Disconnecting 1937 Buick instruments?

[Mutt's37Buick]

I’m trying to remove the ’37 Instrument cluster from my 37 Buick without damaging it.
1) Can someone tell me how disconnect the water temp cable from the instrument cluster?
2) The oil pressure line is also not obvious on how it is unhooked. It looks like a hex nut but did not readily turn and I do not want to damage the instruments. Is this a hex nut that crimps down on a flared tube?
Thanks,
Mutt

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

The water temp cable does NOT come loose from the gauge. The element is permanently connected and you will ruin it if you try. The only place it can be removed from is the fitting in the engine block. It then comes out in one piece. The oil pressure gauge is a compression fitting. It will come loose, but soak it very well first to avoid damaging the brass threads. Why are you doing this to that car??

 

[Mutt's37Buick]

Thanks for your help.
I'm dissassembling the dash because I'm just starting a frame-off resto-mod.
This is my first project car, so will be real learning experience.
I may or may not re-use these instruments, but I don't want to damage them.
1) Looked like the temp sensor is in the block above a spark plug.
Does the sensor screw out, or is it pressed in?
2) What is best to soak the brass oil gauge threads in?
Thanks

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

It should be a pipe fitting at the engine block. It could be stubborn, but it will screw out. Use some good penetrating oil on it as well as the brass threads on the oil gauge. Be sparing and don't get it all over everything. A little on the threads with some soak time and it should come off fairly easy. A little heat will help if it is stubborn.

There is no reason not to reuse those gauges in that car. They are mechanical and will work a lifetime if handled properly. I do hope they go back in place along with the steering column, and all the late model garbage from the '95 goes in the scrap pile. It's too nice a car to ruin like that. Sorry, but I have to admit I cringe every time you ask about putting that crap in there. Hidden drivetrain and suspension are fine, but when you start sticking that stuff in the interior of a classic car it's just a mess.

I know you are green, so consider this sage advice. I hope you don't look back on this "first project car" as a learning experience in what NOT to do...

 

[Mutt's37Buick]

Thanks very much for your advice and help.

 

[Sam_Fear]

I'm going to throw my unasked for $.02 in too. Keep the 37 dash, gauges, and column! Nothing bugs me more when I look in a old car and see a clunky late model steering column and wheel looking all out of place. Besides, the old stuff is way more cool looking.

It's not that hard or expensive to make the old stuff work right.

 

[Mutt's37Buick]

I have been looking for the least expensive way to hook the '37 mechanical speedometer to my 4L60E transimission. On a camaro website where someone was putting an LT1 & 4L60E transi in an '89 camaro, someone said that the 9C1 police caprice had a calibrated cable drive speedometer that used adaptor with both mechanical speedometer and electronic output for transimission.
1) Can anyone confirm if this is true?
Thanks

 

[Mutt's37Buick]

The water sensor nut unthreaded out of the just fine, but the sensor will not come out.
I'm assuming it should pull straight out once the nut is loose.
It's been in there for 75 years so no surprise.
I sprayed Blaster penetrating catalyst and still will not budge.
Does anyone have a suggestion to break it free.
Thanks