The electrical connections inside the instrument panel are finally getting a cleaning after 50 years, and the outer facia of the panel is being cleaned and moisturized.

The panel is pulled down, but the hinge is still rusty rough. I put a bit of penetrating spray on along the hinge, and it it helps a little. But still a rough pull.

I've started to clean each component terminals with a brass wire brush. After the metal shines a bit, I spray clean with electrical cleaner
( One needs to give ID to buy this type of spray locally, as idiots use the cold spray for narcotic highs...)



The panel exterior is being cleaned dial by dial with Marguerite's.
A bit of the difference can be seen in the picture.

And the best practices are?
What should I be careful to avoid doing?

TIA

 

avoid spraying too much and breathing the stuff.

disconnect the battery when doing this, that is the First Step when messing with anything electrical behind the panel. You can always reconnect it later to test.

one wire at a time, never two. Too easy to misconnect two wires.

 

I just found a hoarde of 1963 Daimler chrome parts. What do you need??

 

Also check for dodgy wiring. Looks like someone has had a go before...........

Every car I've restored has revealed the inevitable twisted (un-soldered) connections made to look good with electrical tape, with incorrect color codes just to make life more interesting.

Thank God for whoever invented heat-shrink.

 

Yes!
Should have made that clearer in original post....
I did disconnect the battery from the posts.
And one wire/connection at a time, indeed.

Crossed wires are a beast.
Been there, don that. Not again

 

then it looks like you have it right.

some people and manufacturers like Ford use Dielectric Grease on electrical connections, supposedly to prevent oxidation. Personally I don't like the mess it creates, and the grease will eventually harden creating a worse mess, so I don't use it.

 

Maybe not necessary, but a very thin coat of di-electric grease before reassembly prevents future corrosion, especially if you store in a non climate controlled situation.

 

I finished cleaning and now the horn won't stop.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/m...7/#post1294460

And what can I use to clean the chrome(?) metal pieces on the display? They look a little dingy, and I want to shine them up....

And finally, what size and type of screw does the display use after it has been set back into position? There were none there when I got the car....

 

what size and type of screw does the display use after it has been set back into position?

http://images.sngbarratt.com/product...0bbf0c7759.jpg

 

Thumb screws they are called.

depends whether it was a Jaguar or Daimler version, if I am correct, the Daimler used chrome thumb screws as opposed to the black plastic ones in Jaguar, but not 100% sure on that.

see pictures of the different ones here, but not neccesarily the right ones for your car:

Instrument Panel Thumb Screw

 

Jose and RedTriangle:

Major thank you to you both! I saw that screw -- I now know as thumb screw --- in a pile of "stuff" when I got the car, but couldn't figure out where it went. Thank you both for ALL the posts and guiding me along!

 

you welcome, I'm learning too !!

should be two Thumb screws, not just one. But they are available. (unless the Daimler version is different).

as to the Horn/Claxon, might have you connected the horn wire in the wrong place?

I doubt cleaning the contacts would create such a disaster as a stuck horn !!