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Part 1 was refreshing/refurbishing the factory cluster--Part 1 here
Part 2 is to augment--I added a custom tach and wideband A/FR and vacuum instrumentation, along with a purpose built hardwood "shoe box" to mount it all.
Gauges are from "speedhut"--I paid an extra $75 for them to make the custom tach face with the yellowband and redband, which I got to choose the limits (6k is plenty for me with the big 460).
I found a craftsman woodworker in Ohio that made me the custom enclosure.
Photo taken just after a warm idle shutdown. Note that these gauges "freeze" wherever they were when power is cut.
Here's a bit of the voyage along the way:
I never cut into a factory wire harness, and I make it a point to not leave any visible scarring, such that some caretaker 30 years from now could return everything the way it was originally.
Cardboard mockup for the mounting panel I made a decent mockup, and Michael the carpenter did amazing work!
When I pulled the non-cracked (but slightly oxidised) dash pad out...... well lookie there! factory original! And all 10 mounting studs are still in place too.
I used some "plumber's strap" to make a mount that would be secured by the dash pad hold-down studs.
Yes, that's my plan. Admittedly, even though I'm 6 foot, I do have a small portion just beyond the left side hood that is slightly obscured unless I really sit up.
The good news is the gauges are very much easy to read....
looks nice! i can tell you, me being 5'8 and 5/8" if i get a good night's sleep, i wouldn't be able to drive with it there lol. maybe a form of theft deterrence too against shorter thieves
looks nice! i can tell you, me being 5'8 and 5/8" if i get a good night's sleep, i wouldn't be able to drive with it there lol. maybe a form of theft deterrence too against shorter thieves
Thank you!
hmmmm, hadn't thought about a theft deterrent, but maybe. Kinda like you can keep (almost) anyone under 35 from stealing a car as long as it's a stick shift?
My daughter is about 5'3, and she hates the new gauges because she has to look around the sides of the box when driving the truck.....
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.