Is this an original dash?

qwertyd10n · Post by **qwertyd10n** » September 9, 2009, 2:59 pm

Hey guys,

I cam across this dash online and am wondering if the side gauges were an option from the factory? They sure look stock...

Cheers,
Dion

Falcon Interceptor · September 9, 2009, 3:04 pm

Gauges like that could be stock.

Also if you can get a picture of the back, aftermarket gauges are usually copper or bronze colored where the factory ones look painted. Also the aftermarket gauges bolt on with a universal clamp where the factory looks factory and fits the hole much better.

This appears to have one of each, if you'll look closely at the back you see a very noticeable difference.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... K:MEWAX:IT
As far as the modified heater switch in that listing I have not seen before but I like the idea.

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » September 9, 2009, 3:37 pm

That is identical to the dash in my 66 F100. Gauges are the same as well. My truck had very few options (work vehicle) but it did have both gauges.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » September 9, 2009, 6:14 pm

I'm not sure the circumstances that it would be from a stock truck that way, maybe after they came out with the sweep dash in 65-66 they had those gauges to use in the non-custom cabbed trucks..

Usually, the ammeter and the oil pressure replace the bottom 2 idiot lights right on the speedo cluster. Bronco's had those gauges standard, as did the big trucks.

Where those seperate gauges are, are the vacuum gauge and the tach on a big truck.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » September 9, 2009, 7:12 pm

Johnny Canuck wrote:I'm not sure the circumstances that it would be from a stock truck that way, maybe after they came out with the sweep dash in 65-66 they had those gauges to use in the non-custom cabbed trucks..

those are stock either factory or dealer installed on 65/66 trucks.

they are the same gauges used on the outer sides of the plastic panels.

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » September 9, 2009, 7:39 pm

I do not think it is stock. It is the same gages used in the 65, 66 models but I would say that someone put them in there. When the 65, 66 (non custom cab) had full instrumentation they were around the speedometer. If you look at the picture you will see the oil pressure and the generator light in this cluster. On the Custom Cab dashes when it had the full instrumentation it did not have the oil and amp light also. Also I have never seen any of these dashes in any brochure before. I can look in the parts manuals and see what it has to say.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » September 9, 2009, 9:47 pm

i don't know. my 66 has the sweep speedo with those exact same gauges. and the idiot lights are still under the speedo like they all are.
the sweep speedo isn't a 65/66 only item is it? and gauge clusters with optional gauges still had the lights too didn't they? or was this maybe a dealer option?

jwh f-100 · Post by **jwh f-100** » September 9, 2009, 9:51 pm

The '66 my bed came off had those..

[albumimg]3538[/albumimg]

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » September 9, 2009, 10:15 pm

ezernut9mm wrote:i don't know. my 66 has the sweep speedo with those exact same gauges. and the idiot lights are still under the speedo like they all are.
the sweep speedo isn't a 65/66 only item is it? and gauge clusters with optional gauges still had the lights too didn't they? or was this maybe a dealer option?

You are tight I looked at a couple of brochures and the Custon Cab dash did have both the lights and the gauges.

On the subject of the non custon cab dash (81A), I still feel that the gauges are non stock, as mentioned above I have never seen it in any brochures. One good way to tell for sure. If you have one of the 81A panels in your truck with the extra gauges pull the panel out and see if the wiring is original or not, that could answer the question.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » September 9, 2009, 10:42 pm

ezernut9mm wrote:the sweep speedo isn't a 65/66 only item is it?
and gauge clusters with optional gauges still had the lights too didn't they? or was this maybe a dealer option?

Yes the sweep speedo was on '65 and 66 custom cabs ONLY.
The CC of the 64-61 was the round speedo with more bright trim.
I don't doubt that this was either an option or a late version (66 only maybe) of the non CC dash, perhaps with gauges added at the dealer.

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » September 9, 2009, 10:54 pm

Well gentlemen, I am going to have to eat some crow. I just went to the manual to see what it had to say about the 81A instrument panel and guess what I found? I found a panel that also showed the gauges. There was even a part number for the large black bezel around it. The only thing I am not sure of is the application since it showed three panels and listed 64 to 66 trucks and included the T and the N series. It is a posibility that it was an option on the bigger trucks but I didn't rule out that it was not availible on pick ups as well. I didn't go the the text section to check further. But it does exist. Tomorrow I will explore this a little more.

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » September 10, 2009, 12:07 am

That guage set is the optional guage package for the non-custom cab trucks. They are not that common but they do exist. I usually pull just the two gauges and extra wiring when I find them and then sell them as "Custom Cab" optional gauges (they are the same gauges and wiring) on eBay. Nobody seems interested in them when mounted in a standard dash but as soon as I pull them out they sell like hot cakes! LOL Hawkrod

Daplumma · Post by **Daplumma** » September 10, 2009, 6:03 am

Looks just like my dash.65 Camper special.

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » September 10, 2009, 9:57 am

I have seen a few of these panels, pretty sure it is stock. I have/had 1 or 2 of this type stashed in my garage, somewhere.

I have also seen aftermarket gauges put into the same places, but there is an obvious visual difference in most cases between the original gauges and any aftermarket gauges. Those look just like the gauges that are in mine. Maybe I can find mine and post. If they aren't Ford gauges, they would probably be generic, there is no obvious manufacturer's name on the front. How often do you see a manufacturer not slip in free advertising on an aftermarket product?

I think they look better than the 3 gauge underdash setup we see so often in older vehicles.

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » September 10, 2009, 10:06 am

I beleive they are stock mine has all the original wiring for them with the lights in the speedometer. None of my wiring was added since some is still bound with the main wires.

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » September 10, 2009, 10:48 am

As I dug deeper in the text section, I found them to have been an option for the pick ups as well. In fact more so for pick ups than the bigger trucks. The bigger truck usually has either a vacuum or air pressure gauge along with a tach on the other side. You never get to old to learn. This is kind of like myth busters. This myth proved to be more than just plausible it was absolutely true.