The Ford Barn - 6V Gauges

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New to Ford Barn as I just inherited a 1934 Ford Model B Truck from my Grandfather. I am starting the restoration process and looking for a 6V Ammeter and 6V Fuel Gage. Any ideas where these can be found or anyone have any for sale? Thanks!

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Are you wanting original types, or AFTERMARKET pieces?

Coop

Welcome to The 'Barn!.

Here is an amp gauge on EBAY
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12557055666...Bk9SR-DCis24YQ

The gas gauge is not electric but hydrostatic ,like this one.See pic.

Thanks V8COOPMAN and deuce lover. I am looking for aftermarket. I think original would be too hard to find.

Gas gauge has already been converted from hydrostatic to electric but is wired to a larger 4 in 1 gauge hanging under the dash, like below picture.

Actually the originals would not be too difficult to find. In my opinion aftermarket would look awful in your truck.

Contact Michael Driskell at Third Gen Automotive for gauges, Fred Willner at Southside Obsolete or put a "Wanted" ad here on the swap meet page for your parts needs. You will be surprised what you will find.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhammer05 (Post 2197105)

Regular old analog AMP meters are not voltage sensitive. In other words, you can use an old AMP gauge from either 6v or 12v car. You will run across many vintage-looking amp gauges, but I would try to get a ~60 AMP gauge vs a 30 AMP gauge that you see so often.

Fuel gauges are a different story, however. They will most-likely be voltage sensitive. BEWARE that fuel gauges need to be compatible with the PARTICULAR type of fuel tank sending unit. Call MICHAEL on the phone at 3rd Gen Automotive for some guidance and possible parts for either gauge. See Michael's contact info BELOW!

_________________________________________________

3rd Gen Automotive

Michael Driskell (Ask for Michael on phone)

Third Gen Automotive
Phone: 844-327-5988
Url: thirdgenauto.com
2600 Old Nashville Hwy
McMinnville, TN 37110

Thank you guys very much for this very valuable information. The truck is running but I want to get it back to as original as possible. Other upgrades/downgrades my Grandfather has performed is hydraulic brakes and seal beam headlamps. Really appreciate everyone input!

Post a pic or 2 when you can,we'd love to see it!

Very nice! Thank you.If the instrument openings haven't been altered I would consider finding the original gauges.Gas gauge in good cond go for around $100-200.

Don't cut up the dash. They are getting hard to find that have not been butchered. I just bought a nice one and it took a long time to find it. 90% of them have extra holes. The whole pickup is perfect just the way it is. You might not realize how hard it is to find a '34 pickup like that one. It has a later engine, banjo steering wheel, the hydraulic brakes that are not original and that gauge and all of that is just fine. I would want to keep it just the way Grandpa had it. He was careful not to do anything that could not be unbolted. You don't want to do anything to it that can't be easily undone. Don't drill one hole in that pickup. You don't need to restore it you just need to make it reliable. That doesn't mean updating stuff. That means making sure what's on there is in good working order, especially if it has been sitting. Changee the coolant to a 50/50 mix. Flush the brake fluid out and replace it. Check the back of the master cylinder for leakage and the wheel cylinders. It
s probably a single system and there is no backup if it fails bu the emergency brake. Later vehicles have dual systems. The single systems are perfectly safe if they are maintained. There is no warning light to tell you the fluid is low, you need to keep an eye on it.

Why not get that hydrostatic gauge working. It's the old stuff that makes these vehicles so neat. It makes me happy to look in and see those old fuel gauges with the red liquid. I appreciate the effort that it takes to get them working. Plus, it's fun learning how to do all of old stuff. It tells me this person understands what old cars all are about. There are people on here that will talk you through getting that gauge working. They worked just fine when they were new. The beauty of that dash is its simplicity. You clutter it all with more stuff and lose that clean look. I'm building a '34 pickup too.

Like others said, the stock ammeter is fine. Amperage gauges are the same for 6V and 12V The gauge measure amps not voltage. Voltage is the pressure moving the electrons. One amp is the number of electrons flowing past a given spot in one-second, billions and billions of them. If it was a water hose instead of a wire, amperage would be how much water was flowing in the hose and voltage would be the water pressure making it flow, it's the same concept. The electrons get counted by the ammeter the same no matter how much voltage pressure is moving them along.

Thanks for your valuable information Flathead Fever! I truly appreciate this response and respect the way my Grandfather treated his truck. Current dash is oil pressure, speedometer, and water pressure. I think he hung the 4 in 1 gauge from the underside of the dash for a fuel gauge but isn't working. Plan is to keep most everything as is, as the truck is running, but maybe go back to the original gauges and simple maintenance.

I am truly looking forward to this project and learning about this awesome truck. As you stated, I have also learned the engine is likely a '37 or '38. Fun facts about this truck I am learning everyday... Thanks again for taking time out of your day to respond. Have a great evening!

Would the below gauge work? Thanks in advanced!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/31421858800...hoCjTAQAvD_BwE

Yes but its in rough cond.Lens is gone,bezel very dented. I restore these fuel guages but to far away from you to be worthwhile.Here is one I did a few months ago and now in the UK.$200 outright .Before and after pics.
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Sheldon,

Technically, that ammeter on ebay was a '32-early '33 version with the two threaded studs for the wire connection. Likely the subject truck had the late '33-'34 version with the loop on the back that the wire passed through and perhaps the '34 only +/- 30 amps version.

That $175 gas gauge on ebay is junk and not worth more than $20, IMO.

What a sweet truck ! I like it that you want to keep it "original".

There is a thread going on here titled "1932 the Deuce, Dually, Dump Truck". He recently just repaired his hydrostatic fuel gauge. Go read this thread.

Like others said keep this truck original. Anyone can go get electric gauges and throw in a vehicle. It's the old equipment that makes these unique and folks like that stuff.

Go slow and just clean it up and drive it , read the forms ask questions and take your time to find the org parts in good cond there'r out there you just need to look till you find them.

Thanks again everyone! If you know anything about me, it going to be hard going slow. I want this project done yesterday. I will go look at some of the suggested threads and attempt to find an original fuel gauge. If anyone has any for sale I would be interested...
I did purchase the suggested ammeter on eBay. Hopefully there isn't too much difference in the '32 to '34 gauge, as I want this baby looking like it came off the lot in 1934. I do plan on replacing the wiring harness as its in rough shape. Thanks again!

Hello, I have a nice unrestored fuel gauge and correct amp gauge for your truck. Please P.M. for details.
Tom