Kerry's 308 GTS Project

Binnacle

A couple of years ago, I noticed a small split in the leatherette covering the binnacle that just got longer over time.

I couldn't understand how that might have happened and wondered if I had laid something sharp on it.  Then I noticed some lines impressed in the dash itself.

So I think that the leatherette had some flaws and ended up splitting on the binnacle.  Hopefully the other ones which have less stress will be OK.  I found out that the binnacle can be removed without removing the whole dash, so I planned on getting some of the correct material and having an upholsterer re-cover it.  In the meantime, I bought some black duct tape to cover the split.

A few days ago I saw an eBay auction from Rutland's where they had a used one in good shape so I ended up getting it.  This solves the problem of finding the correct material and a upholsterer who would stitch it correctly.

Evidently Ferrari changed the part as the original one had foam under the leatherette, while the replacement one has no padding.  In looking at the 308 GTS parts book vs. the QV parts book, both parts have the same number.

To remove the binnacle:

  1. Pull out the warning bulb lenses in each corner.  This is best done by wrapping some dental floss under the rim and pulling.

  2. Remove the screws behind the lens' holes holding the instrument cluster in place.

  3. The steering wheel also needs to be removed, but I was doing this as the same time I was fixing the horn, so it was already off.

  4. Remove the cluster.

  5. Remove the four nuts holding the binnacle in place.  The two at the front of the car fit tight against the firewall, so I had to use a lever to raise the dash to provide clearance.

After years of being held together, the old binnacle was stuck to the dash along the sides and where the studs held the two together.  I soaked the seam with water, thinking that some soda or something had gotten spilled, but that didn't help.  Finally, I just used some fiberglass pry tools designed for interior work to separate the two.  Some of the binnacle leatherette stuck to the dash.  Better that way than it pulling off the dash.

Once the old one was off, putting the new one back in place was just the reverse.  The only issue is starting the screws through the holes in the instrument cluster.  I just taped the screws to the screwdriver to get them started.  Now the dash looks presentable again.