Sounds like you're on the right track with the dash board whacking. To get the cluster out, you're going to have to remove the knee panel, lower the steering column (only 4 bolts), and pop out the cluster trim. Since you know that the problem is in the dash, it's probably a loose connection on the cluster itself. Use rubbing alcohol to clean up the contact on the cluster.

Tell us how it comes out. A lot of people are having cluster problems all of the sudden.