Technical Saving a 39 Conv dash (updated pics)

This kind of a side thread that goes along with my 39 Ford Conv build. Progress is slow on the rest of the car, so I decided to tackle the dash repair so I might at least feel like I was moving forward. Here’s where it begins In its earlier life, in the 50’s the owner added gauges out of a late 40’s or so Studebaker. Make it fit however you can, right? They were not too kind to the dash.
No problem. Just hammer out as best you can and find a donor piece to repair the damage. That’s where the fun begins. The convertibles and woodies had a different shaped dashboard than the open cars. These tapered from the inside edge of the gauge area out to the vertical line on the left side of the gauge holes. Same shape on the glove box door also. Well as you would expect, a donor piece from a Conv dash is not easy to find. So, I snagged the gauge area from a closed car dash from a fellow HAMBer and proceeded to make it fit. This was real fun, prying the lip up to remove the gauge mounts. It had to be removed so I could cut a wedge shape piece out to create the taper needed to make it fit.
After tacking and then welding it up, I proceeded to smooth it up before making the transplant.
After careful fitting, I welded it up and started the finish work. That’s where I had to stop for the day. I’ll follow up after I get it all smoothed out. I did fail to get good pics of replacing that gauge mounting panel. That was not much fun, but all part of the job.

 

Impressive repair, you do good work!

 

Looks very nice!

 

I had my 10 year old grandson working on stripping and sanding the glove box door. He says he wants to be the first to drive it when he turns 16. I said we better kick it in gear. Lol

 

With thar promise in mind you might 'get'rdone'
That dash will certainly come to a happy end from what we've been shown.
Thank You Ronzmtrwrx for the progress report

 

Nice job on your dash!

 

Most excellent work, you are a craftsman.

 

You have made a nice job of that.

 

Finished off smoothing up and checking the fit of the trim pieces. I believe it will pass.

 

Nicely done!

 

Indeed!

 

Looks like it never was screwed up.

 

Thanks. She’s got a couple little spots that aren’t perfect, but a little bit of primer should cure those ills.

 

That glove box door looks great!

 

Looks super.


hope you saved those cool original gauges.

 

I did, but the speedometer has seen better days. The quad gauge still looks pretty good. The diameter of them is the same as the Ford gauges that are meant for it. The prior owner could have modified them to fit the original dash but they went a different route. I might actually try to use them, just to have something a little different. They were out of a 47 Studebaker with the bezel cut down to "sorta" fit. lol

 

Excellent work!

 

Thank you, sir.

 

Nice save!