Howdy. I have found you HAMBers to be super helpful, and I once again need help so here goes. I am converting the car to 12v neg ground. I pulled the instrument panel to get to the rear of the gauges. Short version is I broke one gauge, and my kid pulled the needle assembly with spring out of the speedo. Well truth be told, I am not too keen on re-using those older gauges anyway. I'd love to use some more modern gauges. Problem is the panel that the gauges mount to won't fit modern 2 1/16" gauges, and the speedometer port is odd shaped, not round. I know there are lots of pre-built gauge clusters for the tri-5 chevys, mustangs, cameros, chevelles, etc, but there are no pre-built clusters for the Mercury. I get it; there isn't enough money in the mercurys to justify the cost of production. Still, this is precisely what I need. I'm not a shop. This is the part where you experienced HAMBers will deride me for being a 1-800-rodder. Well it is what it is. I don't have the skill or tools to fab up a replacement panel that will look like it belongs in the dash. I'm not building a rat rod so some sheet metal riveted in place won't do. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do? Worst case scenario I get some replacement gauges for the ones I broke and I stab the factory panel back into the dash. But I'd love something with modern gauges. Any ideas?
Some nice gauges I came across: http://www.classicinstruments.com/allseries.aspx I'm at a total loss as to what I'll be doing. I don't have a stock dash in my car:
I robbed the gauges out of an early 70's International carryall to put in the instrument cluster of my 51 Merc with the same panel. They took a bit of fitting but not much. On the speedometer you will have to bite the bullet and have it repaired after the kid heals up. Or find a replacement speedometer. I've got the left over dash that was originally in my 51 with no instrument panel that I am thinking about putting a round aftermarket speedometer intended for Chevy AD pickups in along with gauges set in a custom panel with a filler below that panel. It won't be flattened out like John's dash is though. The whole insert will fit in the original opening in the dash. That's the result of my having a wild assed idea that I wanted a wood instrument panel with round gauges in my dash when I was 19 years old.
I'm already 12 volt, but that's a billet'y gauge setup there, and it's very 80's. I might go back to a stock dash but honestly I don't much care. I Just want to have a nice gauge setup that won't have the traditionalists lynching me and I want the setup to be harmonious to the car.
The problem with the stock 50-51 Merc dash is finding one that isn't all pitted as the fascia is die-cast. Ash trays are hard to find too.... A '52-53 Ford car dash would look good in your Merc...
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