The Ford Barn

Junior · 07-04-2013, 04:48 PM

Trying to find out what goes in two holes on my dash on drivers side. They look stamped out like they came that way from the factory. Have looked at a lot of 29 Tudor pictures and none of them have the holes in the dash. I was told when I got this car from a guy who had it since late 1960's that it used to be a police car in Maiden, NC. Do I have a dash from another model? Anyone have any ideas?

Farrell In Vancouver · 07-04-2013, 05:18 PM

Probably an auxillary light switch hole that was never filled when the car was redone.
I've seen lots of 28-29 dash rails with holes in them that weren't factory, in fact I think I've filled holesin every dash rail we've used. Paint looks too nice on your car to mess up now. Put a switch in it and run a fog lamp or something.

Flatout · 07-04-2013, 06:46 PM

It's for a starter push button,like a '40 Ford would use. I don't care for the original floor mounted starter switch and it seems that more than a few other don't either. I use a solenoid and push button on my Model A and Model B.

Junior · 07-04-2013, 06:46 PM

I should have done more research but by the way it looked I thought it was for a Dome light switch or something. I swear it looks it was stamped cut. Somebody went through a lot of trouble getting the hole and wing outs that perfect and clean. I'll know next time if I ever restore another one. Now I gotta figure out what to put there. Spot light, push button start by modding a sparky start or turn signal toggle switch. Don't like modding but it is what it is.

Rex_A_Lott · 07-04-2013, 07:42 PM

It was probably done with a "knock-out"....a tool commonly used by electricians for putting switches and light in panels. The square part is used to index it so that it is oriented the correct way and it doesnt turn when its tightened.

Junior · 07-04-2013, 09:41 PM

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I believe your right Rex. Only wish I would have asked here before I painted the Dash. Live and learn.

TinCup · 07-05-2013, 08:23 AM

I had the same exact hole in my dash. The fact that it looked stamped was what fooled me. I had a push button for the horn in mine.

Steve Plucker · 07-05-2013, 08:28 AM

So take it off and have it redone...hopefully the "color" will match!...That would bug the heck out of me!...AHHHHH...So much for a purist's thinking.

Pluck

Mitch//pa · 07-05-2013, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

So take it off and have it redone...hopefully the "color" will match!...That would bug the heck out of me!...AHHHHH...So much for a purist's thinking.

Pluck

not being a 100% purist just pure i agree also

Farrell In Vancouver · 07-05-2013, 08:48 AM

Steves has a point. It's not hard to remove it, patch, and repaint.

TinCup · 07-05-2013, 09:00 AM

I patched mine but the stamped hole always was a curiosity to me.

Phil · 07-05-2013, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farrell In Vancouver

Steves has a point. It's not hard to remove it, patch, and repaint.

Ditto. And the result would be far better than finding something to put in the hole that also did not belong there.

Junior · 07-05-2013, 07:04 PM

When I got the A it was completely disassembled and had been since the early 70's. The car came with a heater box but I don't remember seeing a switch. Was thinking about putting the heater box in and maybe using the hole for the heater switch. Filling the hole is not a option right now. I built the car to be driven and not to be judged in shows or anything like that even though the A other than the hole in the dash and the disconnect switch in the floorboard is fairly accurate.

May just leave like it is and correct it when or if I get the time.

Thanks to all for commenting.

Napa Skip · 07-05-2013, 07:26 PM

I do not have any "unauthorized" holes in the dash on my 1930 coupe, but I did on my 1931. This was my solution, which I kept when I sold the '31. It's held in place by adhesive-backed magnetic sheeting so is easily removed and doesn't scratch the paint:

Warning Plate.jpg

1931 flamingo · 07-06-2013, 06:51 AM

Unless you're going for fine point, put something in it ! ! Quick, simple and a curiosity question maker for the general public.
Paul in CT

mass A man · 07-06-2013, 11:30 AM

Many of those holes in that spot were for a later conversion to an electric wiper. That's where the switch was. If the Model A was still being used back then, people did not care for the vacuum wipers, especially in snowy regions. I have this in my '31 PU and still use it. The windshield still opens all the way too. The hole was made most likely with a "Greenlee" punch.

Junior · 07-06-2013, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mass A man

Many of those holes in that spot were for a later conversion to an electric wiper. That's where the switch was. If the Model A was still being used back then, people did not care for the vacuum wipers, especially in snowy regions. I have this in my '31 PU and still use it. The windshield still opens all the way too. The hole was made most likely with a "Greenlee" punch.

Makes sense. Thanks Mass Man

07-04-2013, 05:18 PM	#2
Farrell In Vancouver Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pitt Meadows BC Posts: 1,003	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash Probably an auxillary light switch hole that was never filled when the car was redone. I've seen lots of 28-29 dash rails with holes in them that weren't factory, in fact I think I've filled holesin every dash rail we've used. Paint looks too nice on your car to mess up now. Put a switch in it and run a fog lamp or something.

07-04-2013, 06:46 PM	#3
Flatout Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Damascus Oregon Posts: 160	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash It's for a starter push button,like a '40 Ford would use. I don't care for the original floor mounted starter switch and it seems that more than a few other don't either. I use a solenoid and push button on my Model A and Model B.

07-04-2013, 06:46 PM	#4
Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Valdese, North Carolina Posts: 85	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash I should have done more research but by the way it looked I thought it was for a Dome light switch or something. I swear it looks it was stamped cut. Somebody went through a lot of trouble getting the hole and wing outs that perfect and clean. I'll know next time if I ever restore another one. Now I gotta figure out what to put there. Spot light, push button start by modding a sparky start or turn signal toggle switch. Don't like modding but it is what it is. __________________ Learning the A at the Ford Barn, so I can pass it down do the next generation.

07-04-2013, 07:42 PM	#5
Rex_A_Lott Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Upstate South Carolina Posts: 794	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash It was probably done with a "knock-out"....a tool commonly used by electricians for putting switches and light in panels. The square part is used to index it so that it is oriented the correct way and it doesnt turn when its tightened.

07-04-2013, 09:41 PM	#6
Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Valdese, North Carolina Posts: 85	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I believe your right Rex. Only wish I would have asked here before I painted the Dash. Live and learn. __________________ Learning the A at the Ford Barn, so I can pass it down do the next generation.

07-05-2013, 08:23 AM	#7
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash I had the same exact hole in my dash. The fact that it looked stamped was what fooled me. I had a push button for the horn in mine. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

07-05-2013, 08:28 AM	#8
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash So take it off and have it redone...hopefully the "color" will match!...That would bug the heck out of me!...AHHHHH...So much for a purist's thinking. Pluck

07-05-2013, 08:48 AM	#10
Farrell In Vancouver Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pitt Meadows BC Posts: 1,003	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash Steves has a point. It's not hard to remove it, patch, and repaint.

07-05-2013, 09:00 AM	#11
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash I patched mine but the stamped hole always was a curiosity to me. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

07-05-2013, 07:04 PM	#13
Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Valdese, North Carolina Posts: 85	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash When I got the A it was completely disassembled and had been since the early 70's. The car came with a heater box but I don't remember seeing a switch. Was thinking about putting the heater box in and maybe using the hole for the heater switch. Filling the hole is not a option right now. I built the car to be driven and not to be judged in shows or anything like that even though the A other than the hole in the dash and the disconnect switch in the floorboard is fairly accurate. May just leave like it is and correct it when or if I get the time. Thanks to all for commenting. __________________ Learning the A at the Ford Barn, so I can pass it down do the next generation.

07-05-2013, 07:26 PM	#14
Napa Skip Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Napa CA Posts: 412	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash I do not have any "unauthorized" holes in the dash on my 1930 coupe, but I did on my 1931. This was my solution, which I kept when I sold the '31. It's held in place by adhesive-backed magnetic sheeting so is easily removed and doesn't scratch the paint: Warning Plate.jpg __________________ Skip Keyser Napa Valley A's Olympic Vintage Auto Club (1980-1982) MARC of San Diego (1977-1978) MAFCA (since 1978) MARC (since 1977) ---------- Model A owners belong in their Model A’s; Model A’s belong on the road.

07-06-2013, 06:51 AM	#15
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash Unless you're going for fine point, put something in it ! ! Quick, simple and a curiosity question maker for the general public. Paul in CT

07-06-2013, 11:30 AM	#16
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 794	Re: Mystery Holes in Dash Many of those holes in that spot were for a later conversion to an electric wiper. That's where the switch was. If the Model A was still being used back then, people did not care for the vacuum wipers, especially in snowy regions. I have this in my '31 PU and still use it. The windshield still opens all the way too. The hole was made most likely with a "Greenlee" punch.