metal instrument cluster

[zakt]

Thinking about making my own gauge panel for the instruments.. Is the stock one metal or just the F600?

[forrestbump]

Todd,

My 1970 F250 is a combination of some metal (the housing at the back side that holds the gauges and such) with a mostly plastic front face.

To the best of my knowledge, only the F600 dash faces are all metal.

Hope this helps...

[flyboy71]

67 thru 69 bezels are metal. 70 and up are plastic. The cluster assembly on the 71 and up wont bolt directly to the metal bezel, not sure if the 70 is unique or not. I have a metal one but havent decided what Im doing with it just yet.

[zakt]

yea I have my 69 parts truck so have to check that out... not to into plastic. Thinking laser cut out a new face (with some added graphics of course) and weld it in the housing to use some autometer gages etc...anyone ever try that?

[forrestbump]

Thinking laser cut out a new face (with some added graphics of course) and weld it in the housing to use some autometer gages etc...anyone ever try that?

Yup, but not to the addition of graphics as mentioned. Did it to a '65 F100 base model dash that I put into my '65 F250.

I used an 1/8" thick custom cut aluminum plate, hole sawed the required diameter gauge holes, cut the back of the donor panel out leaving just the O.E.M. surround in place, than bolted the cut aluminum panel into the dash surround. I used stainless steel button head fasteners to give it a finished look.

Best part about that was I only had to unbolt the aluminum panel to get inside the gauge panel to do any repairs / light bulb changes etc. leaving the dash surround in place.

Sorry, no pictures, that was a long time ago...

[zakt]

was thinking welding it together but bolting might be the way to go... Im thinking painting the top piece the truck color then have graphics cut out with a back piece of metal attached that is chrome

[flyboy71]

Its a ways off on my project but Im still toying with morphing the 63 Fairlane bezel to my metal one. Hmmmmmm

[fordman]

not all 67-69 clusters were metal. only the low grade of trucks were. standard cab trucks. and government type of fleet vehicles. that sort of truck.

[zakt]

well I hope my 69 ranger is metal (havent looked yet)

saw alot of places that have dash panels:
http://www.carolina-classics.com/Detail ... ategory=17
http://www.dolphingauges.com/ford_truck_main.html
http://www.dannysrods.com/docs_ford_trucks.html
http://www.boeseengineering.com/search_ ... earch.y=14

http://www.classicdash.com/shopping/For ... 1967-1972/
http://www.haneline.com/fordtrks.html

[hazelnut]

The rangers have the plastic bezels, basicly if its got a center bar its plastic. the open face (no center bar) bezels are metal. Ive got a metal one if you want a picture of it.

[zakt]

yea can you post a pic of it?

[mk]

Here's a pic of the factory 67-9 steely from the 'identifying 67-72 trucks' page here on the site...
Just available on the base models; custom cab and Ranger had some variation of the chrome plastic bezel.






mike

[48prerunner]

good list of links for inserts

[red403]

I took the metel bezel from a 67 f350 and made a aluminum insert for mine. In it I have auto meter sport comp gauges: speedo, tach, fuel, volts, oil pres, oil temp, water temp, trans temp, high beam, left turn, right turn, brake warn, cruise light, and a spare light. The metel bezel is painted orange, the alum panel is painted black and I used 4 emblem bolts to hold it together. I would post pictures of it but not sure how to. I can email you a picture of it if you pm me your email. I am super happy with how it turned out and with the 2 gauges I am installing in the ash tray spot and the three on the roof I should have enough warning of trouble before it can do to much damage.

My 67 f100 custom cab has the plastic bezel but the 67 f350 plane jane had the metel one and I think the mercury truck had the metel one also.