For all you guys who have thick lined pockets, Dennis Carpenter is now selling brand new bezels for $125.00, $150.00 for the wood grain ones for the Ranger Package
Russell
1968 F250 LWB 300-6

FORD=First on Race Day
THE 2003 LINEUP
#88 Dale Jarrett-UPS-Robert Yates Racing
#38 Elliott Sadler-M&M's-Robert Yates Racing
#97 Kurt Busch-Sharpie/Rubbermaid-Rousch Racing

 

Larry, does that mean you bought the starter kit? If so, please report back how it works. I am very interested in trying one myself. I just need someone to say it really works.

 

Yep, that's what it means. Will report back.

Larry

 

Hmm...looks like there are 2 or 3 threads on dash and gauge options going currently so through the magic of cut & paste, lemme see here...VIOLA! (Thank god cuz two finger typing takes to long to do it over)

I hate plastic dashes but if you need a replacement there are generally one or two up at most times on e-Bay. Even a couple NOS the other day. If you can find one a great option is the instrument cluster from an F600. Not sure what all years are but I know like a '69 has a stamped steel instrument bezel with standard round gauges and the steel instrument bezel will bolt right in where the plastic came out! Easy to paint and east to maintain! It is a really easy upgrade that looks hot when you swap out stock gauges for Stewart-Warner, Autometer, etc... So run down to uncle Pete's back forty and rob that dash! While your at it better check into the sending units for the gauges unless you go big and replace straight off with after market stuff. If he has two, get one for me as well. I have one already in one of my '70 trucks but need one for the other. I have photos once the Gallery is up again which I plan to post. If that takes too long I guess I will need to take on developing a home page for my truck. I will re-post and direct you to the photo of the dash I am talking about ASAP for all to see. Remeber if you find two your ol' buddy WR turned ya on to it and he could use the extra one. Good luck whichever way you go.

 

Hi, heres some pics of the heavey duty truck bezels! I have to go to work now so I don't have time to say much about them, but i will later today (if anyone wants to here about them)!Until then click my galleries.

 

I would love to hear more about them. What gauge is that spot on the right for?

That chrome one would look fabulous in my 68. How does one hook up the gauges?

 

I don't know what the chrome bezel came from, but it has a date code on the gauge cluster of 1978!It uses a printed curcit .The painted one came out of a 68or69 f600 and has a date code of 68 on it!It has the wires pluged directly on each gauge and they go into one connector (easier to wire in).The gauges shouldn't be to hard to hook up.Be sure to get a few inches of the harness. If you have lights instead of gauges now you will have to change the sending units on the engine! I haven't got into any of the wiring yet.If you look at my gallery you see my truck isn't quite running!HA!HA!.
When I found the chrome bezel it was painted all black except about a 2" strip around the top. It appeared to have came from the factory like that! I Am going to check on getting the painted one chrome! The guage on the left is a vacuum gauge, but I have a sun tach that will fit in there. It is just a little loose!I have not dicided,but I may cut out the right hole and put the tach in there and kept the vacuum guage!(I don't know yet).Another thing I haven't figured out is what I'm going to do with the small hole on the left!

 

did the chrome one come chromed like that from the factory or did you use some of the spray stuff??

 

Looks like the little hole is perfect for a lighted toggle switch. It don't need to do anything, just wire it to light up when switched on until to find another use for it, HeHeHe

 

It was factory chromed ,but 95% of it was painted black! The paint appeared to have been put on there from the factory also!
Johnny

 

what did you use to get rid of the paint? Acetone?

 

I used paint stripper. It's in a areosol(sp) can and it's called "stripper". We use it in the body shop to strip what paint's left on Chevrolet's HA! HA!. It can not be used on Plastic!
Johnny

 

What kind of shop should I look for that would do vacuum metalizing? Cost?

Tom

 

Look in the yellow pages under "Plating" - I have no idea on cost.

 

Just purchase a repoduction instrument panel from DC for $125.00 and be done with it . I'd rather not bother with the question- is it gonna look good when I'm done with it ? It's not to pricey for something you have to look at every time you get in the truck.
Patrick