Gil’s Garage
Gil Baumgartner
CTCI Authenticity Chairman
The 1957 Thunderbird speedometer removal is not as difficult as it may appear. It is secured to the back side of the instrument panel with four screws marked with tape in the attached picture. If the seat is removed it enhances the ability to gain access to the back side of the instrument panel. The speedometer can be removed without the seat removal. I have heard of some mechanics actually removing the steering column which also enhances access but is not necessary.
- Disconnect the speedometer cable, while looking at the back side of the speedometer, the cable retainer nut turns counter clockwise to loosen. It can usually be removed by hand.
- Remove the three light bulb sockets from the speedometer, the green wire with a black tracer in the upper center is the hi/low beam indicator bulb, two blue wires with red tracer are for speedometer illumination. They pull out by hand.
- Remove four screws that secures the speedometer to the back side of the instrument housing. The fuel & temperature gauge voltage reducer attaches to one of the lower mount screws. It will need to be removed.
- Once the screws are removed the speedometer can be removed from the housing by rotating it to align with cut-outs in the instrument housing. It can then be lowered and removed from behind the dash.
- When reinstalling make sure the high/low beam cardboard shield is not dislodged. If it comes loose from the small retainer tabs and falls out of position it can effect the operation of the speedometer.
Gil