The Ford Barn

32B · 01-04-2012, 02:10 PM

My 32 model B truck came with an empty dash. I was able to get my hands on several 90mph speedos that I was told were for a 32 B truck, but im just not sure. Was the speedo any different in the big trucks than the pickups? I once saw on here a speedo that had different colors and speeds by gear and I thought it said it was for a 32 big truck, but I can't remember. Either way, just trying to figure out the correct gauges and then finding what is necessary. I can post pics of what I have 2night if it would be helpful. -Thanks

2ndgeer · 01-04-2012, 02:27 PM

Here's a poor photo of a restored 1932 pickup with the correct black-painted instrument panel (instead of the engine-turned one used on cars). Note the 80 mph speedometer was used on vehicles with 4-cylinder motors. If your truck has a V-8 you can use the 90 mph speedometer.

Bruce Lancaster · 01-04-2012, 02:47 PM

Well, the 90 replaced the 80, and V8 cars were to get it first as the 80's were used up on the B's. I think the 90 is legitimate for later B's...probably fully worked out in the excellent '32 resto book. The basic gauge design was carried over into the '33-4 trucks, but some time in '33 the amp gauge changed to the inductive loop design...you want one with two threaded studs to be correct for '32.
I think the speedo with gear ranges marked is likely 1940's or so.

(By the way...you REALLY need the '32 book from the V8 club, especially with an incomplete truck and uncertainty about the appearance of the missing stuff. It is expensive, but should be viewed more as an investment than as an expense. The expertise and experience offered in the book...!!! As an additional benefit, it contains a LOT of reprinted original literature that is VERY rare otherwise. If you decide you need an 80 speedo, I think I have some that seem good to trade for 90's that I need.)

DavidG · 01-04-2012, 11:24 PM

I second all of Bruce's motions! There was no distinction between the gauges of '32 cars, commercial vehicles, or trucks at any point in time except for balancing out the inventory of obsolete parts (such as the 80 MPH speedometer, the motor-driven horn, the hand-controlled four-cylinder starter switch, the early shock absorbers, etc., etc., etc.) where commercial vehicles and trucks were the last in line to receive the latest part version.

32 Model B · 01-08-2012, 09:36 PM

You had said your truck came with an empty dashboard without gauges, does it have the oval piece that the gauges bolt into along with the to legs that go back to the inside of the firewall? If not make sure you get the style for the truck cab. Those two legs have a bend in them for the trucks and the ones for the cars are straight. I agree with the guys above that the stock of 80 mph speedo's are more likely to be used up on trucks and pick-ups as most of these were B motors.

NDTMAN · 02-23-2012, 03:44 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

my 1932 bb truck with a 4cyl engine has a 90mph speedo

DavidG · 02-23-2012, 05:04 PM

Like the 80 MPH speedometer, the black-painted instrument panel used in commercial vehicles and BB trucks was phased out and replaced with the same engine-turned, chrome-plated face as was used on all passenger cars (except some super-early 4-cylinder cars which also had painted instrument panel faces). The engineering release date for the revised face on the BB-11804 panel was April 27, 1932, but the actual change took place later after all of the existing inventory of the painted BB-11804 panels had been exhausted.

01-04-2012, 02:10 PM	#1
32B Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Pine Island, NY Posts: 98	Trying to identify correct 32 truck gauges My 32 model B truck came with an empty dash. I was able to get my hands on several 90mph speedos that I was told were for a 32 B truck, but im just not sure. Was the speedo any different in the big trucks than the pickups? I once saw on here a speedo that had different colors and speeds by gear and I thought it said it was for a 32 big truck, but I can't remember. Either way, just trying to figure out the correct gauges and then finding what is necessary. I can post pics of what I have 2night if it would be helpful. -Thanks

01-04-2012, 02:47 PM	#3
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Trying to identify correct 32 truck gauges Well, the 90 replaced the 80, and V8 cars were to get it first as the 80's were used up on the B's. I think the 90 is legitimate for later B's...probably fully worked out in the excellent '32 resto book. The basic gauge design was carried over into the '33-4 trucks, but some time in '33 the amp gauge changed to the inductive loop design...you want one with two threaded studs to be correct for '32. I think the speedo with gear ranges marked is likely 1940's or so. (By the way...you REALLY need the '32 book from the V8 club, especially with an incomplete truck and uncertainty about the appearance of the missing stuff. It is expensive, but should be viewed more as an investment than as an expense. The expertise and experience offered in the book...!!! As an additional benefit, it contains a LOT of reprinted original literature that is VERY rare otherwise. If you decide you need an 80 speedo, I think I have some that seem good to trade for 90's that I need.) Last edited by Bruce Lancaster; 01-04-2012 at 03:35 PM. Reason: more stuff...

01-04-2012, 11:24 PM	#4
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,670	Re: Trying to identify correct 32 truck gauges I second all of Bruce's motions! There was no distinction between the gauges of '32 cars, commercial vehicles, or trucks at any point in time except for balancing out the inventory of obsolete parts (such as the 80 MPH speedometer, the motor-driven horn, the hand-controlled four-cylinder starter switch, the early shock absorbers, etc., etc., etc.) where commercial vehicles and trucks were the last in line to receive the latest part version.

01-08-2012, 09:36 PM	#5
32 Model B Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bethlehem, CT Posts: 133	Re: Trying to identify correct 32 truck gauges You had said your truck came with an empty dashboard without gauges, does it have the oval piece that the gauges bolt into along with the to legs that go back to the inside of the firewall? If not make sure you get the style for the truck cab. Those two legs have a bend in them for the trucks and the ones for the cars are straight. I agree with the guys above that the stock of 80 mph speedo's are more likely to be used up on trucks and pick-ups as most of these were B motors.

02-23-2012, 03:44 PM	#6
NDTMAN Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 32	Re: Trying to identify correct 32 truck gauges Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) my 1932 bb truck with a 4cyl engine has a 90mph speedo

02-23-2012, 05:04 PM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,670	Re: Trying to identify correct 32 truck gauges Like the 80 MPH speedometer, the black-painted instrument panel used in commercial vehicles and BB trucks was phased out and replaced with the same engine-turned, chrome-plated *face* as was used on all passenger cars (except some super-early 4-cylinder cars which also had painted instrument panel faces). The engineering release date for the revised face on the BB-11804 panel was April 27, 1932, but the actual change took place later after all of the existing inventory of the painted BB-11804 panels had been exhausted.