how hard is it to take out the dash to find an electrical problem with a loose wire. it cuts out my dash lights some times in cld weatehr. i know which wire but cant reach it without taking the dash out (never done it in a datsun before.) how long does it take and how many screws?

This is slam dunk there are 3 are screws on top that you need a stubby screw driver for , they are close to the windsheld. There are 2 more on the under side of the dash where it touches the side of the car. Take the steering wheel off to make it easier if you have to. Sometimes you can get to the console without pulling of the whole dash. it shouldn't take you more than half an hour to pull everything. The only catch to doing this is there are no short cuts , just pull out anything that is in your way. one more thing the heater in my car was long since removed but I seem to recall you just loosen the mounting screws and take out the ones that hold it to the dash.

Tom Grossmann

If you just want to take the instrument cluster out push the headlight and wiper knobs in and turn counterclockwise and they'll come off, then take the retaining rings off for the switches. Next take the heater control knobs off there's a screw in the bottom of each. Take the steering column plastic cover off then there's two screws on the back of the panel towards the bottom on either side of the column. Finally unscrew the back of the cigarette lighter (may need channel-lock pliers) and pull it out, disconnecting the speedo cable and wire harness as you take it out.

I thought the console would come out on it's own since mine is race only it has been a long time since I did this. I run an aluminium dash.
Tom

okay, i know of the stubby screws near the windshiled, but the two others i did not. Can you access the back of the speedo cluster with the crash pad off or would there be enough give in the loom to pop the speedo cluster out and disconnect the guages and work from there.

Basically its the wire that hooks up to the back of the guages has come out either of the fuse box or back of the guage cluster or broken somewhere in between.

i have all day monday and half of tuesday to play with this one.

YEah, just take the instrument cluster out.
Next time that I have to do this, I am gonna take pictures and make up a step by step thingy for it.

Also adding onto the previous instuctions, there are two screws that you have to unscrew.