Looks good!

 

That looks really great. I think the white face gauges will look great in there.

I did something similar with the gauges in my 56. I also changed the bulbs to LED to brighten it up.

You can see it here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...my-gauges.html

 

Those electric Auto meter temp gauges are a good choice. I found mine to be very accurate. At around $45 some people think they are expensive. But they are worth it. I am glad to see that as long as you're doing this work you are using good instrumentation.

 

Nick, your new panel is looking good. Thanks for sharing the ideas with us.

 

Nick, excellent work and great vision.

 

Awesome work, I have been thinking about doing something very similar so I will be watching this thread

 

Thanks everybody! I figured with all i have learned from this site that i would try and finally try to add something of substance!

My spacing of the four gauges is right on. I also painted that white ring and i think it really makes a difference. I'm going to talk to the shop supervisor at school about cutting this pattern out. The next step will be fitting the speedometer in, but that will have to wait until the summer when I have some income.

 

That is looking great... Can't wait to see more... What are you thinking of cutting it out of? Can you show the back side how it looks? Wish I had someplace to cut something like that for mine... Need to start looking for old business cards to see if I can find a long lost friend.... You have a lot of talent, keep up the work

 

Here is the back side. I will have to make a mount to hold the gauge in place.







I have two ideas for what I will make the face out of. If I end up making it myself, I will just use some sheet metal to make it. If I get it cut out on a CNC mill, I will probably use a little bit thinker aluminum sheet, that way I could also add the radius on the openings like how the original plate looks. If I wanted to go over board, I could even get the cross hatch pattern cut into the face, but i think that would add a lot of machining time and cost to the part.

 

If you keep the decorative cuts shallow so they can be cut in one pass it shouldn't add a lot of time/cost, and would add considerably to the appearance. Even just cutting a a line 1/4" around the gauge openings and face edge would really dress it up.

 

That is a really great idea. I always liked the 56 F100 ,if i had one i would replace the insterment panel with the 56 ford fairlane panel,the f100 has little idit lights in it & the car has the nice round ones in it & i would put my gauges in there

 

I am following this too. I have also considered installing modern gauges into the original dash. Looks like you are on the right track.
Mark

 

Gicknordon, man that looks great... I love the way it looks. I am working on a stock set right now but didn't like that I was going to have to problem with the org fuel gauge as I'm gearing up to install the Blazer k5 tank at the rear of my truck... I might steal your ideal... I was thinking of using my aluminum gauge plat and ask a friend to cut a piece of wood to mount over the aluminum.... Might have to rethink again...

 

nice work, way above my level, but enjoy reading and looking.

 

Thanks guys! I might buy the speedometer once the school district pays me for being the drumline instructor. I will also update the thread after I talk to the shop supervisor at school about machining the face plate out.