Collecting and Restoring Gauge Clusters

[69Ford]

I know the bezel won't work on bumps I wish I had the gauge cluster less the bezel to see if they would work with my bezel they would look cool also I'm almost a 100% certain that tach is they same for F500 bezels cable driven though need the right distribitor for that.

I'm wondering if I can fit these gauges into an F500 bezel when I find one. The center cluster looks the same as a F500 to me. I like that they have number markings. I'm tempted to buy them to hang on the wall.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321300058596?ss ... 1423.l2649

[69Ford]

Looking at the link to Ebay above the bucket "The steel suround around the gauges" I don't know what else to call it looks wider than mine and has two more screws under the speedometer. The gauges look like they will fit into our buckets except the ampmeter gauge looks to be a completely different. The current bid is $100 to much for me just to find out. But they sure would look cool in one of my clusters. I also contacted a couple of speedometer shops about converting the cable tach to electronic way to much $$ for me.

[abyars111]

I'm like you, I think the bucket would fit. I'm going to watch and see if it relist for less money or "make an offer". I checked on the tachs once, two much money.

[ultraranger]

....a '76 F-700 cluster currently listed on ebay shown with a circuit board instead of hard wires. --also has a buy it now price tag of $249.99.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/321294042290?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1

[69Ford]

interesting I wonder what year ford went to the circuit board cluster this is the first one I seen with it in the big truck with this style cluster. Also I would like to know when Ford quit using this style that will fit the 67-72 dash F100 Thanks for posting.

[abyars111]

Somebody sold one just like this in same condition on the Fordification FB page last Friday for $100. It also had the vacuum gauge. I passed on it because I want the older style like 69Ford has. I made an offer on a very nice one someone posted on the page last night. I'll have to him to let me know how I did.

[ultraranger]

interesting I wonder what year ford went to the circuit board cluster this is the first one I seen with it in the big truck with this style cluster. Also I would like to know when Ford quit using this style that will fit the 67-72 dash F100 Thanks for posting.

I'm not sure either on the change from hard-wire to circuit board cluster. If the seller on ebay is correct that the cluster they have listed is from a '76 model F-700 then the change to the circuit board was at least by that date. (again, if their date on the cluster is correct).

The dashes in the bigger F-500/800 trucks appears to have been installed all the way through 1979. The metal dash structures in the F-500/800 trucks looks like they were possibly left overs from the '67-'72 F-100 through F-350 models and just installed in the later '73-'79 F-500/800s.

The following link shows a 1979 F-800 that still has the earlier style, bump-era, metal dash structure in it with the bigger truck gauge cluster that would still fit in a '67-'72 F-100/F-350.

http://tow911.com/gallery/Vintage-Photo ... Holmes-500

[69Ford]

Ok I know this thread is getting long but here's one more pic. Top F500 with altered harness, middle F100 totally stock harness, bottom F500 stock harness. Notice how the altered harness has the plug further over like the f100 harness. Does anybody have the clips that hold on the emergency blicker. I'm trying to figure out the best way to hold my blinkers on these clusters. I'm sure this has been a problem for many people since ford had the push on type. Also notice the cheap electronic blinker on the center one from LMC truck Square and no sound. Go with NAPA's electronic blinker with sound and round.

[abyars111]

I don't have any laying around but when I visit the junkyards I'll keep a look out for some.

[69Ford]

more pics of my restorations. The gauges on the right are going into my truck all NOS gauges. Not really they have 341 miles on them from last year. I have read some other posts about the wiring harness you do not need to change or modify the plug in the truck you just repin the gauge side using a donor wire harness from an F100. Not sure if that goes for the circuit board clusters it they use the same plug it will work. The black backing plate on the right is original. The one on the left was really rusty and I restored. I'm going to do another harness soon I will try to take pictures and a little tutorial on how I do this. Thanks everybody for reading my posts. Also when you are doing these make sure you ground the Speedometer. I know its all mechanical but stray voltage can do strange stuff.

[69Ford]

At it again. Here's a cluster less bezel just delivered today taken apart and somewhat cleaned just to see what I have. Never had the vacuum gauge before does someone know how to take it apart to restore. Another member was kind enough to send me this Thanks

[sargentrs]

It'll be interesting to see how that tach comes apart. Be sure and let us know when you figure it out. You do some great work

[69Ford]

Well here's my vacuum gauge. They were never made to take apart I did it without destroying the bezel. While I'm restoring all the parts I'll be thinking how to put it together without destroying it. Took the factory crimp on the bezel with a small screwdriver kept bending it out until it eventually fell apart reverse may be harder. Never thought in a lifetime the face would turn out this nice. Now the biggest problem I do not have a gauge bezel with a hole for this. I do not want to cut up one of my good. And as Wayne used to say Have A Great Ford Day.

[abyars111]

The face is nice. I saw a guy put the bezel in place, he laid it on a towel, took a small block of wood and hammer and slowly tapped the crimp back in place.

[sargentrs]

Here's how the original bezel looks. I tried the rattle can chrome out on it. It came out ok but afterwards I noticed trash in it so I've since sand blasted it all off.