I hadn't heard about this, so I wanted to throw it out there to the forum--for those of you with an older truck. Although my printed circuit board oem instruments are still working, having swapped it 2-3 times, I can see the end of this setup on the horizon. This looks fairly nice. I do wish, however, that they would sell the holder of the gauges on its own, allowing customers to purchase the gauges separately.

Truck Parts and Truck Accessories

 

I've always thought a full replacement with NEW gauges (not stock replacements) would be nice. Something with some newer technology to get them working a little better.

Another option is the Dakota Digital if you want an updated look on top of it.

Dakota Digital Dash 78 79 Ford Bronco Full 6 Gauge Cluster System VFD3-73F-PU


Unfortunately for me, they only make both of those up to '79.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/80-86-Ford-....c100005.m1851

 

That does look nice. But if that alone costs $300, what is the total going to be with the gauges?

Did you notice the guy's handle on ebay? mattsclassicbowties.

 

That is pretty cool. However, I wish they'd spent a little extra time styling it like the original 80. It's all balloony with soft edges (which is more in line with the 90s era),but the original was hard edged and had trim lines and texture.

I looked up the manufacturer and they do sell it with the gauges installed.

Ford Truck 1980 -1986 - Classic Dash | Classic Dash

It's about $670 to $1320 depending on which gauges you go with.

 

I have not looked to closely at replacing the gauges in my 81 but the older one looks like you could use plexi glass as the flat part the gauges go in and glue the sides on and paint it flat black.
Might be able to do that with the 80-86 cluster. Strip out the old gauges, glue in a plexi glass flat sheet to mount the gauges in.

I did this on my 70 AMC Javelin. Replaced the stock gauges with SpeedHut.com gauges. I made a flat mounting panel from alum. to mount them to.
Stock gauge panel

Custom gauges ordered to look stock but note the "AMC" & "Javelin" the stock one did not have or the 160 MPH speedo!

Gauges mounted to the Alum mounting plates.

First part of the dash in place

Stock gauge bezels, wood grain has to go!

Real carbon fiber in silver I had to make

What it looks like all in place

Lights on

So with some time anything can be done and look good to boot!
Dave ----

 

Very nice work! That looks great. (I really like that combo gauge with the volts, water, fuel, oil all in one. )

And a custom dash like that would be awesome.
The perk you have there is real estate. The trucks are a little limited on space, which is usually why you see gauges strapped onto the steering column, up on top of the dash, above the radio, etc.
I wouldn't mind an a-pillar mount, but no one makes one for an '80 - 86. Just 87+
I know I'd be wanting to add engine vacuum and AFR to the list of gauges.

 

The mid size gauge to the left is a 8K tach with shift light & red line light in place where the factory clock was.
The GPS speedo is in the stock location and has fancy stuff like top speed, The quad gauge is where the fuel / temp gauge and the oil / alt lights were. They have high / low limit lights you can set.
The 2 smaller gauges in the center of the car were Rally Pack option gauges were and was vacuum and another I forget now. I put a vacuum gauge & clock there.

The silver carbon fiber if looked at fast looks like the base model silver engine turned one.

If you look over the options http://www.speedhut.com/ gives you I think you can have the quad gauge and speedo w/tach to fit in place of the stock gauges.
They can work with you to get the fuel gauge to work with any sender so no need to replace it if it is working right.

You know what they say .... if there is a will there is a way!
Dave ----

 

Odd that I started this thread.... I've been having some issues with mpg. It seems to have dropped to half what it was. I checked the carb, ignition, air filter, and then noticed that the odometer was lazy. Dang. I checked LMC for a new speedo, then remembered that I had a spare cluster. I dug out an old box in the garage, and there it was. However, when I picked it up the white plastic crumbled in my hand. $150 for a new one at LMC.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/332611131080?rmvSB=true

Last week, I purchased one of these for $49.99 delivered. It was shipped 3 day priority! It comes with the factory instructions for setting the mileage and it goes to 999,999,9 miles. Mine is in and works beautifully. The box was unopened [NOS].

 

Oh wow, that's very cool. So they had a 6 digit odometer but didn't use it?

K's truck is a 70's era though, so he'll probably need this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Metric-...wAAOSwubRXNiR4

 

Thanks for the link and info. That was a very nice find! I'm glad it works well. I have a replacement junk yard speedo in the garage, with untold miles on it, but since this will be the third time I've changed the speedo, I'd like it to last, and was considering the $150 LMC replacement. I know it's most likely made in china, but ....


Thanks J. I think this is the one I need, for the '75. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1974-1975-76-Ford-F-Series-Truck-F100-F250-F350-ORIG-DASH-SPEEDOMETER-GAUGE/152741595327?epid=1353742307&hash=item23901bc8bf

 

Sorry, F-250 restorer. In my mind, you had a later truck? I know better.

 

Other possibilities?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Speedometer...item3632975e82

https://www.ebay.com/p/1973-Ford-Oth....c100005.m1851

https://www.ebay.com/p/100-MPH-70-S-....c100005.m1851

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Speedometer...sAAOSwJotbAxJI

https://www.ebay.com/itm/73-79-Ford-...EAAOSwmzRaf5la

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1974-1...item23901bc8bf

This final one looks to be NOS: https://www.ebay.com/itm/F-100-Speed...kAAOSw6o1alaqI

 

$24.99 [used] + freight: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-79-FORD-TRUCK-1978-79-BRONCO-SPEEDOMETER-0-100-MPH/302777646835?epid=1353742307&hash=item467ef43ef3:g :d~QAAOSwYPhbKb-2

I located this one searching for: D3TF-17265AA, which I observed on the back of the previously listed NOS [looking] speedometer.