Some of you know I'm looking at making a faceplate to go into the pocket to the right of the steering column. In my cause it'll be for a pair of gauges, a temp gauge and pressure gauge, but it could be used for a single gauge or switches or both.

My intent with posting this is to get some help planning it out. I'm sure that you folks will have some really good ideas that, if incorporated early on, can really make a difference. So, please give me your ideas and suggestions.

Here's a pic of the bezel I'm working with, although I have several and am confirming the dimensions across more than one - including the burled-wood one beneath the rosewood bezel. So far, they all have the same dimensions.




My plan is to make the faceplate on the right side mimic the one on the left side. And, as you may be able to tell in this pic, the faceplate is recessed just over 1/8" behind the lip.




As for the pocket itself, it is a complex thing. What seems at first like a rectangular box isn't really. The sides and top and bottom slope at about 3°, probably to make it easier to remove from a mold. Then there's the ~1/2" angled piece on the left. And, the back isn't an even depth from the front. But, here's a pic of it.




So, what have I done? I've drawn it up and created several "printouts". This one is just an overview:



Here's the front view of the pocket:



And now the front view with two gauges added:



This view is from the bottom looking up:



And last, from the right. And, I just noticed that the gauge is sitting differently in the Right view than in the Bottom view. Something to fix tomorrow.

 

A couple problems with putting the gauges there

1. they are hard to see

2 you REALY have to take your eye off the road to see them

3. the gauges that would fit in there are gonna be TINY

 

I would screw two little short pieces of angle aluminum or something to the top and bottom or the sides of the box at the correct depth, and then use them to screw your new faceplate to. Drop down in the box a 1/2 inch or so from the brackets, and hacksaw the whole back of the box off for room and easy access to the guages/switches or whatever you put in there.

 

Brad - I disagree. Here's a pic taken from eye level of the gauges that fit, where I used to have them, and where two of them will go. It was difficult to read them where they were, but will be much easier than in the pocket. Not perfect, but there isn't any place else that I want to use, so this is it.



Dave - I agree with you on everything except maybe the choice of material. I'm thinking it might be easier to use the same plastic the faceplate is made of since plastic glue will stick it on easily. But, light aluminum angle would do the trick, like you said. Thanks!

 

I agree with brad, I think that you should mount switches, like Luke is doing, for any accessories you may add.

 

2 words

A PILLAR

 

Guys - I appreciate your input. But here's the situation: I think A-pillar gauges shout "added on". But the theme of my build is "as Ford did/would have done it". So pillar gauges are out. And I think gauges in that pocket are the way to go as they are far better than under the dash and should look close to stock. So, if you have suggestions on how to do that I'm all eyes.

 

I say if you're constantly looking at your gauges, your truck isn't reliable, or you're way too worrisome.
Gauges are great for diagnosing issues, but honestly, I never look at mine unless I think there's a problem, or I'm pulling a long grade and wanna glance at my trans temp.
I put an under dash gauge pod in my psd, and I never look down unless I need to see egt. I will get an Apillar pod to move my egt and trans temp up to eye level, then add fuel pressure and engine oil temp down below. My gas trucks, I only care about trans temp, other stuff I know my truck runs well and no issues even when working hard.

 

My truck was so reliable that my bride of ~45 years suggested we take it from OK to DE and back about 18 months ago. We did, hauling a large load of furniture, and had nary a problem in the 3500 miles we drove. Subsequent to that I pulled it apart for this restomod.

But, the factory gauges on these trucks are neither reliable nor accurate. I've owned five of these trucks and have lost one engine and troubleshot many problems that were due to malfunctioning factory gauges. So with several thousand dollars invested in the engine alone, I'm not going to trust the life of my engine to them. Given that, I will run aftermarket oil pressure and water temp gauges so I can know for sure what is going on and catch a problem before it ruins something.

Again, I'm all eyes if you have suggestions. But I am running aftermarket gauges in "the pocket" so would appreciate helpful suggestions.

 

Like I said, put them wherever you want, because a good running vehicle only needs them occasionally.

 

The (cell phone holder)box does come off the bezel. Its held on by 6 or 8 melted plastic points. Look behind it and you can see those tabs that are melted over holding the box in place.

That wood grain sticker that's peeling off front bezel. My bezel is doing the same thing. Any thoughts about fixing that?

 

Untamnd - Thanks.

Eddie - First, the "cell phone holder" isn't gonna work much longer. At least not for me. I've said Ford knew the iPhone was coming when they built that pocket as my 4 and now 4S fit fine. But I recently tried my wife's 5S and it didn't fit at all. And the to-be 6 is even bigger. So now I'm free to convert it to gauges.
But, I've just looked at two of my bezels and the pockets don't appear to be removable. Here are a couple of shots of mine and I don't see the tabs. Am I looking in the wrong place?






As for the woodgrain, I've had LOTS of thoughts. But still don't know what I'm going to do. I think I have a really good set that will be available, but I'm not sure I'll get them. And, I've thought of going with the style used in the Custom trucks with the black. On the other hand, there are transfers available in woodgrain as well as carbon fibre. Or, I might go to a custom graphics place. I just don't know. What are you thinking?

 

Oops, the box I am thinking of is from the 87 to 91 trucks. I just check my bezel and its solid molded in place too.

The wood grain issue I though of removing the old stuff and try some of the wood grain sticky wallpaper(plastic sticky kind). Just not sure if that stuff will hold up to the heat though. Other thing was just paint it a matching color of the dash.

 

Well, good try anyway. As for the woodgrain, I'm still looking and thinking. If I get the really good stuff then I'll go that way. If not, I'm not sure.

 

I don't really have any advice on how you might attach them. If you are wedded to using the pocket then the hard decision is already made, and all that remains is just to figure out whatever you can to hold them in there best and prettiest, and I guarantee you, no one will figure it out better than you!

I will however be quite interested to see your result.

After I did my break-in my eyes were glued to my gauges for weeks after, to the point I nearly wrecked several times. Of course I'd had several over-heating problems, etc... Once I started to feel a bit more confident I looked at them less and less. The other day I did an errand and got back and realized it was the first time I'd driven somewhere without glancing at the gauges. I almost felt guilty, as if I'd sinned.

But anyway, you do want them where you can see them, because any time you have a problem you will be staring at them non-stop afterwards for several days. For what it's worth, the location I have mine, under the dash beneath the radio area, gives me perfect view of them.

It is a shame to lose the convenient pocket in a truck where storage is already at a minimum. However I know you do plan to have a center console which will make up for that.

I also agree with you Gary that A-Pillar gauges do kind of stick out. Especially in our era trucks.

If there are any other spots conceivable to man to locate them that hasn't been discussed, it would be in the radio bezel, or, delete one of your driver's side A/C vents. Neither of these are particularly wonderful but I'm just throwing them out there for the sake of completeness.