Custom Dash

[usmcjones1988]

I have a 1970 F100 I wanted to pull the dash out and make a custom one to replace it, has anyone done this before and can give me a few pointers

[travmarks]

I'm still a ways off from posting pictures of the custom dash project I'm doing on mine...but what has worked pretty good for me so far has been to build the new dash as an overlay without removing the steel dash. I made a wood dash panel that covers the entire front (flat all the way across) and bolted that in place, then fiberglassed it with the upper dashboard. I re-used the glove box door, and have started to make cut outs for speakers, cd player, gauges, switch panel, and heat ducts...It's a long process and I just add items to the dash as I get them. Then everything will come back out when its time to smooth and prep for upholstery (not sure yet if I'm going to try to wrap it myself). The only real issue i've had so far is sticker shock when pricing out the components I really want like nice gauges and hot rod switches. Good luck and have fun!

[usmcjones1988]

what im thinkin about doing is pulling the dash out getting the measurement and than put it back in so i can start to build a new one and as soon as it done switch it out. What kind of gauges can i use i have noticed that most of them are all mechanical gauges like for the oil pressure and i know that all the original gauges ran off of electrical is it hard to find the right gauges? Also can i use the original wiring with the new gauges?

[robroy]

Good evening USMCJones1988,

I'm in the process of implementing a custom instrument panel for my '72, and have had many adventures along the way. Unless you've done this exact same thing before on other cars, you can count on investing lots of time in to getting this modification right.

My adventure (so far) is here: Could I ask for advice on attaching my Teleflex/V3 gauges?

Robroy

[usmcjones1988]

did you use your original wiring harness with the new gauges?

[robroy]

Hi UCMCJones1988!

The best answer is yes, although I did have to modify it. All of the details, including an illustration of how I hooked everything up, is in the pages of that thread.

Robroy