Any tips would be appreciated!

I haven't removed the gauge cluster from a 56 sedan, but if your going to spend any amount of time under the dash remove the front seat.  A lot easier working under the dash that way.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

If You want to remove the entire Gauge Panel and not just Individual Gauges the Assembly is held in place by Nuts that thread onto Studs. Accessed from the backside of the Dashboard. Disconnect all wiring to the Gauges, unplug light Sockets, unhook Speedo Cable and remove the Nuts  around the edge of the Panel. If You don't need everything out the Speedo and Gauges can be taken out from backside of the Dash. 

  

This is kind of an aside, but I think worth mentioning. Both in my 55 and my friends 56 OT car, the under dash wiring was very brittle. Both cars originally from the Seattle area, so no really high temperatures. Pay attention to insulation that might be cracking, and tape up as necessary. I’m not saying you’ll need to rewire it, just be aware. The more gentle and the less bending you do, the better off you are. It’s easier to see and more expected under the hood, but the dash can be worth a look also.

Both cars have since been rewired. I never had a failure, but he did in a harness we hadn’t touched.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ