Instrument panel

Gunnar Schroder · Apr 23, 2025

Hi all of you members from an update from Scandinavia.
My G22 1978 is slowly coming along during my slow restauration. Time does not permit me many days off to carry on.
Having said that I had trouble with the instrument panel not working as it should. The voltage regulator packed in (what I thought!) as the fuel guage an temperatur
stopped working. Well, I took the minor printed circuit board out and put my glasses on. Checking everything over I found that the pins for the connector was not up
to my standard. They wer loose and flimsy. The soldering Iron came in handy and a quick fix soldering them carefully to the copper did the trick. A voltmeter told me
that they were on and off when checking the resistance.
Now it is even better than new as I put it back and lamps and all worked. I have changed all bulbs to LED by the way as once dismantled a few minutes extra to change
them and the holder.

By the way: I have a very good 8 1/4" rear axel that I intend to use. Checking over the spares list I have told me this axel has a different mounting plate.
Part numbers: Plate 8 1/4" axel 3845 128-9
Any idea where to get those or may I modify the one from 7 1/4"??
A good pair of seconhand plates would come in handy as the rest is dead easy to get hold of.
Take good care of each others and safe driving to all of you.

Best Wishes from Norway
Gunnar

Duke5A · Apr 23, 2025

What vehicle was that 8.25" pulled from?

Mikes5thAve · Apr 23, 2025

You will also need the spring brackets as the axle tubes would be narrower on your 7 1/4.
The backing plate for the 8 1/4 is the same as the 80s 7 1/4 and most other models from the 70s and trucks upto at least 92/93 so that should make them easier to find.
You just need to know do you want to use 10" or 11" brakes?

Gunnar Schroder · Apr 23, 2025

Duke5A said:
What vehicle was that 8.25" pulled from?

If I recall right a Dodge Diplomat station wagon

Gunnar Schroder · Apr 23, 2025

Mikes5thAve said:
You will also need the spring brackets as the axle tubes would be narrower on your 7 1/4.
The backing plate for the 8 1/4 is the same as the 80s 7 1/4 and most other models from the 70s and trucks upto at least 92/93 so that should make them easier to find.
You just need to know do you want to use 10" or 11" brakes?

I have not yet made up my mind but I think 11" brakes may be the best. Pretty sure the 7 1/4" axel has 10". I will sort everything out this weekend. Spring brackets no problem over here and I would guess they have to be wider due to 1" wider axel. Thanks for your tip regarding backing plate. I will have a chat with the one I bought the axel from as well as another friend in western Norway who has the same car (or shall I say had!) as mine.

Duke5A · Apr 24, 2025

Gunnar Schroder said:
If I recall right a Dodge Diplomat station wagon

All F/M/J cars used the same rear axle dimensions: flange to flange is 54.34" and perch center to center 44.46". It should drop right in if it's from an M wagon.

Gunnar Schroder · Friday at 1:18 AM

Thanks for your information. Good to hear it will fit straight in apart from the differntial.

Mikes5thAve · Friday at 7:22 AM

The 80s M body axles were 1" wider then the older ones but spring perche to spring perch is the same.

dm330 · Friday at 9:09 AM

Mikes5thAve said:
You will also need the spring brackets as the axle tubes would be narrower on your 7 1/4.
The backing plate for the 8 1/4 is the same as the 80s 7 1/4 and most other models from the 70s and trucks upto at least 92/93 so that should make them easier to find.
You just need to know do you want to use 10" or 11" brakes?

So I'm having my 8 1/4 installed next week and the shop doing the work will use the backing plates off the 7 1/4. The backing plates on my 88 7 1/4 can utilize either the 10in or 11in brakes? If that's the case I'll keep that in mind the next time I need the rear brakes replaced and go with the 11's.

Gunnar Schroder · Friday at 9:12 AM

I have learned the same from various sources. Good to hear and hopefully another member here have a set. Keep your fingers crossed.
Take care and safe driving.
Gunnar

dm330 · Friday at 9:16 AM

From what I've read I was under the impression I'd have to settle for the 10's from the 7 1/4 since. He already had everything in shop so I won't bother him about it at this point. We were just waiting on the leaf springs and that was it for the back.

Gunnar Schroder · Friday at 9:26 AM

The way we drive these rare birds 10" is more than enough. I will see if I simply move the brakes over to the 8 1/4".

Duke5A · Friday at 10:36 AM

Gunnar Schroder said:
The way we drive these rare birds 10" is more than enough. I will see if I simply move the brakes over to the 8 1/4".

I've got a complete set of 11x2.5" rear drums. Backing plates, drums, cylinders and hardware. Practically new. Pulled it off for a disc brake swap. It's yours if you want it, but shipping would probably be killer.

Gunnar Schroder · Friday at 12:14 PM

I guess so but you may ask for a quote from Federal Express. I have found them very serviceminded and quick off the mark. RockAuto use them and from them I have had some spares stocked up ready for the weather to warm up. Then it is easier to work outside.Here is our Aspen taken in Germany on our way to Spain for holiday. 2800 km one way. I miss that car but the G22 will do the same job apart from missing AC.

Mikes5thAve · Friday at 1:14 PM

dm330 said:
So I'm having my 8 1/4 installed next week and the shop doing the work will use the backing plates off the 7 1/4. The backing plates on my 88 7 1/4 can utilize either the 10in or 11in brakes? If that's the case I'll keep that in mind the next time I need the rear brakes replaced and go with the 11's.

The backing plates will fit the axke but they are specific to 10 or 11" brakes it's not one size fits all.

When I did the 8 1/4 swap I pulled the axle shafts and left the backing plates with the car so I didn't have to mess with brakes and bolted them onto the different axle.

I only have one car with 11" brakes. Never had a problem with 10s.

Gunnar Schroder · Friday at 1:27 PM

Thanks Mike for your good advice. Of course that would save time and money as I have all new parts for the 10" brakes and drum.

dm330 · Sunday at 5:09 PM

Thank you for clearing that up.

Instrument panel

Gunnar Schroder

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Duke5A

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Mikes5thAve

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Gunnar Schroder

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Gunnar Schroder

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Duke5A

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Gunnar Schroder

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Mikes5thAve

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dm330

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Gunnar Schroder

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dm330

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Gunnar Schroder

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Duke5A

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Gunnar Schroder

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Mikes5thAve

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Gunnar Schroder

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dm330

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