I always used a step bit for those pilot hole for the punch outs, had the small set and a few of the larger one up to 2.3/8" I unloaded them to my son home for storage after punching the fire-wall holes for the AC hoses a good number of years ago.

Also use them all time back in the 80's while setting up 220/440volt power panels for water well 50-75 Hp electric motors. Yup wrenched them out in the field when needed.
Not a big deal in a electrical panel box.

They do make a nice clean hole.
Orich

 

Hi all,

Could you remind me what years and models those nice F500 dash gauges will fit our F100's? And then does the F600 and F700 apply as well?
Just found a 84 F700 in a local pick and pull and it's a new ad but before I go I want to be sure.

thanks,

 

I don't know all the specs on these dashes but, I'll say just the corresponding yrs as 67-72's but could be wrong.
orich

 

A billet aftermarket insert made by Boese. Available sized for Autometer, VDO, or Autometer Pro-Comp gauges: 1967-1972 Ford Truck Billet Aluminum Dash Inserts

$150

 

I know the Bumpside big trucks and all '73-'79 big truck clusters are dimensionally the same and will all fit in a '67-'72 F100 through F350 dashes.

I've pulled clusters from F500, 600 and 800 F-series trucks. They will all fit the '67-'72 F100s through F350s.

Bump era big truck clusters usually have white bezels. The Dentside big truck clusters generally have chrome/black bezels.

 

Thanks Ultraranger.

That insert Hio posted is very nice too.

All great ideas.

 

I know where there's an F-7000 diesel powered Ford truck right now (at least that's what the badge on the truck says) that has the white faced big truck cluster in it.

Unfortunately, someone broke the glass lens in it and drilled some senseless holes in the instrument bezel (idiots!).

 

You glad I spent your money now?

 

Hmmm. No less hilarious than the price some of us are willing to pay. I made the mistake of looking at the current bottom line on my 71 last night. Ouch. $120 for a cluster, $350 for 1968 metal grille...it all adds up, in a hurry.

 

Simple laws of supply and demand. These clusters stopped being produced a long time ago. Clusters are being crushed/scrapped right along with these old trucks every day. This means the supply is dwindling even more.

Not everyone has a wrecking yard/scrap yard nearby with these clusters available for the picking.

If I take the time to find a desirable part that people regularly are looking for, spend the money out of my own pocket to purchase it, have my transportation costs of going to the location to get it and back home again, I'm not going to sell the item for less than the time, effort and monetary investment I have into it.

The part (whatever it may be) may be for sale but, that doesn't mean it's ON SALE.

Some of the sellers have highly inflated prices on items such as these instrument clusters but, they have a product people want so, the choice is shop around and find the best price vs. bezel condition or, locate one in a wrecking yard yourself and maybe be lucky enough to get it at a low cost or, the other choice is don't buy and be content with the existing instrument cluster already in the truck.

--my statement isn't necessarily directed at you. It's for anyone in general that's looking for a big truck cluster (or any desirable part). When supplies are limited, prices can vary significantly from one seller to another. You either pay the price they put on it or, the other choice is to do without.

Recently, I purchased a set of 31-spline axles that came from a 9-3/8" rear end, to install in my truck's 9-inch rear end housing. I had been searching for a set of these for a considerable amount of time with absolutely no luck.

Then finally, very recently, I stumbled onto several sets. Some prices (each for the axles) were high and some were low (considering what they are). I went with the best price vs. condition. They both arrived and I saw I had made a good choice.

I'm not sitting around complaining and whining about the sellers price on the 31-spline axles I bought. It's a fairly rare commodity to come by and I'm glad I FINALLY found them for the price that they were available at.

 

No, that's not the only thing you made me do.......
Running brake lines, installing the motor and trans has come to a complete stop.
I ripped out all of the fake wood grain interior because I'm no longer going to have the wood grain cluster and have spent countless hours looking for F500+ gauge clusters....and purchased one.....or two.....well maybe three now. I got some help from hillcountryflt too.
I just have one thing I want to say to you guys.....
















THANK YOU!!!

 

Well, boys, Truck Santa delivered today. I am very happy to have one of these now.

 

^Are you Going to paint the bezel face black?

 

I think he want's it so shiny he has to wear shades at all times

 

You know the speedo is in US mph, which is 20% faster than Canadian mph's...

Can't wait to see it in your truck.