Thanks a bunch!
Custom dash in progress - build thread
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: Chico, CA
A little update...
I've had a nutty weekend and didn't manage to make any progress on my dash (though I did get my old transmission cooler installed in my buddy's Suburban). Next weekend I will be using my truck and trailer on a 400+ mile trip so I obviously can't be pulling it apart then. This is the problem of trying to do work on your daily driver: if it's not absolutely critical, it's often just not worth staying up all night to work on it.
Here's the 2nd mock-up right now. You can see that I still need to do a little adjusting of where the gauges reside...
For those of you wanting plans - it'll likely be a couple weeks until I feel confident enough in the quality of the drawings before I'll pass them along, as I still need to do a little tweaking and until I can rip into the dash again that's just not going to happen.
Thanks for all the positive remarks though, and I'll keep this thread updated as I get more done.
I've had a nutty weekend and didn't manage to make any progress on my dash (though I did get my old transmission cooler installed in my buddy's Suburban). Next weekend I will be using my truck and trailer on a 400+ mile trip so I obviously can't be pulling it apart then. This is the problem of trying to do work on your daily driver: if it's not absolutely critical, it's often just not worth staying up all night to work on it.
Here's the 2nd mock-up right now. You can see that I still need to do a little adjusting of where the gauges reside...
For those of you wanting plans - it'll likely be a couple weeks until I feel confident enough in the quality of the drawings before I'll pass them along, as I still need to do a little tweaking and until I can rip into the dash again that's just not going to happen.
Thanks for all the positive remarks though, and I'll keep this thread updated as I get more done.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 13
From: Kincardine, ON
Sean, are you making the whole dash out of metal or just the inserts for the gauges and switches? I went back through the front of the post and I'm still not clear. Must be a another sign of old age 
.
.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: Chico, CA
I priced the metal the other day and a piece of 32"x18" (just the right size with all the pieces nested for cutting) 16 ga stainless is $84 while the same piece non stainless is $39. On top of that, if I go the stainless route I'll be paying someone (buying beers for my buddy who welds for a living) to weld it, as I'm not going to attempt to weld stainless, but I can weld the regular stuff. However, by the time I pay to get it powder coated I suppose it'll almost be an even thing.
Gee, now if only I had a powder coating setup of my own or the time to become a better welder this wouldn't be such a conundrum...
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,183
Likes: 18
From: St. Charles, Missouri.
If You buy your friend "Thinkin' Juice" when he is trying to weld,you might regret it,so just make him do it when he is sober,and he can get plastered afterwords.
Wouldn't you rather him do it once and do a good job,or mess it up where you have to pay to fix it?
Wouldn't you rather him do it once and do a good job,or mess it up where you have to pay to fix it?
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: Chico, CA
Well, since we're both legal age drinkers (and have been for many years), we don't usually binge drink when we consume a few brews (unlike what you and your buddies are likely to do), so I'm pretty sure I can get him to weld it fine. Besides, the usual deal tends to be pizza and beer, so the food helps to slow down the rate at which one gets loopy.
You'll understand in a few years that drinking isn't always done with the goal of getting plastered.
You'll understand in a few years that drinking isn't always done with the goal of getting plastered.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 0
From: Jackson,Tn
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,183
Likes: 18
From: St. Charles, Missouri.
Alcohol slows down your reaction time...
Besides is it worth waking up the next day with a hang-over and not remembering anything of the previous evening? (I'M talking IF and WHEN you get looped).
Well,enough about intoxicating beverages,lets get back on topic,shall we?
I love your truck,BTW!
And sense,my dash doesn't work,I might eventually make my own custom dash.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I'll weld any of the above AFTER a few beers. Heck - the beers seem to relax me a bit and my welds get BETTER sometimes
Shameless - too bad you aren't more local. I have a buddy around here with more 16 and 18 ga. stainless than he knows what to do with. He's been giving much of the smaller pieces to the scrap guys recently. I'll try and remember that 18x32" size you just mentioned so I can save anything that size or bigger to make a dash out of.
I was going to use aluminum, but if the stainless is free - why the heck not
Shameless - too bad you aren't more local. I have a buddy around here with more 16 and 18 ga. stainless than he knows what to do with. He's been giving much of the smaller pieces to the scrap guys recently. I'll try and remember that 18x32" size you just mentioned so I can save anything that size or bigger to make a dash out of.
I was going to use aluminum, but if the stainless is free - why the heck not
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
Chase, you can have enough SS to do several dash / gauge upgrades. 18" x 32" is nothing really, and I have several grades. Even some food grade mirror finish if you are after the bling.
When you are ready, and you get some CAD dimensions, let me know what size sheet you need.
Id rather weld stainless, than aluminum anyday when it comes to super tight radius and corners like this.
Stainless is just heavy, and if one was gonna powder anyway, it might not have too many advantages, but it sure is much easier to work with in my opinion. Strong too, never gonna break or bend.
When you are ready, and you get some CAD dimensions, let me know what size sheet you need.
Id rather weld stainless, than aluminum anyday when it comes to super tight radius and corners like this.
Stainless is just heavy, and if one was gonna powder anyway, it might not have too many advantages, but it sure is much easier to work with in my opinion. Strong too, never gonna break or bend.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 2
From: London, Ontario Canada
your correct 75F350, stainless steel is the way to go, aluminum is a real pain to work with, and from what i hear, you have to be pretty darn good when welding it,
also i always wish Ford continued the tradition of stainless steel trim into at least 1979, the aluminum is fine, but back in the 50s they had stainless steel trim, i think personally it would have held up better than what we ended up with on our trucks, it would have resisted corrosion all together, also it would have been less prone to dents or deep scratches, but then again, they where looking for ways to cut corners and save costs, thus aluminum was used instead, wish i could go back and change some minds! then we all might have less trim problems!
-Brent
also i always wish Ford continued the tradition of stainless steel trim into at least 1979, the aluminum is fine, but back in the 50s they had stainless steel trim, i think personally it would have held up better than what we ended up with on our trucks, it would have resisted corrosion all together, also it would have been less prone to dents or deep scratches, but then again, they where looking for ways to cut corners and save costs, thus aluminum was used instead, wish i could go back and change some minds!
then we all might have less trim problems! -Brent
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 811
Likes: 4
Shameless,
Powdercoating isn't that big a deal. From what you are saving, you buy yourself a powdercoating outfit from Eastwood, and do it yourself. The biggest thing is you need an old electric ovent aht your could probably pick up for next to nothing,
Powdercoating isn't that big a deal. From what you are saving, you buy yourself a powdercoating outfit from Eastwood, and do it yourself. The biggest thing is you need an old electric ovent aht your could probably pick up for next to nothing,
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: Chico, CA
From May 2007 until August 2008 I was living in Chico, CA and after December I'll be back there again. That's only 500 miles from you, as opposed to the 1500 currently. Though that really doesn't help either way.
I've been seriously considering buying a powder coating setup. My 2 cafe racer bikes (My own and the one I'm doing for the girlfriend) could really use some parts powder coated and I will easily recoup the expense by doing it myself. However, money's really tight right now and it'll probably have to wait until after Dec. when I finish school and go back to work in NorCal. It's hard to justify the couple hundred bucks (the gun alone is $89.99 on their site - I've looked before) it'll take to get the setup and powders I'd want at this moment, as much as I'd like to.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Chase, you can have enough SS to do several dash / gauge upgrades. 18" x 32" is nothing really, and I have several grades. Even some food grade mirror finish if you are after the bling.
When you are ready, and you get some CAD dimensions, let me know what size sheet you need.
Id rather weld stainless, than aluminum anyday when it comes to super tight radius and corners like this.
Stainless is just heavy, and if one was gonna powder anyway, it might not have too many advantages, but it sure is much easier to work with in my opinion. Strong too, never gonna break or bend.
When you are ready, and you get some CAD dimensions, let me know what size sheet you need.
Id rather weld stainless, than aluminum anyday when it comes to super tight radius and corners like this.
Stainless is just heavy, and if one was gonna powder anyway, it might not have too many advantages, but it sure is much easier to work with in my opinion. Strong too, never gonna break or bend.
On a side note - gimme a call when you get a chance. I need to run some d60 questions by you.
I was going to do mine out of aluminum because I like the looks better, could use the practice welding it again, and since i had some lying around. I'm not usually a huge fan of stainless, but I might go with it for this application - we'll see.