'76 instrument cluster
'76 instrument cluster
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 48
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From: Odessa USA
'76 instrument cluster
My 26 yr old instrument cluster housing crumbled in my hands yesterday. I could find one in the junk yards but it probably wouldn't be much better. My question is whether there is an aftermarket piece. I salvaged all of the guages and lights, just need the white plastic housing for the rear of cluster.
Thanks,
Terry
Thanks,
Terry
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
'76 instrument cluster
That piece is not available through the aftermarket.
Another person here is looking for one and I have TWO extra that are in better than average shape.
IYI e-mail me direct.
Dennis
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
Another person here is looking for one and I have TWO extra that are in better than average shape.
IYI e-mail me direct.
Dennis
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 93
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'76 instrument cluster
Hi Terry, I am one of those guys that Dennis mentioned that is looking for a 78 F-150 Instrument cluster housing. My housing is also very brittle, especially where the light sockets fit into it. I talked to a local salvage yard operator the other day and he claims that the housings located on the east coast are not prone to getting so brittle as the ones subjected to the fierce summer temperatures of the southwest. Don't know if there is anything to his theory. What portion of the country do you live in? I found a parted out 78 F-150 sitting in a guys yard. The instrument cluster was still in it, but he was not home. I have not checked with a Ford Dealer yet. but it might be worth a try. There is a good article on this site (in the Tech.Section) on fabricating a custom dash. Not practical for the average guy, but it may eventually come to that for owners of old F-150's. Maybe if a guy was real daring he could fabricate a housing out of fibreglas, using the old housing as a sort of mould.
Bill (aka gilatrader)
Bill (aka gilatrader)
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 48
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From: Odessa USA
'76 instrument cluster
Bill, I found a complete cluster on e-bay starting at $9.99. When i contacted the seller, he has backer housings also only $8.00. Hope this helps. TRY E-BAY
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 50
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From: Blythewood, SC
'76 instrument cluster
Bill,
I wouldn't necessarily trust used East Coast Housings. I live in South Carolina and the cluster in my '77 F-100 disintegrated exactly as yours did. Perhaps the North East where summer temp's are less severe might be OK, but I think most Southern trucks will suffer from the same problem.
Bruce in South Carolina
1977 F-100 Ranger XLT
1984 Volvo 245 Turbo (it's a Ford now!
I wouldn't necessarily trust used East Coast Housings. I live in South Carolina and the cluster in my '77 F-100 disintegrated exactly as yours did. Perhaps the North East where summer temp's are less severe might be OK, but I think most Southern trucks will suffer from the same problem.
Bruce in South Carolina
1977 F-100 Ranger XLT
1984 Volvo 245 Turbo (it's a Ford now!
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Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: May 2001
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From: East Norriton,PA
'76 instrument cluster
I have to chime in, I live here in the north east and must admit
all the housings in the 73-79s's are never brittle...I never
new they were...Must be the light summers????
Let me know if anyone needs one..theres a yard here full
of 73-79's...
joe
all the housings in the 73-79s's are never brittle...I never
new they were...Must be the light summers????
Let me know if anyone needs one..theres a yard here full
of 73-79's...
joe
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 342
From: Albuquerque
'76 instrument cluster
Iv'e got three or four spare in the attic. When I get a chance I'll catalog them in case I've got one somebody needs. The reason I have so many is that there were a ton of diferent configuation based on year, with gauge/lights, differenct plugs on the back and locations for high beam and brake light. If you don't get the exact one it may not fit.
Bear Tracks
Bear Tracks
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 4
From: West Union, OH USA
'76 instrument cluster
i live in ohio and never heard of anything like this until my dad bought a 76 F-100 from california. the back of the cluster is really brittle and has a big crack almost all the way around it. i think you guys are on to something here.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 93
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'76 instrument cluster
Being a true "American" I settled my instrument cluster housing problem with $$$$$$$$$$. I ordered a new back panel through the local Ford agency parts counter and installed it. This one should outlast me and the truck! I did not remove the blue light filters like some guys did and I find the dash lights are still bright enough. What a joy! Everything is working now - even my overhead cab light. Stereo playing - CB Radio on - Twin 30" Glas-Pacs letting out their mellow sound - Other Guys turning their heads to look at my old 78 Ford pass by --- Man, I'm living high! And I haven't even painted it yet.
Bill
Bill
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
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'76 instrument cluster
My cluster backing is still in mint shape,I'm sure climate has something to do with it.
In case anyone ever asks ,I've got 3 of them in perfect condition.
They really are hard to find in some places
Dennis https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=1733&.jpg
[i][font color=red]Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font][i]
[font color=blue]Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [font/]
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver, Explorer Pkg.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
In case anyone ever asks ,I've got 3 of them in perfect condition.
They really are hard to find in some places
Dennis https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=1733&.jpg
[i][font color=red]Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font][i]
[font color=blue]Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [font/]
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver, Explorer Pkg.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Plano
'76 instrument cluster
Next time an instrument cluster falls apart on you check out your local boneyards first. It was a nice sunny day here in Texas so I decided to go junkyard scrounging again at the local Pick-n-Pull. I saw Ford instrument consoles all over the place that would have worked just fine in my 78 Bronco. Noticed that everything from Econoline Vans to F350's over the appropriate year range were using similar clusters. The condition varied from pristine to crumbling. Also saw several 100 Mph speedometers for that would've been good for converting from 85Mph units.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
'76 instrument cluster
Wow, what a great site! I just love it when I get on here and here that everybody else is going through the same thing as me!!
I live here in Hawaii and when I went to change the light bulbs in the back of instrument panel(I only had one working) the plastic disintergrated in my hands. I thought what next?
I went to the local yard to find some replacement clusters and found them in the same condition. So, to add fuel to the argument, the temperature here rarely gets over 88 or under 70 (summer and winter) and all the instrument clusters are toast! I don't think it is the high temperature summers, just maybe bad design/materials from Ford?
Just my $0.02. P.S. All you guys that have clusters for sale, let me know how much and I'll send you the funds because only one yard on Oahu stocks big Fords and I have been through every one with no clusters. (I now have no lights and the speedo is just hanging in there by a thread, sort of sideways).
peace and aloha
ricker
I live here in Hawaii and when I went to change the light bulbs in the back of instrument panel(I only had one working) the plastic disintergrated in my hands. I thought what next?
I went to the local yard to find some replacement clusters and found them in the same condition. So, to add fuel to the argument, the temperature here rarely gets over 88 or under 70 (summer and winter) and all the instrument clusters are toast! I don't think it is the high temperature summers, just maybe bad design/materials from Ford?Just my $0.02. P.S. All you guys that have clusters for sale, let me know how much and I'll send you the funds because only one yard on Oahu stocks big Fords and I have been through every one with no clusters. (I now have no lights and the speedo is just hanging in there by a thread, sort of sideways).
peace and aloha
ricker