Actually, #4 has the EARLIER more period correct coffin tip needles on the tach and speedo. that more closely match the tips of the needles on the other gauges. Those are some rare gauges, I have only seen a few sets in existence. I would change the order of the smaller gauges. Fuel and Amp out on the ends. Gauges to watch closer to driver (center ) are temp gauges, then oil press, then vac.
Randy, I was thinking the very same thing!----I could just picture both panels "Sucking inward".----Don
Looking great Cully33! Waiting to see how much fender/tire clearance you get on that rear drop, when getting it licensed.
How early is EARLIER though? Front mount 2 5/8" gauges came out in '46. Ya know I have hard time pinning down a lot dealing with these big face gauges as the majority started out as low mile an hour speedos and 2500 rpm tachs from big trucks and stationary machinery that have been converted to the elusive 140MPH/8K. I'll echo this sentiment. For whatever reason it seems to be more pleasing to the eye in this arrangement. JohnnyA
Close up pic of # 4 you can see that they are not coffin tip, I was told they are a thin line needle you can see where they bulb out towards the end and then return back to a thin line.
Cully, like the the others have already stated #4 looks the best, especially with the other SW gauges. I really like the Police Special speedometer, but I think it would work best with a column mounted tachometer, because I don't think you would find anything that would match it side by side.
This is what I think I also like the Police Special speedo and I also like the cream faced 4 1/2 K tach, but they don't go good together. As the police special has a white face, the tach cream face with the 2 5/8" black face gauges its just not right 3 different color combination gauges. Also back in the 50's I think the only way you could have got your hands on a police special speedo you would have had to have stolen out of a police car. Now that would really make you a rebel hot rodder. I also think that the police special would work with the black faced 8K tach #2 option as they have the same needle style. I did not put this option together for a pic but have a look at the dash in this 34 coupe. Which I took a pic of at Bonneville last year.
Ok this combination does not look good together 3 different color faced gauges. But I can see the police special working with the black faced tach.
No one picked this combination, but I quite like the cream faced 4 1/2 K tach with the black faced speedo, for one the needles are the same style. Plus a 4 1/2 K tach is well suited for a flathead. Lets face it the old flathead is never going to do 8K well maybe once.
Hi Cully, I kind of liked the first dash set up just because it is different. Specially with the police speedo. The V-mag really kicks butt, I don't recall ever seeing one of those. So far I like every thing you've done to the car, keep up the great work!
You getting some inspiration for that 3 window build of yours Dennis ?? bet you can't wait to get your teeth into that one. I can see you now cruzin down the open hwy on the way to Bonneville with the rolling bones boys.
I like option #4 as well. The skinny needles seem earlier, even though they were all in use at the same time. I really like those Maring-style black face speedos and tachs. I have a Police Speedo like yours (was NOS til I used it) that was produced in 1939. And I do know that Police Speedos were for sale through any SW dealer, and I bet they could be purchased by walk-in customers. The SW literature says nothing about restricting sale to official persons. As for when the front mount 2-5/8" gauges were produced, I think it was well before 1946. I have had MANY wartime front mounts. I bet they were in use at least by 1940.
If the Police Special was produced in 1939 and available for sale to the general public, I would be interested to know if any hot rodders from the 40s and 50s actually fitted them to there hot rods. The 4500 rpm cream faced tach is a NOS item that I purchased came in the original box, it had a black painted bezel on it, I had the s/s bezel fitted.
Cully, this might help with the Stewart Warner Identification. http://www.roadsters.com/sw/ Really like the dash, by the way. Rich.... .
What about a fourth combination, the Police speedo in white and the black 8K SW tach. Would make the speedo stand out, 'Special'.
Okay, now we need to know what he posted thats wrong. I won't draw any reference to this site in the future. Thanks, Rich....
Wico magnetos are pretty simple. I've found on those that the condensor usually goes bad. Any condensor will work. I use 351 Ford's as they have a long pig tail. last time I asked for one, they told me $119! Turned out the parts pusher thought it was an A/C condensor!!
The first of the front mount 2-5/8" were introduced before 1946. The gauges he calls Green Line are actually the Twin Blue series. I've even emailed Dave years ago about this but he never changed his photo. He must not believe me. Dave and I talked for hours on the phone years ago when he was researching his SW page. I'm the one who gave him that date code info on the bottom of his page.
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