Did Ford ever install a voltmeter instead of the amp gauge in these pickups?

Is there a volt meter that will bolt directly in the factory dash?

I don't like the amp gauge, I would feel better knowing what voltage the system is producing. I do NOT want to install an aftermarket round gauge in a hole somewhere ... if I got to buy an aftermarket gauge and cut it to fit into the spot were the amp gauge ... that's what I will have to do.


BTW ... sorry to be away for a time. I've started college. Considering I graduated from high school in 1969 ... I've got my work cut out for me.

I always wanted to teach ... maybe English or History ... but the military and my family had other plans. Now I have a little time ... so I'm a college freshman.

I going to teach Auto Tech ... on a post high school (Tech School or Community College) level. Its odd ... but after 28 years as a professional mechanic I have no "academic credits as a mechanic." Therefore, I must start from the very bottom ... with basic auto tech courses. And algebra, but that's a story for another time.

One of the things that helped me decide to take this on ... was this forum.

I really like coming here and helping young people figure their Fords out. Doing it over the 'net is VERY challenging ... writing diagnostic or basic process descriptions CLEARLY to nube mechanics is NOT easy. But it IS a hoot.

I've been VERY busy trying to catch up with the math and english ... but I'll try to make some time to poke my nose in.

Your questions helped push me to take on something I've wanted to do all my life.
Thank you all.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by oddshot

Did Ford ever install a voltmeter instead of the amp gauge in these pickups?

No, not in these trucks; if you want one in the dash, it'll have to be custom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oddshot

Is there a volt meter that will bolt directly in the factory dash?

Not that I've ever seen, but you might check NPD, LMC & JCWhitney.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oddshot

BTW ... sorry to be away for a time. I've started college.

Wow... I thought I had pissed ya off enough to not come back.

Seriously... that's cool! I didn't go to college 'til I'd been working for 10 years,
during which time I figured out I'd be able to get only so far without a college
degree. One of the best things I ever did for myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oddshot

Doing it over the 'net is VERY challenging ... writing diagnostic or basic process descriptions CLEARLY to nube mechanics is NOT easy.

I wouldn't know anything about that. *drip* *drip*

 

I figured I was gonna have to fabricate something ... Next trip to the upullit yard I'll have to look for something I can adapt.

Thanks bud!

 

Dang - congratulations! Sounds like a heck of a challenge. I was in class of 1995 and still would not want to go back to college (I only have 3 classes left to get my A.S. in Automotive tech - but none are auto related).

As for the voltmeter - what about an aftermarket one and using just the mechanism attached to the back in some way. You would likely keep the ammeter face, but the needle would sweep differently. Just a thought.

 

Have you considered replacing the factory gauges with aftermarket ones? You could get a piece of sheet metal or diamond plate aluminum or something and cut out holes for a speedometer, tach, and your various gauges. In that case, you'd get exact readouts for everything. That's what I'm thinking of doing with my truck at some point.

 

Your story is inspirational, oddshot. Thanks for sharing and good luck!

 

I would do a search on the web, and look for some sort of LED bargraph project you could make. You could keep the factory ammeter, but drill little holes below it and have LED's that told you the voltage.

I had a little unit I bought from Sears a long time ago in my old 57 chevy. It had 4 Led's, I believe the 2 middle ones were green, and the lower one was yellow and the upper one was red. I loved that little thing, it really worked well for telling you the voltage level. Your system really should stay between 13.5 to 14.5v, so anything above or below that is something you should be alerted to, and it doesn't take a very complicated unit to tell you that.

 

Hey, I found one.

DC Voltage Monitor Kit - VM-1 - Electronic Hobby kits from Electronic Rainbow, Danville Indiana

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklin2

Hey, I found one.

DC Voltage Monitor Kit - VM-1 - Electronic Hobby kits from Electronic Rainbow, Danville Indiana

That looks like a cool, little device!!!

I have some ideas for that... drill 7 holes - say, 3/16" or so - all in a row for the
LEDs. Then, in each hole, insert a rubber grommet, the poke the LEDs through
the grommet's hole from behind. I think it'd be cool if such a row of LEDs were
below the CHARGE at the bottom of the gauge, something like:



I don't remember how much room is back there for that device, it might
require removing the LEDs from the circuit board and mounting them
remotely. But, I'll bet it could be done....

 

Very nice!

 

There's more in the Tech Tips, Tricks & Projects sticky -> Gauges, Instrumentation and
Controls -> White Face Gauges thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...te-gauges.html