Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I don't know how many of you have a problem similar to mine.
The little retainer/clip that holds the instrument panel faceplate into the dash break, bend or got lost, and the faceplate buzzes & rattles. If you have this problem, you probably know that replacement retainers are no longer available from Dodge.
Finding/getting old ones from a salvage yard is getting next to impossible. I have found a substitute!
Following a tip from a member on the Cummings Forum, I obtained some retainer/clips from my local Chevy dealer (Town & Country Car & Truck Center in Alamosa CO. ) The parts man there was very helpful, and didn't even laugh when I explained I was trying to repair an old Dodge using Chevy parts!
The GM P/N is 11588650.
The GM clips look & install somewhat different from the Dodge OEM clips. (See photo #1) Instead of pushing the clip onto the tab on the faceplate, push the clips into the slots/holes in the dash first, (photos 2 & 3). Then put the faceplate on and push the tabs into the clips. See photo #4 for how they look & fit after install. Note they do not seat all the way down on the tab like the OEM retainer did. Also note they have 4 "Teeth"-2 on each side, that grip the faceplate tab, and 2 "Spring arms" that grip the dash panel slot, as opposed to 1 spring tab on the OEM part.
After installing them I removed & replaced the faceplate several times to see if they would pull off from from the faceplate tab or loosen in the dash slots. Neither happened. In my opinion, they hold better than the original, and seem less prone to bending, losing tension, or falling off & getting lost.
I hope this helps someone else. Jack Dancoe
The little retainer/clip that holds the instrument panel faceplate into the dash break, bend or got lost, and the faceplate buzzes & rattles. If you have this problem, you probably know that replacement retainers are no longer available from Dodge.
Finding/getting old ones from a salvage yard is getting next to impossible. I have found a substitute!
Following a tip from a member on the Cummings Forum, I obtained some retainer/clips from my local Chevy dealer (Town & Country Car & Truck Center in Alamosa CO. ) The parts man there was very helpful, and didn't even laugh when I explained I was trying to repair an old Dodge using Chevy parts!
The GM P/N is 11588650.
The GM clips look & install somewhat different from the Dodge OEM clips. (See photo #1) Instead of pushing the clip onto the tab on the faceplate, push the clips into the slots/holes in the dash first, (photos 2 & 3). Then put the faceplate on and push the tabs into the clips. See photo #4 for how they look & fit after install. Note they do not seat all the way down on the tab like the OEM retainer did. Also note they have 4 "Teeth"-2 on each side, that grip the faceplate tab, and 2 "Spring arms" that grip the dash panel slot, as opposed to 1 spring tab on the OEM part.
After installing them I removed & replaced the faceplate several times to see if they would pull off from from the faceplate tab or loosen in the dash slots. Neither happened. In my opinion, they hold better than the original, and seem less prone to bending, losing tension, or falling off & getting lost.
I hope this helps someone else. Jack Dancoe
