The Ford Barn

Tom Walker · 01-08-2016, 06:22 AM

I ve wanted an oil pressure gauge and water temp gauge for the Tudor for a while. I like the little 2" gauges, which is lucky cos they ar'nt as dear as the bigger ones. They needed to look well used (like the rest of the car!). I found just the right temp gauge this summer at a jumble for £12, but an oil gauge to match was impossible over here. There are plenty on ebay in the States, so I had to bite the bullet and scored one for $15 plus the same again for p and p.

I cant bring myself to drill holes in the dash, in fact there is not much space on an export car dash, because of the glove compartments on both sides, so it had to be a panel mounted underneath. Also wanted some shape to the face of the panel to match the moulding on the dash.

I roughed out a cardboard template, then cut 2 thick pieces of hardwood to sandwich the steel. I ve never tried this before so it was all new. I radiused the edge of the block on the underside by hand with the sanding belt. Then screwed the steel between the blocks and bashed the edge over.[IMG]

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so far so good, but I could nt get the metal to form round the corners without wrinkling up, so had to cut slots which will need welding up. I now realize I used sheet too thick. All I had to hand was 16 gauge, I reckon 18 or even 20 would work and be much easier to form. The next bit was even worse! I wasnt sure how I was going to make the "lip" in the panel. So thought I would try pressing it in. Cut out another piece of wood and a former out of 1/4" rod. The idea was to put the rod former behind the panel, the new piece of wood in front and press it in the vice.
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Nothing happenned...it made no impression at all on the panel....

flatheadmurre · 01-08-2016, 06:29 AM

The smaller distans between inner and outer die you got the higher pressure you need.
Start with a smaller inner piece and do it in a couple of steps.

Tom Walker · 01-08-2016, 06:46 AM

Post is'nt going too well either! That purple face was supposed to go after my last comment!!

Back to the panel...

The only idea I could come up with was to heat the panel and then press it. With wood moulds this could be interesting! Anyway, out with the oxy and got it nearly red, struggled to get it in the vice and wound her up. I couldnt see what was going on for the smoke, and it turned out pretty rough...well, very rough..
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It needed more shape, so I cut a piece of 2" tube I had lying around and used that in the vice. It worked much better.

[IMG]

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I welded up the slots and ground the edge so it was even all the way round, then cut the holes for the gauges

[IMG]

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With the primer on you can just make out the shape

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Top coat on and fitted with the gauges. All I need to do now is finish removing the nasty recent paint job from the dash!!

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Tom Walker · 01-08-2016, 06:49 AM

Murre

I think with thinner sheet, it would have been much easier...

flatheadmurre · 01-08-2016, 06:50 AM

Looks like you made it work out...looks very nice and blends in.

Tom Walker · 01-08-2016, 07:01 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks Murre I did learn a lot doing that job. Your first comment is totally right. If I had made the moulds out of steel and had a hydraulic press, it might have worked, but it would take forever to make the moulds!

The other mistake was to make the top edge of the panel straight, so it does nt follow the curve of the dash. I would have liked the panel a bit futher towards the centre of the car, but then the fit is so bad it looks all wrong. Its fine where it is, but a bit near the key. Luckily I dont use one!

JSeery · 01-08-2016, 08:51 AM

I like the look!

Royal Ryser · 01-08-2016, 12:48 PM

Nice work. Very ingenious.

Tom Walker · 01-08-2016, 03:05 PM

Thanks guys I enjoyed when it was done!

Brendan · 01-08-2016, 08:08 PM

Kool!

Mike in AZ · 01-08-2016, 10:03 PM

nice job....looks sweet....Mike

Drbrown · 01-08-2016, 10:21 PM

Great project; great result. I love when people try to resolve a "need" and especially when they're as successful as you have been. I fear a generation that lacks the courage and imagination. We need thinkers.

flatford8 · 01-09-2016, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drbrown

Great project; great result. I love when people try to resolve a "need" and especially when they're as successful as you have been. I fear a generation that lacks the courage and imagination. We need thinkers.

X2 What he said...... Mark

01-08-2016, 06:22 AM	#1
Tom Walker Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Leicester. UK Posts: 404	Gauge panel I ve wanted an oil pressure gauge and water temp gauge for the Tudor for a while. I like the little 2" gauges, which is lucky cos they ar'nt as dear as the bigger ones. They needed to look well used (like the rest of the car!). I found just the right temp gauge this summer at a jumble for £12, but an oil gauge to match was impossible over here. There are plenty on ebay in the States, so I had to bite the bullet and scored one for $15 plus the same again for p and p. I cant bring myself to drill holes in the dash, in fact there is not much space on an export car dash, because of the glove compartments on both sides, so it had to be a panel mounted underneath. Also wanted some shape to the face of the panel to match the moulding on the dash. I roughed out a cardboard template, then cut 2 thick pieces of hardwood to sandwich the steel. I ve never tried this before so it was all new. I radiused the edge of the block on the underside by hand with the sanding belt. Then screwed the steel between the blocks and bashed the edge over.[IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] so far so good, but I could nt get the metal to form round the corners without wrinkling up, so had to cut slots which will need welding up. I now realize I used sheet too thick. All I had to hand was 16 gauge, I reckon 18 or even 20 would work and be much easier to form. The next bit was even worse! I wasnt sure how I was going to make the "lip" in the panel. So thought I would try pressing it in. Cut out another piece of wood and a former out of 1/4" rod. The idea was to put the rod former behind the panel, the new piece of wood in front and press it in the vice. [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] Nothing happenned...it made no impression at all on the panel....

01-08-2016, 06:29 AM	#2
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: Gauge panel The smaller distans between inner and outer die you got the higher pressure you need. Start with a smaller inner piece and do it in a couple of steps.

01-08-2016, 06:46 AM	#3
Tom Walker Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Leicester. UK Posts: 404	Re: Gauge panel Post is'nt going too well either! That purple face was supposed to go after my last comment!! Back to the panel... The only idea I could come up with was to heat the panel and then press it. With wood moulds this could be interesting! Anyway, out with the oxy and got it nearly red, struggled to get it in the vice and wound her up. I couldnt see what was going on for the smoke, and it turned out pretty rough...well, very rough.. [IMG] [/IMG] It needed more shape, so I cut a piece of 2" tube I had lying around and used that in the vice. It worked much better. [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] I welded up the slots and ground the edge so it was even all the way round, then cut the holes for the gauges [IMG][/IMG] With the primer on you can just make out the shape [IMG][/IMG] Top coat on and fitted with the gauges. All I need to do now is finish removing the nasty recent paint job from the dash!! [IMG][/IMG]

01-08-2016, 06:49 AM	#4
Tom Walker Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Leicester. UK Posts: 404	Re: Gauge panel Murre I think with thinner sheet, it would have been much easier...

01-08-2016, 06:50 AM	#5
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: Gauge panel Looks like you made it work out...looks very nice and blends in.

01-08-2016, 07:01 AM	#6
Tom Walker Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Leicester. UK Posts: 404	Re: Gauge panel Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks Murre I did learn a lot doing that job. Your first comment is totally right. If I had made the moulds out of steel and had a hydraulic press, it might have worked, but it would take forever to make the moulds! The other mistake was to make the top edge of the panel straight, so it does nt follow the curve of the dash. I would have liked the panel a bit futher towards the centre of the car, but then the fit is so bad it looks all wrong. Its fine where it is, but a bit near the key. Luckily I dont use one!

01-08-2016, 08:51 AM	#7
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Gauge panel I like the look!

01-08-2016, 12:48 PM	#8
Royal Ryser Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 553	Re: Gauge panel Nice work. Very ingenious.

01-08-2016, 03:05 PM	#9
Tom Walker Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Leicester. UK Posts: 404	Re: Gauge panel Thanks guys I enjoyed when it was done!

01-08-2016, 08:08 PM	#10
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,903	Re: Gauge panel Kool! __________________ If it would have been a snake it would have bit ya! i can't spell my way out of a paper bag!

01-08-2016, 10:03 PM	#11
Mike in AZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waddell, AZ Posts: 2,540	Re: Gauge panel nice job....looks sweet....Mike

01-08-2016, 10:21 PM	#12
Drbrown Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Glens Falls NY Posts: 1,267	Re: Gauge panel Great project; great result. I love when people try to resolve a "need" and especially when they're as successful as you have been. I fear a generation that lacks the courage and imagination. We need thinkers.

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