Does anyone have any good pics of a cutom dash cluster in ther 73-79
Fords trucks? I would like to replace the stock cluster with something
custom to get some good gauges in there.

 

I've got a tach mounted to the column in my truck. It's small so it dosen't block the other guages. I like the looks of the others though

 

try dolphin gauges they have a custom set up for the 73-79 ford trucks. it's the only one I know of. They also have all the custom gauges if you have just won the lottery.

 

I hate the gauge cluster our trucks have.If I had the money I would replace the current dash cluster by welding in a piece of metal.Making it look smooth and factory with the rest of the dash,Then i would get some of the digital gauges from jegs to mount in the area where the old cluster used to be.Or I would get a vintage gauge cluster from some kind of older car or truck.
I think it would look good both ways.Sleek and modern or old and classic.Just my 2 cent worth

Tim

 

Or you could skip the welding part and get some brushed aluminum metal and just mount gauges in it and screw or rivit it in place

 

Ivan has done a cutom dash in his truck and it looks really nice check it out...https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=12311

 

Thanks 460 Crew. I'm in the process of wrapping up all my wiring, just as soon as I figure out what's going on with my ignition. Then I'll have some pics of the switch panel and all that mess too.

 

Ivan, that is one nice looking guage cluster. When you're done, you may want to post how you did it. On the other hand, I could understand if you wanted to keep it to yourself! Very nice job.

 

Well pretty much all the construction of the dash is in those pics in my gallery, but if you have any specific questions about it let me know. Basically, I built a sheet metal extension of the dash to create that extruded console in the middle. The big panel that is angled toward me is all my switches for the lockers, nitrous, headlights, etc. Then I moved the heater controls and radio next to that, centered in the truck so the passenger can get to them. The dash panel is made of a sheet of Lexan (bullet proof glass) that I cut with a jig saw and then bent to fit the contours of my new dash with a heat gun. If you get it hot enough you can shape it any way you want to. Once I cut all my holes for the guages I covered the Lexan with a carbon fiber look vinyl. The other thing I had to do was tilt the whole dash up a bit so the guages faced me. You could build this tild into the panel if you wanted but I thought it was easier to build it flat and then drill 2 new holes in the side walls to rebolt the dash where I wanted it.

 

Ivan the dash is crazy... you need to build me one! How much that whole little project cost you?

 

Not as slick as Ivans but I made the stock dash a little more to my liking.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=85692&width=0

 

As far as materials, I've got under $100 into it. I think I spent $20 on the junkyard dash, $15 on the Lexan, $5 for the scap aluminum I used to make the switch panels, $20 for the vinyl cover, $15 for new paint for the dash pad and then some misc fiberglass that I used to blend it together and the primer/paint to finish it. The rest is all time. The guages themselves . . . well that's a whole 'nother bank account. Autometer stuff is not cheap but they work well and I like to know all of what's going on with my truck. I've got a little over $1000 into guages and still have 1 or 2 more to buy.

 

hey goldnickle thanks for the tip on Dolphin, want to get more info on the dash insert,
like the white 6 guage set with the gold bezels. Cool looking old style pointers and a 6 set for 249.00 a lot chepper than the VDO set in my flatfender jeep ( paid way more for them). Thanks Ivan nice dash you have going on there, and REALY NICE truck man.

 

Ivan looks good I,m doing mine dash out of walnut.putting the gauges in from the back 21 of them.I know a little extreme but I have been told I do that alot on my truck.

 

Check my gallery.