1952-59 Ford installing aftermarket gauges in an oem cluster?

HAsAnybody installed aftermarket gauges in a oem cluster? Im doing a rotisserie frame off restoration/ kustomization on a 56 ford victoria.I cant see goin with the gen/oil pressure idiot lights!.

 

Have you looked into something like this?

 

Dolphin also makes a custom gauge panel which looks alright but I haven't heard anything good about their gauges. Here's a link to their panel.
I used the stock panel and make an aluminum plate to hold the gauges as most aftermarket gauges are a little smaller than stock gauges. Here's a link to how I made it. Good luck.

 

I am using the dolphin set up and I love it. so easy to set up and they work great. im going to paint the billet but other than that it looks great.

 

send a PM to another member here in the group , 321go . He has a '56 Victoria with aftermarket gauges fitted in the stock dash . He might be decent enough to put some pics up here for you .

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I used Omega Gauges in my cluster and then just repainted the stock speedo to match them.

 

I ended up making one. I used stainless on the first one, since I had it and kind of planned on doing it engine turned. Ended up painting it instead. However I have my interior stripped right now and I am going to remake it with plain steel I think so it will hold the paint better.

I started with cardboard as a template, got it close, made the steel one and grinded till I was happy with it. Then I lined up the gauges and punched the holes for everything. Once it was painted it wasn't really noticeable. The aftermarket ones I found didnt have the correct size gauge holes for the gauges I am running.

 

I guess I failed to mention that mine are using double bezels. We bought a new set of the '56 dash bezels from Macs and then bent the tabs around the backside of the Omega gauge. We basically kept the Omega bezel intact and you can kind of see it in the pictures. It isn't that noticeable from the drivers seat.

 

Thanks Everybody.I like Dos Cincos idea as i already have new bezels from Macs and the omega gauges like like solid ones and MADE IN USA!

 

I used the same design as a 56 dash in my 54 Merc w/Autometer guages & a piece of aluminum. The speedo is kind of deep so I had to use my die grinder to open up the steering/brake support

 

Who makes this one?

I made an adapter plate but this one looks nice.

 

Boese Engineering

http://www.boeseengineering.com/sea...xtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-Ford-F...to-Meter-Phantom-Instruments-56-/300744524785

 

Thanks.

 

Heck here is all you need to use the original unit with aftermarket gauges.

http://www.boeseengineering.com/detail.asp?product_id=44408