NEW OLD DASHBOARD.

HOPE YOU GUYS DONT HATE ME BUT I COULD'NT RESIST. MY SON AND I PULLED THIS DASH FROM AN OLD FORD CUSTOMLINE THAT HE FOUND WRECKED AND UPSIDE DOWN OUT IN THE WOODS NEAR OUR HOUSE. I JUST WENT WITH MY GUT AND STARTED THE INSTALL. I WILL FIT THE RIGHT SIDE AND FILL IN THE CENTER SECTION SINCE IT WAS TOO SHORT. I REALLY LIKE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? --GABE--[img][/img][img][/img]

Wow thats Cool. Was there a glove box in the middle and what was the little round hole above it for??

That's a cool piece! I'm a little concerned about the angle the gauges are sitting at, being a cab-forward, needing the gauges to be more horizontal. I do like the angle of the switches. I'd probably graft the gauge section separately so it sits flatter, and still try to keep the switches as they sit! I'd also relocate the "port" for a tach closer to the speedo gauge section!

Now thats way cool ! Very inovative !!! If that dash could talk,I'd say never thought I'd come back to life again.You've done well.

Very cool.This is the reason why I can not wait to really start my early resto project.Over the last 25 or so years I have had a number of classic cars that were restored, including the two I have in the works now.With these cars it was by the book and they were restored for the most part the way they left the factory which is fine.But when I saw my 65 I really got excited about all the things I could do to make it mine .It's going to be a lot of fun.

Keep up the good work, it looks great
mike

Can't wait to see this when your done. What gauges will you be putting in?

Balcones...Awesome look!! It is going to look "Tremendous!" Great idea!! Keep up the great work!! Next time I visit Round Rock, I'll have to come by for a visit?
B.W.

woah! cool idia, is it a ford van? i think the hole in the center might have been for a clock. makes me think ive got an extra 60-63 chevy truck dash,

that looks like a great idea. if it is replacing a dash on a ford, i think it will be an upgrade. i like ford vans but i think your mock-up is way cooler than the stock set-up. good luck and keep us posted....
james

very nice!

What a great idea!!That's a real cool retro look, looking forward to the finished product.

That's awesome! Looks like it belongs there. I think the little round hole would be perfect for a clock!

the reason im guessing a clock went in the top center, my dad had a 55 Buick with the clock in the center of the dash, it was a wind/up no electric and it only worked when you went over a bump kinda hard! , i had a 62 Buick that had a clock mounted in the center of the dash as well., im also going to guess by looking on the right side of the dash theres a big grate, probially for a speaker, so the whole in the center was (just guesses here) a radio, they were huge and had tubes the size of a water glass- i feel old all of a sudden...

WELL I HAVE STARTED PATCHING TOGETHER THE DASH. SAND BLASTED IT AND AM READY TO DO THE FINE TUNING. THE CORNERS STILL NEED TO BE SECTIONED IN AND CONTOURED. THE GAUGE CLUSTER WAS SMASHED BY KIDS ALONG WITH ANYTHING GLASS! BUT I'LL FIND SOMETHING, OR I HAVE A MODEL "A" GAUGE PANEL THAT I COULD FABRICATE IN. I'LL KNOW IT WHEN IT HITS ME. THE CENTER HOLE WAS ORIGINALLY FOR A CLOCK AND THE RADIO WAS HUGE, BUT ITS GONE TOO. I'M THINKING ABOUT TAKING ONE OF THOSE EYEBALLS THAT FLOAT AROUND IN THE CLEAR BALL AND PUTTING IT IN THAT CLOCK HOLE. HA HA, CREEPY! OH I ALSO GOT THE BENCH SEATS FROM THAT CAR AND THERE IS ENOUGH LEFT TO PIECE TOGETHER A LARGE BENCH SEAT FOR THE FRONT SO DA WHOLE FAMILY CAN CRUISE. WE WILL SEE. -GABE-[img][/img][img][/img]

Yes Yes Yes...the Eyeball in the hole with the Von Dutch Wings painted along side it!!! Boy do you have a great "Canvas" of a dash to work with!!!
B.W.

That's going to be Soooooooooo Cool !!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe how much you've accomplished in such a short time.

DAMN THIS TRUCK! IT'S GOT ME UP @ 2:00 AM WITH ANOTHER IDEA TO RESEARCH! AHHH! NEED TO LAY OFF THE COFFEE!

if its any help Balcones1, i believe its a 53 ford dash , in case you want to find an original speedo.

That dash is SO cool! I love the idea of installing the whole dashboard from another vehicle! It's something I would have never thought of doing but I have seen it done once or twice in hot rods. I can't do it with my Sportvan because of the sentimental value, how it reminds me of my old van from years ago, so I've got to keep it fairly stock.

However, my Dad had this in-dash compass in his garage for as long as I can remember. Knowing him, he probably smuggled it out of the Ford factory he worked in way back when! I don't know what vehicle it was meant for but I assume it was a factory option for something. It looks so cool and retro, I've always wanted to put it in one of my cars. I've got to find a place for it in my van!



Anyway, that's why the first thing I thought of for that round opening in the center of your dash was a compass!

What a undertaking I have pulled out one dash in my life to repalace a heater cord and than put it back in (amazing how many extra screws and washers you end up with) but to pull one and put a different one in is beyond my skills. But I must say its really cool looking.

love the dashboard can we get an update on the proggress

Gabe

You have set the bar up another notch!
Great idea...and it just looks great.
Keep the pics coming.

Jim

great idea great job.....