The Ford Barn

james Langford · Today, 06:01 AM

Hello: I am in the process of converting from 6 volt to 12 volt. I bought a device from Vintage Auto Garage to attach to my gauges but I don't know how to get the instrument panel out of the dash. Working upside down in the dark recesses of the dash isn't an option for me. I barely have the confidence to do the conversion upright in good light. I am new at this but learning. The truck is a 1942 Ford 3/4 ton flathead 239 - 59AB.
I bought the multi gauge voltage reducer for $79 but living in Canada, the final cost was $190 with shipping.
I still have to work on the horn, wipers and heater. I hope it gets less expensive than the unit for the gauges. Thank you in advance for any advice.

corvette8n · Today, 06:37 AM

A lot of people said to take the seat out so you can lay on the floor. One of the days I need to take the cluster out of my ‘41 coupe and replace it with one I got off eBay.

Fritz · Today, 08:52 AM

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It’s not my favorite thing to do. There are four small nuts that hold the cluster to the dash. Two on the bottom and two on the top behind the dash. The speedo cable will unscrew from the cluster, and take pictures of which wires go to which gauge terminals for future reference.

You probably have a loop ammeter, so disconnect the battery, and that large wire will need to come off the circuit breaker. You’ll see where it goes.

Today, 06:01 AM	#1
james Langford Junior Member Join Date: May 2024 Posts: 1	removing a gauge cluster Hello: I am in the process of converting from 6 volt to 12 volt. I bought a device from Vintage Auto Garage to attach to my gauges but I don't know how to get the instrument panel out of the dash. Working upside down in the dark recesses of the dash isn't an option for me. I barely have the confidence to do the conversion upright in good light. I am new at this but learning. The truck is a 1942 Ford 3/4 ton flathead 239 - 59AB. I bought the multi gauge voltage reducer for $79 but living in Canada, the final cost was $190 with shipping. I still have to work on the horn, wipers and heater. I hope it gets less expensive than the unit for the gauges. Thank you in advance for any advice.

Today, 06:37 AM	#2
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,968	Re: removing a gauge cluster A lot of people said to take the seat out so you can lay on the floor. One of the days I need to take the cluster out of my ‘41 coupe and replace it with one I got off eBay.

Today, 08:52 AM	#3
Fritz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: From Chicago. Now Nashville Posts: 215	Re: removing a gauge cluster Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It’s not my favorite thing to do. There are four small nuts that hold the cluster to the dash. Two on the bottom and two on the top behind the dash. The speedo cable will unscrew from the cluster, and take pictures of which wires go to which gauge terminals for future reference. You probably have a loop ammeter, so disconnect the battery, and that large wire will need to come off the circuit breaker. You’ll see where it goes. __________________ Cars and metal rust away and are destroyed, but the Word of God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35).