accessing dashboard for miscellaneous repairs

[Jo-Ski]

Happy (belated) New Year, Blue Birders!

We have some technical questions, but first, just a note: We did indeed take the trip we asked your advice about in November (thank you for all the helpful responses!), the biggest trip we've ever undertaken in our Blue Bird: round-trip Blaine, WA to Santa Monica, CA, with a few sidetrips to Monterey/Carmel, CA and the central Oregon coast! Was great! So pleased to report that our good ol' 25-year-young Bird performed (as expected) with absolute flying colors--no major problems and gracefully hauling itself, us, and the Jeep Cherokee over such dicey places as the Siskiyou Pass (CA/Oregon border) and California's infamous "the Grapevine." Aren'tthese Birds just a long-lived marvel, though?

Here are our technical problems/questions: On the dashboard of our '83 FC 35', some of the heater rocker switches don't work, and a few small blue lights are out. On the left side of the instrument panel, the backlighting has gone out. Plus the odometer seems to be working only intermittently. We read the one thread of messages on opening up the dashboard in the archives (beginning at message 15,762), but that was pertaining to a '78 FC 33'. Does anyone have any advice on opening our dash and replacing these components, please?

Thanks very much in advance for any help/advice you can offer!

Jo-Ski and Stew

'83 FC 35' RB

"The Bird Abides"

Blaine, WA