I have done it, and replaced the troublesome connector with a db25
connector like was used on old parallel printer cables.  I left a lot
of the plastic film because I was having no problems with it other
than where it gets so much movement at the connector.  You could pick
up where I left off though and replace it entirely.  I had it all
written up on the old wiki, which is gone now.  I even won a free BZ
shelf made by Mr BZ himself for the writeup!   And I had it on my
personal website at my old ISP, also gone now.  I have all the files,
just need a little web space to put all that vanagon stuff back
up.  I might be able to zip it up and send it to you.

Edward

At 04:56 PM 10/8/2010, John Rodgers wrote:
>  I was wondering if anyone has ever re-wired an instrument panel or pod
>and eliminated the wiring ribbon. That ribbon has got to be getting
>brittle with age, and sooner or later is going to give trouble. In
>anticipation of that time for my vans - the youngest of which is my 1991
>Carat  and the oldest of which is my pair of 1988 GL's - 19 and 22 years
>of age respectively - when the ribbon connector will have to be replaced
>- with prol'ly an NLA part. That is going to be a chalenge, and I wonder
>if anyone has already done it successfully.
>
>Thanks
>
>John
>
>--
>John Rodgers
>Clayartist and Moldmaker
>88'GL VW Bus Driver
>Chelsea, AL
>Http://www.moldhaus.com