<VV> Corsa dash instrument lighting tip

[Sethracer at aol.com]

I have  supplied more than 50 of the Corsa Dash Instrument mounting kits 
for the Corvair  owner who wants simple mounting of additional instrumentation 
in the stock Corsa  dash. I was working on the Corsa dash that is destined 
for my 65 Monza coupe and  I found a simple solution to one of the issues 
you might run into when using the  kit. The mounting plate for the upper two 
center gauges requires the three  original small cardboard tubes be modified 
(or replaced) to properly channel the  turn signal and the high-beam light 
from the warning bulbs to the visible holes  in the dash front. I first tried 
slicing down the existing tubes. That worked,  but, being 50 year old 
cardboard, they are fragile and prone to splitting. I  found a great – and cheap –
 substitute.  ½” white PVC 1120 sprinkler tubing.  Schedule 40 ASTM D1785. 
(All taken from the printing on the side of the tubing.)  The tubing is 
actually .845” in  outside diameter. In order to fit tightly between the bracket 
and the dash, each  piece should be about 1.52” long. I hack-sawed them off 
a little longer and  smoothed and trimmed the ends in my little Harbor 
Freight lathe. Once installed,  nobody will see them – but you will know. The OD 
of the tubing fits perfectly  into the dash recess, trapping the colored 
disk for the warning light, and the  ID allows the original, stock warning 
light socket to snap into the aluminum  bracket. The white interior of the 
tubing will present plenty of light for the  indicator.  Total cost for the 
three  tubes should not exceed 50 cents! One foot of tubing will make eight of  
them!  Questions? – just drop me  back a note. – Seth Emerson