A couple years back I bought gauge decals, so I am starting to build three instrument clusters:

1) 6 volt with decals
2) 12 volt movements with original face plates with decals
3) my modified cluster with 12 volt meters mounted

I removed the cluster to work at some wiring and will see how I decide once I've finished the meter mods.

You can see one modified meter face with decal installed, on top right fuel gauge.

Tom

 

I've never understood why it's so difficult for the makers of those decals to get the font correct. That kind of stuff bugs the crap out of me.

 

Tom

That looks like a great project. Are you planning on taking lots of pictures and possibly writing up a "Tech" on how to do this?

 

some useless trivia :

I remember seeing a study not too long ago that compared font type/style to ink/toner usage. Even using the same type size, some fonts use grossly more ink than others. This study went beyond the DOH of Bold taking more ink. It may well be they're cheaping out on the ink costs in the mass printings.

 

I wonder how hard it would be to just make your own with the correct fonts? There has to be some type of transferable clear material you could use to stick the things down.

I wonder if 'fifty-two f1" who makes the "Magic Air" emblems would know?

 

Printer toner just wouldn't last, neither would normal inkjet ink. Proper decals are printed with petro-based inks. These guys and many others do custom vinyl decals... guaranteed that two or three sheets are the same cost as one, if you see my drift...

Vinyl Lettering,Custom Decals,Die Cut Decals,Wholesale Decals,Plotter Cut Decals, Vinyl Decals,Truck Letters,Wall Words, Wall Art, Wall Decals,Vinyl Banners,Magnetic Signs,Race Car Numbers,Fundraising Decals,DIY Wall Art,vinyl numbers,

 

No doubt the majority of the cost of custom printing is in the setup. Once that part is done, the actual printing is easy and cheap. Which brings me back to my point, if you have to do the setup anyway, why not do it correctly? Why not produce a quality product? If something is worth doing, surely it's worth doing right. OK, enough of my soapbox. Sorry. ;-)

 

I agree, if you're going to do something, aim for the correct font.

I went scrounging at PnP yard last Friday to stock up on meter movements; got'em from 87-89 Econoline and F150 trucks.



I have two other instrument clusters so will use the faceplates from them fitted to later model movements. I've done one fuel gauge so its doable. Might be a winter project, I'll put my finished cluster in , if I can get it ranged to the senders. Did a bit of measuring, the stock 6 volt fuel gauge meter movement is only 2 ohms (10.7ohms) less than the coil from the fuel gauge from '90 F150(12.5 ohms). Its the senders that I'll need to match the gauge to.

I'll update with my attempts to scale the meters.

Later

Tom

 

I can reset the odometer to all zeros for you if you want to do that but don't know how.

 

Thanks 51panelman, might take you up on that.

I've used a speed from 1989 F150 in the current cluster I've done, but would like to match up the speedo face with later model speedo since I'm running '90 AOD.

One cluster will be all stock meters and speedo, with decal faceplates.

Tom

 

Worked today at instrument panels I have:

Cleaned up one that I will leave as stock 6 volts, speedo could use at little paint touch up, need color match.

Second one I worked on to clean instrument housing and trim; going to use original meter faceplates with decals, and 12 volt movements.

Third one I intend to use decals with 6 volt meter movements.

I already have done one over using early 90's meter faces and movements in original instrument housing.

Since I'm using 12 volt system, with 90's donor senders; I will either use voltage reducer and use 6 volt gauges OR 12 volt meter movements, with modified gauges.

I'll post pics when I get them all finished.

Tom

 

posted an overview of the instrument clusters I'm working on in my gallery

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=42173

 

A little off topic... Has anyone ever used a company named CN Dash? They claim to refurbish mid-Fifty gauges. Guess you send in your cluster and after a bit of time (and a couple hundred) they ship it back all nice and shiny. I have their info but wanted to know if anyone has used them. Thanks.