Erik Juhl

I read the tips from Greg Nichol's web site regarding instrument pod removal, but I have hit a snag. I simply cannot get the bolt by the ignition off or to even turn. I read that this bolt is being held by some arm that needs to be released by a philips head screw located on the subfram the pod sits on. However, I can find no such screw. Can someone please tell me if there is such a screw and where it is or if I am looking for something that is not there? Thanks in advance.

Erik Juhl

OK, I took off th emergency flasher button and now I can see the top of the ignition unit PLUS the real hex head bolt that is to free the pod from the aluminum subframe(the bushing connects directly to this one just like on the other side). However, this bolt is blocked by the ignition switch with no obvious way to get at it. The immovable bolt that I have been trying to remove seems to hold some L-Shaped arm to the aluminum subframe and the end of this arm is where the real bolt lives. Can anyone offer any advice on how to proceed? Should I continue trying to remove the immovable bolt from the ignition switch or should I be trying to get a tool up above the ignition switch to remove the real pod assembly bolt?

Randy V

Erik,

You want to remove the allenhead bolt with the L-shaped bracket,above the ignition - not the one that goes into the ignition switch assembly. It may be a bit tight, just be sure to seat the allen wrench (metric only) firmly into the bolt head.

Here's a great tutorial on Dan Brindle's site:

Pod Removal

Erik Juhl

Randy,
Thanks for the help, but how does one get that tool around the ignition switch and into the hex head bolt? I can just barely work my finger up and around to just slightly touch the bolt, so even if I could get the allen wrench into the head, I don't see how I would be able to turn it. I must be missing something obvious. Is removal of the ignition switch required for this job? I see that removal of the bottom most bolt would be troublesome as it seems to assist in aligning the instrument cluster, so maybe it is good I couldn't extract that bolt anyway. Is the 84 somehow different than most other 928 models regarding the instrument pod? The others seem to have no problem pulling this thing, yet I can just barely touch the final bolt. Thanks again for your help.

Jim V

Erik,

Saw your post on the other board too, if the
lower bolt is stripped and Vise-Grips won't
get it you might just drill it out and once
it's off p/u a replacement. Parkrose HDW
has a good selection of metric stuff if you
are close to there. I've got some spare pod
parts if something gets broke.
If you have not found the local 928 owner's
group and would like to join in the fun:
nebraska@pacifier.com
I'll give you the details.
Jim V
Vancouver WA

Randy V

Erik, the allen head bolt secures the pod bracket to the support frame. If you can't see the allen head bolt, it is probably swung too far inboard (to the center of the pod). Above and to the left (looking up) is the hexhead bolt that attaches the bracket to the pod. You can loosen the hexhead enough to get your finger behind the bracket to swing the allenbolt out so you can get at it.

No need to remove the ignition switch - although removing it you can get easier access to the aformentioned two bolts if that seems easiest to you.

Remove the left side pod bolt first to allow easier maneuvering of the pod as you try to access the right side bolt(s).

Let us know how you fared - I'm off to assist in preparing the Christmas Eve dinner we are hosting for 14. Wish me luck.

Have a swell Christmas!

Erik Juhl

Randy,
Good Luck and Merry Christmas! Thanks for all of the info. I think I now understand why the documented directions seemed easier than my experience. In my situation, the bolt holding the pod bracket was tightened so much that trying to remove it resulted in stripping it. The pod bracket itself was angled such that access to the bolt on it is impossible without removing the ignition switch. So, my next step is to remove the ignition switch, then remove the pod bracket bolt, and thus the pod. I will have to decide if it is worth extracting the stripped bolt and replacing it or leaving well enough alone. Once this is all complete I promise to write a detailed report for the group, since someone else must have similiar frustrations.

John Struthers

Erik,
That which does not kill us makes us stronger........

Sounds like B.S. to me but rolls off the tongue fairly nice.
You have the empathy and sympathy of a fellow sHARk owner with a short fuse and overly large hands. Additionally, you have the moral support of many who have run into the unreachable bolt only to find it stripped, overtorqued, woefully lacking anti-sieze compound, and, my personal favorite, cross threaded.
Best wishes - when all else fails take a break... just walk away for a little while.
Fight the good fight and we shall await the debriefing.
later, Keep em' rolling.
John S. and Pattycakes

Erik Juhl

Thanks for all the help everyone. Last night I finally got that bolt off after drilling it out and using an easy-out. Once this project is complete, I will provide details for those who might have to do this themselves one day.