Traditional Hot Rods, Customs and a few Classics

Dashboard, Steering Column and Interior

I want self canceling blinkers, so I opted for the a Ford F-100 column. I also wanted the use the stock model A column drop, and it is made for a 2 inch diameter column. I installed a 2 inch pipe (good ol' exhaust tubing) on the outside.

This also makes it possible to hide the cables.

I installed a bearing at the bottom, secured it to the shaft and to the tubing.

I cut out the lower portion of the stock model A unit, and extended it with some tubing and covered it with sheet metal.

Clean and simple.

Gauges

Trying to avoid the "normal" Stewart Warner reproduction gauges, I spent a lot of time looking at dash boards. This is the donor cluster, from a 1950 DeSoto. The gauges are sort of art deco and contains everything you need.

The bad news: They mount from behind.

Of course they are not any standard size, so I had to choose the closest hole saw, and then grind and file to hole up to desired size. Puh !

But I think it paid off. I was worried that the speedometer would be too big, but I think it looks good.

Oil and temp are of course mechanical, so they should hook up OK. Also, turns out that Autometer is using the same resistance as DeSoto on the fuel gauge, so I can get an after market sending unit that will work perfect with this gauge.

Now I am struggling with were to put the light and ignition switch. I sure like that clean look.

Solution:

I don't really have room in the dash for all the switches I like to have, so I made this "sub-dash" from 3/16 tubing, trying to match the lower reveal on the '32 dash.