10350racer]

http://www.blazinlow.com/dash.php

use a long extension

[Morepower]

The Nuts are 180 degs to the opening. When you look at the panel from the front, (which is the way the extension would go back) the nuts are on the back side. I couldn't see them. I am only going by the drawings in the S10 repair manual from Chevy, so I hope it is correct.

[Morepower]

Junky2 thanks for the pics it looks good. Something like that is what I have in mind. Haven't made up my mind as to going digital or not.

[s10350racer]

you have honestly lost me. there are 4 10mm nuts right square behind the switch panels. did you go to the link? it has pics of what im talking about

[Morepower]

Yep, did most of that. The little screws in the right side of picture #6 are all that I saw. I did not see the 10mm nuts that are to the left and the manual shows them screwing on from behind that area. I will take it back apart next weekend, I hope your information is correct and I missed the 10mm nuts. Your info is much clearer than the service manual. Thanks so much for your help.