Collecting and Restoring Gauge Clusters

[abyars111]

Here is a F500 cluster with those differnt gauges we saw on ebay last week. This guy said he had to slightly modify the mounts for the gauge pod but they went in easily. These are from F700 cab overs & B series buses. The dash panel is different but as we suspected the gauge pods interchange. His tach is made to match a first generation Bronco speedometer, it's from Wild Horses 4x4.

[abyars111]

I bought a F500 cluster this week. I found this one from a guy in Knoxville. Seems to be in tip top shape. The chrome is perfect. I'll have to wait until I get it in to see for sure. It has both sides of the wiring plug as well. I will mount a tach of some sort. I was hoping for orange needle gauges but I'm happy with these.



edit: I guess I should have started a new thread, we've turned this into a F500 cluster thread instead of discussing all clusters. I'm sorry, I don't mean to hijack, I don't know how to delete my post.

[Calfdemon]

Anthony, that is the same style F600 gauge set that I had originally. I ended up going with the Auto Meter Old Tyme Black gauges to match the speedo and have a complete assortment of gauge type selections as that style has everything from a tach to a clock. I know you have looked at my old thread so you can see how they all go together but just thought I would name drop the style of gauges I picked up in case that helps you. Looks great!

[abyars111]

Anthony, that is the same style F600 gauge set that I had originally. I ended up going with the Auto Meter Old Tyme Black gauges to match the speedo and have a complete assortment of gauge type selections as that style has everything from a tach to a clock. I know you have looked at my old thread so you can see how they all go together but just thought I would name drop the style of gauges I picked up in case that helps you. Looks great!

Thanks, I was going to dig up your build for the name. I plan to install the autometers in the temp & oil for now. Later, as budget allows, I plan to add the tach and maybe the rest of the autometers. For now I just want to make sure I have accurate temp & oil pressure.

[abyars111]

69Ford, you mentioned that one should ground the speedo in an earlier post. How do you do this?

[69Ford]

Here is a F500 cluster with those differnt gauges we saw on ebay last week. This guy said he had to slightly modify the mounts for the gauge pod but they went in easily. These are from F700 cab overs & B series buses. The dash panel is different but as we suspected the gauge pods interchange. His tach is made to match a first generation Bronco speedometer, it's from Wild Horses 4x4.

[ Image ]

I'm glad you posted this because this is something I want to do but did not want to spent the money to find its not possible.

[69Ford]

69Ford, you mentioned that one should ground the speedo in an earlier post. How do you do this?

I've found to different ways the factory did it. One is a little plate underneath one of the screws on the speedometer with teeth that dig into the gauge housing. The other is a small cable going from the screw on the speedometer to the screw on the voltage regulator Should be picture of this in my previous posts. If not I'll post some more Pics. They were factory grounded. The reason I posted this is because these parts can so easily be forgotten about in reassembly or the plate type can be bent and not touching the housing. The more I learn about electrical stuff I realize that grounding is one the most important things to do solves a lot of weird issues. Any thing metal should have a way back to the battery.

[abyars111]

Where do you buy LEDs? Are they brighter than the stock bulbs? Do they make one close to the same color as an incandescent?

[69Ford]

Where do you buy LEDs? Are they brighter than the stock bulbs? Do they make one close to the same color as an incandescent?

I bought the bulbs from a company called white gauges through Ebay. The White bulbs are brighter to me the colored bulbs are not as bright as white but as good as incandescent. Ill through in a pic of this gauge not perfect but pretty good for a 40+ years old

[abyars111]

Thanks for the supplier.

That gauge looks nice.

[Abrams]

Hey, has anyone seen or used these (link below) gauges on ebay? They look pretty sweet and cheap also.
They don't look like they'll fill in the same dash area that my current dash does. Maybe this is just some kind of insert for the original cluster.
Regards
A


http://www.ebay.com/itm/67-68-69-70-71- ... 19&vxp=mtr

[sargentrs]

It's just a flat panel. You have to cut the center out of your existing bezel and leave something to put screws through. Not a bad price though.

[sargentrs]

Btw, 69Ford, good job on the vacuum gauge!

[69Ford]

I sure would like if abyars111 Posts picture of his cluster rebuild. And thanks everyone for all the interest.

[abyars111]

I will post pictures of my cluster project. I want be able to start for a few weeks but will post pics when I get started. I have sime woodworking project to finish for my daughter.