Doc's Kustom gauge panel install
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Seatac, Washington
Doc's Kustom gauge panel install
My parents got me this gauge panel for Christmas, I finally got around to ordering the gauges and cutting up the dash panel to make it fit. I was hoping for an easier install, but it took quite a bit of work. It is designed to mount to the vertical bars that divide the cluster, but if mounted like that, it sits too far away from the dash. So I had to make my own mounts after cutting the bars completely out. I will post more pictures of it tomorrow.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5464323792/" title="IMG_1698 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5464323792_1a7b21e691.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1698" /></a>
The tach was back ordered, so when it shows up I will install it in the truck.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5464323792/" title="IMG_1698 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5464323792_1a7b21e691.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1698" /></a>
The tach was back ordered, so when it shows up I will install it in the truck.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Upstate NY
Curious about how the aftermarket speedometers work. I know you can get mechanical ones but does every speedometer cable spin the same speed at a given mph? I wouldn't mind my own custom dash eventually. Looks good man.
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I was curious about the same thing. I have been wanting the look solidrunner is acheiving but wasn't sure about speedos.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Seatac, Washington
My tach finally showed up, so the gauges and wiring are complete. I have an EFI 460 in my truck, so I had to install a vehicle speed sensor. I got an electric speedo, which is uses the factory pulse signal. I just have to run a wire from the vss input to the computer to the speedo. The electric speedos will use almost any sine wave vss pulse from 500 to 400,000 pulses a mile. To set it you push the calibration button, drive on the freeway for two miles (use mile markers) and its set. If you look on autometer's website there is a video of how to calibrate the electric speedos, its pretty cool.
Im waiting for the weather pack connectors to come in, so I can install it. I will have more pictures when I do that, probably next weekend.
Im waiting for the weather pack connectors to come in, so I can install it. I will have more pictures when I do that, probably next weekend.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: central oregon
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Kasson, Minnesota
Looks good. I had looked into one of those, but I wasn't sure I would like the viewing angle, so I just decided to make my own. Anyway, let us know what the viewing angle is like.
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From: Seatac, Washington
The viewing angle is one thing I'm wondering about. If it ends up being weird, I'm going to angle it back and build a little box/shroud to fill the gap on the top and sides.
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From: Seatac, Washington
So I finally got around to finishing this project, what a pain in the ***. I had to completely cut the bezel apart and make this thing fit. The viewing angle was horrible. Now it is good. I had to cut out the vertical bars completely and fill in the holes left with kevlar reinforced filler. It was a lot of work but it looks good.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5620565209/" title="IMG_1700 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5620565209_238131fb2c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1700"></a>
Here you can see the filler, which made the holes left by the vertical bars go away.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5620565209/" title="IMG_1700 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5620565209_238131fb2c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1700"></a>
Here you can see the filler, which made the holes left by the vertical bars go away.
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From: Seatac, Washington
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5621153614/" title="IMG_1701 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5621153614_dccef786fb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1701"></a>
Here is the finished result, not my best work, but its the underside of the top, so you don't really see it.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5621153868/" title="IMG_1704 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5621153868_12629d4bcb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1704"></a>
In the truck. You can get a better idea of the angle it sits at. It's not as angled as the stock cluster, but you can see all of the gauges just fine.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5621153968/" title="IMG_1705 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5621153968_382cb46949.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1705"></a>
Here is the finished result, not my best work, but its the underside of the top, so you don't really see it.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5621153868/" title="IMG_1704 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5621153868_12629d4bcb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1704"></a>
In the truck. You can get a better idea of the angle it sits at. It's not as angled as the stock cluster, but you can see all of the gauges just fine.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/57378652@N05/5621153968/" title="IMG_1705 by solidrunner46078, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5621153968_382cb46949.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1705"></a>
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From: Regina, Saskatchewan
Very nice work dude.
I've always been weary about installing a custom gauge cluster because all of the clusters ive seen have been flat (vertical) on the dash, which is NOT what I want at all.
I like the angle that the original cluster sits at because it lines up almost directly with the angle that you look down at (no glare off of any light, and thus you can read those gauges clearly).
What I want to ask now, is if you've had any issues with reading any of your gauges when there is a lot of light on the truck, or if it's coming in through the rear window at all. It's a huge concern to me just because these machines are old, and they need to have an eye kept on them at almost all times.
I'd never drive my ol' 78/79 blindly... I'd have a consistent look down at all the stuff to make sure we're still riding the way it should be.
I've always been weary about installing a custom gauge cluster because all of the clusters ive seen have been flat (vertical) on the dash, which is NOT what I want at all.
I like the angle that the original cluster sits at because it lines up almost directly with the angle that you look down at (no glare off of any light, and thus you can read those gauges clearly).
What I want to ask now, is if you've had any issues with reading any of your gauges when there is a lot of light on the truck, or if it's coming in through the rear window at all. It's a huge concern to me just because these machines are old, and they need to have an eye kept on them at almost all times.
I'd never drive my ol' 78/79 blindly... I'd have a consistent look down at all the stuff to make sure we're still riding the way it should be.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Seatac, Washington
The angle the gauges sit at is perfect. There is no glare at all when the sun is behind you. I think this might have something to do with the material autometer uses though.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Montgomery, IL
Here is what I am working on: A custom built stainless dash insert.
Front View.
View of the Radio and heater switch housing
Rear View.
It needs a little elbow grease to clean it up but that shouldn't be too much work.
Mark
Front View.
View of the Radio and heater switch housing
Rear View.
It needs a little elbow grease to clean it up but that shouldn't be too much work.
Mark
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Kasson, Minnesota
Nice work. I posted this in another thread, but this is pretty cool, just a little expensive.
Classic Dash :: Ford :: Ford Truck :: 1973-1979 :: Drilled Panels
I like the look of the stock bezel with a little touch and the viewing angle is a must.
Classic Dash :: Ford :: Ford Truck :: 1973-1979 :: Drilled Panels
I like the look of the stock bezel with a little touch and the viewing angle is a must.