Hey everyone I want to upgrade my battery and oil gauges from lights to mechanical gauges that fit into the currant dash. I'm wondering if anyone else has done this?
I just don't like to trust lights and prefer a gauge that tells me how much voltage or oil pressure I have. I also would like to keep the old speedometer however, I have upgraded the transmission to a crus-o-matic.
I need to replace the cable because it has been cut in half before I came along. So will the 1959 cable work with that transmission? Or will I need to change the gear to a different ratio?

 

Plenty of room for more gauges. A previous owner put in the amp and oil pressure gauges. The idiot lights also still function. I'm not a huge fan of amp gauges and plan to change it out vor a volt meter.

 

There is tons of room but I was looking for gauges that replace the old ones so I didn't have to cut that dash.

 

I think that would require just gutting the instrument cluster and using the face plate to start over. It's all kind of a unit in there. It probably wouldn't be that tough if you are ok with wiring. I'm not sure you would find smaller gauges to exactly fit the holes though.

 

Check out my thread on gauge replacment:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...e-cluster.html

 

An incarnation of this gauge cluster survived into the 80s maybe even the 90s
in some of the larger "F" trucks & school bus platforms and C-series (cabover)
and the gauges should drop right into the housing, or on some of em' you could even use the whole gauge cluster assembly some even hadda factory tach, but the only ones of these i have personally seen are the cable driven, not sure if they ever had an electric one. I've even seen kilometer speedos in canadian trucks built after 76 when it was made manditory for Km's to be used in Canada

Mikie
near ottawa canada
58 merc 100 panel & 64 econoline p/u

 

I have one of those bus panels from a 70s bus. The gauges are still a unit and yes the tacks are cable drive back then. Mine also has the big vacuum gauge. I used to do a lot with the 67-72 and we put the whole F-600 dash in those for better gauges.

 

One thing i had forgotten to mention...
if you are running a modern(alternator) charging system the older ammeter won't hold up to the amperage, i kinda think they only go up to about 40A

Mikie
near ottawa canada
58 merc 100 panel & 64 econoline p/u

 

I am running a higher alternator and probably will end up with even a larger one with the upgrades I keep adding slowly. I have to ad a electric fan and I'm hoping a 16 Siclone from summit racing will help cool the FE 390 Y-block with the Edilbrock performance 390 intake and 4bbl carb. This beast has been a healing project for me and I'm taking my time to try and do something special with it. After all 1959 was the year that the first microchip was made and we all know where that has gotten us. I'm trying to keep the semi cleaned up rust in shape but under the hood we have to show the kiddies why American iron is the way to go.

 

I did a bunch of searching on the internet and elsewhere trying to find a gauge setup that has a vintage stock look and also incorporates modern instruments. I went with the Dakota Digital setup shown in the picture.




The gauges are all mounted in a single pod that is made specifically for the '57-60 Ford trucks. The gauge pod bolts to back of the stock metal dash insert and connects to an interface box by means of a CAT-V cable. No cutting is required to install this kit. In addition to the gauges, the speedometer contains a bunch of cool looking idiot lights. Everything is illuminated by LED's. For more information, check out the Dakota Digital web page.

 

Yes..
that looks tasteful, no hacking to the outer trim panel, and it doesn't have the tacky look that the "all" digital ones do.
Actually.....it looks quite similar to one i have sitting on the shelf here of of a late 70s early 80s F-500.

Mikie
near ottawa canada
58 m=100 panel & 64 econoline p/u

 

I agree, Nice looking cluster, simple. I'm also not a fan of the all LEd on old cars, or big bling wheels or other fad stuff.

 

That's about as good looking as it gets for aftermarket. Nice way to have a tach, clock, etc without a lot of alteration. I'll have to collect a few more cans before I can get enough coin for that one.