The Ford Barn

kirkf · 01-24-2022, 08:42 PM

Does anyone know what the closest off the shelf color is for the main backplate of the cluster? As you can see from this picture, mine is in pretty rough shape.

I bought the gauge kit from Bob Drake which gives new gauge back plates, but that doesn't cover the main faceplate

I'm assuming its supposed to be some shade of off-white or cream, with black or brown stripes.

Anyone here rebuild theirs? If so I would appreciate any tips you have.

Kirk

rawlir · 01-24-2022, 08:56 PM

Tacoma Cream for 42 to 47, I THINK same for 40.....

rawlir · 01-24-2022, 08:57 PM

Too tough to rebuild for this cowboy....

kirkf · 01-25-2022, 10:57 AM

Thanks for the info.

This one is definitely in tough shape. It makes a good project to play with while its cold and miserable outside.

Kirk

rotorwrench · 01-25-2022, 11:08 AM

The brown accents on the face plate should be the same color as the back plates. A lot of stuff like that can be silk screened if you can find someone that does that. The corrosion on that thin metal could be problematic.

kirkf · 01-25-2022, 11:23 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I wonder how Ford did this originally? Did they spray the cream first and then use a stencil to spray the brown stripe on top (or possibly the other way around)

I've got two of these clusters, both are in poor shape. The picture is actually of the better one. Im still looking to see what could be done to replace the numbers on the odometer.

Kirk

kirkf · 01-25-2022, 01:28 PM

Anybody know how to repair the odometer numbers? I was thinking maybe Letraset (if that stuff still exists?)

Kirk

deuce5wndw · 01-25-2022, 02:11 PM

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...strument+panel
Look at this ad he has advertised the parts to restore yours in the past.

Fritz · 01-25-2022, 02:23 PM

41-47 was a gold plate with red stripes. If that rust is too much on yours, an option could be the Bob Drake reproduction of that 40 plate. Although, seems like the price has really increased since I bought one 2 years ago.

https://bobdrake.com/products/1940-s...ter-face-plate

kirkf · 02-05-2023, 03:44 PM

I forgot to post a picture of the end results for my cluster.

This is it.
The brown gauge faces are reproductions from Drake.
For the cream faceplate I went to a paint shop and had them match the original paint found on the inside of the speedometer.
For the five brown stripes I used a laser printable water slide decal to exactly match the size and colour.
I also used a water slide decal to fix up a few of the numbers on the speedo. I tried buying the reproduction ones but they were incorrect and couldn't be used. (Too big for odometer) I used a Rothman Plain font for the odometer numbers.

Kirk

TJ · 02-05-2023, 04:10 PM

Excellent job. You might check some of the shops like Bob's Speedometer to see if they have decals for the odometer

tobby · 02-05-2023, 04:33 PM

bead blast plate, repair as necessary-body filler, prime- rust-oleum rusty metal prime #7769830, paint rust-oleum almond #7770830... these are spray can paints.... use brown pin stripe tape for the stripes... you will be happy take your time....tobby

Fritz · 02-05-2023, 05:32 PM

That looks good Kirk! Well done

01-24-2022, 08:56 PM	#2
rawlir Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 92	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster Tacoma Cream for 42 to 47, I THINK same for 40..... Last edited by rawlir; 01-24-2022 at 08:57 PM. Reason: adding

01-24-2022, 08:57 PM	#3
rawlir Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 92	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster Too tough to rebuild for this cowboy....

01-25-2022, 10:57 AM	#4
kirkf Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 228	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster Thanks for the info. This one is definitely in tough shape. It makes a good project to play with while its cold and miserable outside. Kirk __________________ 1953 Ford F100 1950 Ford F47 (F1) 1940 Ford Pickup

01-25-2022, 11:08 AM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster The brown accents on the face plate should be the same color as the back plates. A lot of stuff like that can be silk screened if you can find someone that does that. The corrosion on that thin metal could be problematic.

01-25-2022, 11:23 AM	#6
kirkf Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 228	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I wonder how Ford did this originally? Did they spray the cream first and then use a stencil to spray the brown stripe on top (or possibly the other way around) I've got two of these clusters, both are in poor shape. The picture is actually of the better one. Im still looking to see what could be done to replace the numbers on the odometer. Kirk __________________ 1953 Ford F100 1950 Ford F47 (F1) 1940 Ford Pickup

01-25-2022, 01:28 PM	#7
kirkf Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 228	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster Anybody know how to repair the odometer numbers? I was thinking maybe Letraset (if that stuff still exists?) Kirk __________________ 1953 Ford F100 1950 Ford F47 (F1) 1940 Ford Pickup

01-25-2022, 02:11 PM	#8
deuce5wndw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Liberty, KY Posts: 900	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...strument+panel Look at this ad he has advertised the parts to restore yours in the past.

01-25-2022, 02:23 PM	#9
Fritz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: From Chicago. Now Nashville Posts: 206	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster 41-47 was a gold plate with red stripes. If that rust is too much on yours, an option could be the Bob Drake reproduction of that 40 plate. Although, seems like the price has really increased since I bought one 2 years ago. https://bobdrake.com/products/1940-s...ter-face-plate __________________ Cars and metal rust away and are destroyed, but the Word of God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35).

02-05-2023, 04:10 PM	#11
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,035	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster Excellent job. You might check some of the shops like Bob's Speedometer to see if they have decals for the odometer

02-05-2023, 04:33 PM	#12
tobby Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 47	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster bead blast plate, repair as necessary-body filler, prime- rust-oleum rusty metal prime #7769830, paint rust-oleum almond #7770830... these are spray can paints.... use brown pin stripe tape for the stripes... you will be happy take your time....tobby

02-05-2023, 05:32 PM	#13
Fritz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: From Chicago. Now Nashville Posts: 206	Re: 1940 Pickup Cluster That looks good Kirk! Well done __________________ Cars and metal rust away and are destroyed, but the Word of God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35).