Gauge/Dash Questions
Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Gauge/Dash Questions
Hey guys and gals,
I am in the planning stage of my project and just looking for a little info. My project involves a 51 f5, 1948 m135, and a 51/52 f1. (basically all the best parts go into the f1)
Anyways my question is about the dash and gauges. The f5 has a nice cab on it, and the gauges are the twin circle cluster in the dash.
The m135 has an excellent cab on it (the doors open and close like brand new even!) and has the one piece cluster in the dash with the lower, second, and 3rd gear marks in the speedo.
So I am wondering if one set is more rare, or more used, or ...? I do kind of like the twin circle gauges, and if I did end up going that way, whats the realistic chance of swapping the dashes out in the cab? I was kind of looking around at that option (the two trucks I have are 3 hours away and I just got a quick peek at them this weekend!) but it looks to me like the dash is built right in with the cab, and swapping it out would be a hell of a big job!
Anyways, someone wanna take a few minutes and school me?
I am in the planning stage of my project and just looking for a little info. My project involves a 51 f5, 1948 m135, and a 51/52 f1. (basically all the best parts go into the f1)
Anyways my question is about the dash and gauges. The f5 has a nice cab on it, and the gauges are the twin circle cluster in the dash.
The m135 has an excellent cab on it (the doors open and close like brand new even!) and has the one piece cluster in the dash with the lower, second, and 3rd gear marks in the speedo.
So I am wondering if one set is more rare, or more used, or ...? I do kind of like the twin circle gauges, and if I did end up going that way, whats the realistic chance of swapping the dashes out in the cab? I was kind of looking around at that option (the two trucks I have are 3 hours away and I just got a quick peek at them this weekend!) but it looks to me like the dash is built right in with the cab, and swapping it out would be a hell of a big job!
Anyways, someone wanna take a few minutes and school me?
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 128
From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
With 35,000 posts shouldn’t it be the other way around? 
Not sure I quite understand the question, but that’s OK I’m old. I take it that you are going stock?
Anyway, I have a 51 f1 and it has (actually had, I’m going custom) two round gauges as do the 1952, the 48 to 50 had the rectangular gauge set. And yes the dashes are welded in although it would not be impossible to cut the gauge panel part out of one and weld it into the other.
So if you are asking if the round gauges are interchangeable I would think so.
Picture of an under-construction filled remodeled dash with holes for 6 gauges and a clock available upon request!
Not sure I quite understand the question, but that’s OK I’m old. I take it that you are going stock?
Anyway, I have a 51 f1 and it has (actually had, I’m going custom) two round gauges as do the 1952, the 48 to 50 had the rectangular gauge set. And yes the dashes are welded in although it would not be impossible to cut the gauge panel part out of one and weld it into the other.
So if you are asking if the round gauges are interchangeable I would think so.
Picture of an under-construction filled remodeled dash with holes for 6 gauges and a clock available upon request!
Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
I do believe we learn something new every day of our lives, till the day we die! Wise men with 100,000 plus posts have to ask something, sometimes 
Thanks for the reply. Im not sure how stock the whole truck is going to be, but the dash and gauges I would like to have a stock look, along with the rest of the truck, maybe just some things (like the front suspension) updated so the truck is a better driver.
I dont think I want to do the whole dash cutoutand reweld thing either, but might end up taking that route.
Im just glad to find out that one set isnt mroe rare, or desired then the other!
Thanks for the reply. Im not sure how stock the whole truck is going to be, but the dash and gauges I would like to have a stock look, along with the rest of the truck, maybe just some things (like the front suspension) updated so the truck is a better driver.
I dont think I want to do the whole dash cutoutand reweld thing either, but might end up taking that route.
Im just glad to find out that one set isnt mroe rare, or desired then the other!
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,769
Likes: 547
From: Kalispell, MT
Obviously Shel's posts weren't in the 48-60 forum (grin)
48-50 trucks used the same gauges and dash. 51/52 used the same gauges and dash.
Both are common. No, I don't think the speedometers interchange easily. The later one appears to be slightly larger than the early one.
The gauge in your m135 (approx the same as the F5) are marked with the shift points. That gauge wasn't used in the F1 pickups and is even more common.
48-50 trucks used the same gauges and dash. 51/52 used the same gauges and dash.
Both are common. No, I don't think the speedometers interchange easily. The later one appears to be slightly larger than the early one.
The gauge in your m135 (approx the same as the F5) are marked with the shift points. That gauge wasn't used in the F1 pickups and is even more common.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 128
From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
Part two. (of many).
You can “kind of” only use the stock gauges with the stock engine and that is why people use after market gauges, but…. wait for it, there was a post some time ago about someone using newer gauge faces in behind the stock gauge panel. You will have to search for it. The newer gas tank fuel sender is not matched to the old gauge and there is about 100 pages on this as well. In your planning you have to decide what way you are going to go (12 volt, tank location, engine, etc?) before you can get the parts you are going to need.
You can “kind of” only use the stock gauges with the stock engine and that is why people use after market gauges, but…. wait for it, there was a post some time ago about someone using newer gauge faces in behind the stock gauge panel. You will have to search for it. The newer gas tank fuel sender is not matched to the old gauge and there is about 100 pages on this as well. In your planning you have to decide what way you are going to go (12 volt, tank location, engine, etc?) before you can get the parts you are going to need.
Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Thanks again for all the replies. The truck I will be pulling the motor from has an alternator on it, so I am assuming it has a 12v conversion on it, so I am also assuming those gauges should work on a 12v system, right?
Mflat was right about my post count, many posts spent BS'n for sure!
Thanks for your insight old f1, you have given me more to ponder, and thanks for the pics moe craig, did you pull those dashes out of the cabs yourself or...?
Mflat was right about my post count, many posts spent BS'n for sure!
Thanks for your insight old f1, you have given me more to ponder, and thanks for the pics moe craig, did you pull those dashes out of the cabs yourself or...?
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