So ive had my cluster unpluged on my mud racer since its creation. I did have a mechanical oil pressure and coolant temp gauge that i rigged up under the cowl hood. but they were hard to see if there was water on top of the pit.
so i pulled my dash apart and mesured up the cluster.
I think with some modification to the dash trim i can get all my new Gauges into the factory cluster area.
I knew off the start i wanted my tach in this area along with 6 other gauges. the tach is a 3.5" auto meter and then six 2-1/16 gauges.
now i know what your thinking but its possible and i will show you how.


First off im using cardboard for a template. and using the factory cluster as a template i made the first two pieces, then taped them together. And threw some screws in the back plate.


Then using a strait pick i pierced holes for the screws for the top plate.


Then i tried to put on the dash trim panel to check the fit and found that it wouldnt fit. so by eyeball i trimmed out the area i thought was causing the interference.


so i got it to fit and then decided to make the sides. so by using some smaller square pieces of cardboard i was able to trace the angle and then cut it. then i taped it into place.



So then i took and mapped out where my gauges were going and also made the mesurements for the gauge holes.



In the last photo you can see the cardboard was getting stressed from when i test fit the dash trim so i had to do more trimming. and another test fit later(this time using the screws to mount it on) i found i still had some more to trim. by using a pencil i was able to find what i could trim and it started to look real good.








So now i just need to find a way to eliminate those bars on the dash trim panel, and i am taking the prototype to the local fabrication shop to price out having it made in aluminum. would be wicked if i could get it anodized red.

But if its to expensive and i have a feeling it will be to have someone else make it. I will just fabricate it myself out of sheetmetal. Then i can paint it whatever colour i want.

 

Keep up the great work!

 

Nice work. Aluminum would be nice to keep it light.

 

can you cut the bars out and then just fill in the gaps on the end with some abs plastic or filler? I've used SEM plastic repair filler for similar jobs.

 

Check out this thread on how I built mine. It may give you some insite on how to do yours. Using the factory cluster frame like I did really helps alot. I basically used a dremel and poly resin (fiberglass if you wish) to build mine. No special tools needed, just some time and sanding skills. If you have some questions, please ask and I'll do my best to help.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ter-built.html




This is what mine looks like now that all is done and it's installed. Of course don't forget about turn signals in your cluster or put them elsewhere like I did mine.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ject-pics.html

 

So i never made it to town today but i did get those bars cut out of the dash trim. by using a thin drywall saw i had in my Old toolbox i was able to cut them out with only a little exces.



Then i got out the file kit and started removing the leftovers so they were level.



Here is what it looks like mocked up when i left the garage today.

 

Looking good, love seeing different approaches. Keep the pictures coming.

 

Here is an update on the dash. Decided to make myself out of sheet.
Bought a $15 dollar sheet and went to cutting, bending, drilling, and welding and had this


After buying a 3 1/2" hole saw and some rattle paint




Just waiting on a autometer sportcomp air/fuel(AEM one looks like crap)
and my autometer Elite Tac with progressive shift and a Elite Fuel pressure.
Also ordered a 15 pin connector so i can wire it so it can come out.

And in the future there is room for another 2- 2 1/16" gauges. (NOS)

Will add a digital speedometer, signal/high beam indicators between the small gauges, and brake fault indicator if i ever make it road legal.

 

Looks good! It makes me want to do something like this to mine.

What did you paint the surround with? In the one picture there's filler, the next is painted and looking like the factory made it that way.

 

It's rust oleum industrial high performance spray paint. I will get the part number when I get home.
And just masking tape off what you don't want to paint. Do light coats and let it dry for a few hours.
If you spray over half cured paint it will spider crack.( learned the hard way a year ago)

 

Looks great!