I've got an 89 4x4 Pickup that I'm trying to replace the heater core in. At the moment I've got just about everything done to remove the dash except for removing the guage cluster and the bolts behind it. I've got the screws removed from the cluster and you can move it around some but can't get it to come out enough to disconnect it. This is a frustrating problem to say the least and I've been searching forums for the better part of the afternoon trying to find some helpful info without success. If anyone can tell me what to do next I'd be much appreciated.

 

You'll need to remove the wiring plug in connector from the instrument cluster and the speedo cable. The wiring connector comes out quite easily, but the speedo cable can be a pain to get at. There's a retaining clip that needs to be depressed to pull it out. It helps to drop the steering wheel bracket to more easily get at it. then the cluster will come right out. hope this helps.

 

The speedo cable may be too tight and causing your problems. What I would do is to go under your truck and undo all the clips that hold the speedo cable in place to give it enough slack to pull it out far enough to reach behind the cluster and unhook it. I had to do this when I changed out my cluster because of the body lift it had when I got it.

 

It's probably the speedo cable holding me up then. I've got the standard cluster without a tach and the resistance feels to be coming from somewhere behind the left side of the speedometer. After work I'll try to get enough slack in the cable that I can get it out of there.
Thanks for the help.

 

Update: I checked out the speedo cable and that's for sure what's causing my problem. I managed to get a little more slack by undoing the first clip after it comes through the firewall. That's still not enough and I'm not sure how the clip down behind the header/exhaust manifold functions. It's in a rather hard to see and hard to reach location, kinda like everything else on the truck that's ever needed working on.