Hey Everyone! I am restoring my '40 Ford Pickup. I want the instrument cluster to be as close to original as possible. I have searched the net and come up with everything from soup to nuts with respect to what my cluster looked like when it left the factory. Does anyone have any decent photos or know of a source of an original/unrestored instrument cluster I can use to restore mine to correct colors and livery? Thanks, in advance. Scott
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/members/htcathtc.380446/ I have purchased a cluster from Hans for one of my customers even though I repair them myself. Hans’s attention to detail is second to none. He is in Belgium but it was worth it. Here’s a pic of the cluster I received from him. Calibration was right on the money. This is an earlier truck cluster from Hans but he has 1940 clusters as well.
Thanks e1956v, That cluster looks fantastic. I know you indicated this one is from an earlier vehicle, as I didn't think the '40 had the shift points shown, at least mine does not (but I don't know if mine is original).
I think I misspoke the cluster I pictured was a mid 40’s cluster not an earlier cluster, but his work on all of these is outstanding.
I am glad you said that. I saw what I believed to be an original '41 cluster that had the shift points. Now, I can check that off the search. Mine should not have shift points. I am waiting on the Towne book to hopefully get the correct colors.
Nice looking work, for sure. Mine does not have the three attachment brackets that these have. But, it could be mine was modified at some time.
Those are GREAT looking gauges, but those are for a '41 1/2t p/u. The one with a 100 mph is a 1/2t p/u and the 60 mph are the larger trucks (with a 4 spd granny). Here's the '40 1/2t p/u cluster: I have the "Two Great Trucks" book but the pictures are black and white.
All due respect, but, not sure I agree. I'm pretty sure at least some '40 trucks had the curvilinear lines surrounding the speedo. My neighbor has an original '40 P/U that's been in the family since new and he says has never had the dash bits changed. It's been outside for decades, so colors are gone, but the curved lines around the speedo are still visible. Perhaps the cars had the straight lines? Also, his truck does not have the shift points and does have 0-100 mph. In addition, his truck has three horizontal bands left and right of each of the four gauges surrounding the speedo. And, it says 'Waltham'. The digit lines are faded, but it appears they may have bee red in front with white behind. But, the font used is not as simple as the Belgian restorations, but more like that shown above. Just my $0.02. I'm still researching the colors. Sorry to hear the 'Great Trucks' book is B&W. I was counting on that for the colors.
Who knows if the very late 40s had them or if someones memory is fading a little.....anything is possible. This is what I was going on:
Here's a picture from the Fordbarn, which they would have way more knowledge on stock Fords (you might want to check there also). https://www.fordbarn.com/
Can you post a picture? It either sounds like the cluster was replaced at some point in the last 83 years, which is very possible, or it’s perhaps a late production 40 and possibly could have gotten a 41 cluster, or you are describing some hybrid of the two gauge faces.
I'm only going by the info I got from the 2 trucks book,I thought the shift patterns were on the1.5 ton trucks
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