355 dash gap

Common. You can adjust the pod and metal hook bracket but don't expect zero gap.

 

Some say it's caused by leather shrinkage warping the plastic(?) shroud. Some folks go to the extent of putting new leather on the shroud, but if the leather is ok, then metal hook bracket adjustment seems like a better first step.

Cheers

 

I had this same problem. I contemplated a leather wrapped welt but decided this wouldn't look right. So I measured the gap in several places, removed the pod, then pealed up and folded the leather off the back edge. I added just enough epoxy putty along the edge to close the gap, tapered the ends and sanded it smooth. It took a couple of dry runs on and off to get it perfect but it finally fit right. There was enough leather length to have pulled it back over the new edge and re-glued it with contact cement but, since mine was old and stiff, I chose to re-cover it with new anyway. I could have re-glued it and you probably can too but I'm going for the gold everywhere else so.....YMMV.

 

Yes, remove the 2 screws and you can pull off the gauge pod. There's a bracket on the top/underside dash the pod hooks into which is slotted and can be moved fore and aft.

Move the bracket closer to the windshield to pull it tighter to the dash. I took mine off and compressed/bent it to pull the pod closer but there's still a gap. Would take reshaping of the pod to get it to fit perfectly on my car.

You may find the top of the pod isn't even hooked into the bracket if there was no gap before and now there is so check that first.

 

Do exactly as Jim states - here is a photo that might help.
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To prevent damage to the leather, wrap your screwdriver with tape or something soft.

Good luck putting those screws back... and watch out you don't trap/pierce the wiring harnesses during reinstallation.

I've spent up to half an hour or more trying to get the screws back in those holes. Sometimes repositioning the steering column up and down can help

Cheers

 

Magnetic tip screw driver

 

Be sure to have a thick towel draped over the steering column when working around the binnacle.

 

+1

Also make sure you don't scratch the surrounding leather when you move the binnacle from side to side.

It may have helped (not sure). I found that when fitting my binnacle, I had to line up the screws in both holes before starting to turn the screws, If I just put one screw in first, the other screw wouldn't line up with the hole. With both screws lined up, I would gently screw one side in by a few threads, but 9 times out of 10, I would bump the other screw, pushing the head upwards into the foam or leather, making it impossible to get a screwdriver on it. Maybe two screw holders would have made the job easier (i.e. screwdrivers with claws on them).

 

Perhaps your was mis matched or something. I've had the cluster on & off in 3 cars and while it's no picnic, I've not had much difficulty.

 

I used black single sided self sticking rubber strip that i attached to the pod back edge. This is then compressed when you screw pod back and have adjusted pod hanger on dash.