Along with doing the Dakota gauges I'm installing raingear wipers with intermittent switch. First thing is you have to do some modifications to make them fit. I cut out the under dash braces and the vacuum wiper mount for clearance. The intermittent switch is about twice as big as a two speed switch so more clearance issues. Both defrost vents have to be modified to fit. I have the driver side modified, need to do passenger side. Raingear does sell defrost vents that the hoses come in from the cowl side instead of from center. You have to call about them. The wiper switch will not work in the stock location on the top of the dash, at leas mine will not. Wiper clearance and gauge clearance issues. The two speed switch may work because it is smaller. I can drill a hole and install through lower front of dash. I purchased the wiper kit from Midfifty and it came with the switch and their adapter so it will clear the lower part of the dash. I have made up a bracket and shaft extension that I can mount to part of the wiper motor bracket so that the **** would still be at the top of the dash.

 

 

You are doing good work. That kit doesn't seem like it is much of a fit.

 

Raingear does their research and engineering to fit their system into whatever vehicle it is targeted to go into. While I don't have a lot of experience with the F1 series, I have used their systems on both a 54 F100 and 56 F100...smooth operation and durable design.
I noticed in your last photo of the face of the Dakota Digital gauge package that the dash opening is bent/waffled in various places...this appears to be the cause of your poor fit. I would get the edges of that opening straightened out and smoothed before final paint and fit-up of the gauge package. I am sure that the cluster will fit up tight against the mounting studs once the opening is cleaned up. Good luck...

 

The raingear wipers are a well built system. They run smooth and parked without any adjustment. The F1 are a tight fit for putting just about anything in. Today I had to notch the e-brake bracket by the upper mount point to give the wiper linkage clearance. It bumped it just a little during operation. I was not a big deal. Im using the driver side defrost vent that I modified for clearance and will use the passenger side vent that I purchased from raingear. I will need to run the hose behind the glove box and up and over to the vent.

 

Pokee,
Great work and pictures. I am planning on using the Raingear wipers and the Dakota Digital instruments on 48 F1 as well.

As an aside, which Dakota Digital color package did you select?

Philip

 

I selected the blue lighting. Even though you can program the brightness of the light, I purchased there dimmer switch will I will probably will mount where the choke cable use to be.