Technical Custom dash panel in a 40 merc ideas ?

the gauges in my 40 merc don’t work .

tje dash looks like it’s all one piece , I have a set of reproduction Stewart Warner curved gl*** gauges that I bought years ago for a project I never ended up using .

I was thinking of using them in the merc , any ideas?

I see on line the dash comes apart but it looks like it’s all one piece .
I could mount them under the dash in a panel , but useless gauges in front of me don’t really make sense.


I dunno ? Any ideas?

 

Taking into consideration this is a Hot Rod site..an option, cut out original gauge area (appears to be somewhat flat), weld in a new sheetmetal panel with your hole cut outs for the SW gauges, or another original gauge cluster you like.

Yes, purists will cringe and give you the stink eye.

 

Here's my '39's dash.

 

It’s a 4 door , so not exactly a super collectable car.

I don’t mind doing a little cut and paste .

@40FORDPU that’s a nice looking dash .

 

I couldn't bring myself to cut up that dash.... it's got too much cl*** and personality!! I would be checking around to see how much $$$ to update with new innards and saving pop bottles for the deposits, then get 'em redone. That car is too cool to have a belly-****on dash!

 

Funny ! I've thought about doing the same thing on my 38 dash in my model A.

Couldn't get the bezel I wanted to use to work so I've been looking at this style of set up for my gauges. Infact I've already filled in the drivers side pocket.

 

Vandenplas I looked at one to put in my model A. I thought about cutting and leaving about 1/8 to 3/16 lip around the bulged panel where the gauges are and rolling it in, then adding about a half inch strip of metal to it to form an inset and mounting a piece of either engine turned aluminum to the back of it to mount the gauges too, or painting it a silver or gray.

This would create an inset for the new gauges to set in and make it look somewhat like a factory style inset. Thought it would look like the factory inset it to match the depth of the rest of the original dash.

Even tried to figure out a way to place a piece of gl*** in front of it but never got that far in planning as I figured I'd have to cut to much of the dash away to make it fit my model A and lose the looks of it.

.

 

Here's my 39 Fordor with a grafted in 49 Cad instrument surround.

 

This post is self-serving but since it's you Vandenplas, how's bout a Dodge (well a Plymouth) panel.
Large 5" gauges needs new capillary tube, View attachment 5373824 but the rest is serviced and ready to go. I've got it listed in the cl***ifieds.

 

One idea I personally like is a 1949 /1950 Ford dash . Sleek ,stylish and rounded gauges.

 

Well that seems like a back handed compliment But I’ll take it !

those gauges are friggin gorgeous!!
I was asking about custom gauge surrounds to install Stewart Warner gauges that I have .

but man , those gauges you posted are dang ***y !


And why would I put dodge ( Plymouth) gauges in my merc !!!!

I think I have a set of Plymouth hub caps I’ll also on for ****s n giggles

 

Believe me no offence intended" It's a Dodge" quote has permanently attached to you on the HAMB. I get a kick out of it every time I read it.

 

My skin is so thick I might as well be a shark !

no offence taken , I just like bustin’ balls .


And yes , in the Hamb community we should all hold the stead fast golden rule as law .

ITS ALWAYS A F*N DODGE

 

You take a good long gander at the body line flow (roof and fenders ) it seems like the 1949/1950 Ford car dash style fits better than the factory dash imho . The square /rectangle cluster just seems at odds to the exterior body .

 

Heck , a 1951/52 F1 gauges would look better.

 

The car is one big bubble with rectangular gauges .

I do like the gauges but they don’t work .

I got these Stewart Warner gauges and they are ***y .


Just ideas at this point .

 

Oh, now I understand.... you want to more closely match the 'Nash bathtub-like' profile of the car to kind of bring the overall design together. Good plan!
Round gauges would look good, but choose with care: in addition to being more compatible with the overall body design, the graphics should also match 'the period' IMHO. For some reason that I don't understand, most 'nostalgic' gauge designers can't get the graphics to look 'vintage'! What the hell, all they've got to do is look at gauges from the '30's, '40's, and early '50's, but they can't seem to get the 'vibe'. Most look like **** in my book! You might be able to find some decent looking repops of the more popular round gauges of the period (late '40's Ford, Chev, AD Chev trucks, whatever) that have graphics that would work.
Good luck.

 

If for some reason your stock gauges do not work, you can remove them and replace the inards with those from a 63 or so pickup truck. All Ford gauges were 6v up thru the 60s ( they used a resistor).
Take the pickup gauge cup and remove the inards (gauge). Do the same to the Merc and switch them. They should fit right into the Merc cup. You now have working gauges.

 

Hey @VANDENPLAS ... I happened to look at the latest post on @flynbrian48 thread on his roadster ("Nature Abhors A Vacuum") and he used a set of gauges from.... dare I say it?..... a DeSoto! It looks good, and the way it fits might give you an idea of other clusters that don't require m***ive metal work. Good luck!
And.... "If the ladies don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy!" (I couldn't p*** up the opportunity to quote Red Green to a Canuck!)

 

Can you mount the new gauges behind your bezel? That's what I did using older SW gauges.