Model A dash panels

[Jeff/Illinois]

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[fritznbud]

Boy, don't you know it Jeff....my dash was painted black and looked terrible that way. I just stripped the paint off and polished what's left of the nickel(?) and it's pitted, scuffed and looks beautiful!! I love it and i will not put 1 more chinese part on my car. I'll go without first.

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Re-reading the lower post on the '30-'31 brass dash assy. for sale------

Why is it so hard for the parts vendors to come up with a GOOD reproduction dash panel? Surely there would be a good market for them. The repops sold since the Whitney-Rick's days are pretty bad, look at all the Model A owners who would love to deep-six that junk and buy a nice dash panel.

If Burlington crankshaft can mfg. what I understand to be a very good quality crankshaft in China, you'd think somebody would step up and make a good dash to original Ford specs with the proper finish.

I think they'd sell like hotcakes. That dash is one of the first things that meets the eye when you look into a Model A Ford.

Jeff,

This has been talked about time and time X's time again...and I agree with you 110%!

It is all due to the fact of COST followed by NO "quality control". In order to "reproduce" something correctly, it would cost more money for those who are reproducing the part to do it correctly than not. That is why so many repro parts out there either do not fit right and one has to take the time themselves to make it fit or it is just plain shoddy workman ship just to make a quick buck.

My thinking, again, is if those making reproduction parts can spend all that time and money to go 90% of the way...why not all the way?

It is all due to cost...It costs to much money to do something right than it does to do something not so right.

My hat goes out to all those who do take the time to make quality reproductions for this hobby.

Pluck

[Tom Wesenberg]

The biggest headache with repro instument panels is the holes are in the wron location. It really shouldn't cost any more to have the bottom two holes moved 1/8" over, so they are in the correct position. Thankfully there are enough originals to get replated and installed.

[CarlG]

I have one of the repros -- hanging on the begboard behind my workbench. Looks real nice up there!

[Roadster62]

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I forgot how many repo parts we had to fit in a 1931 Tudor dash last year, I'm sure the repop ignition cable was made too short, well over a four hour project. None of the holes were the proper size to accept the other repop items.

[Deluxe Delivery Don]

They didn't have velcro back in the day did they?

[Chris Haynes]

There never seems to be a shortage of good used instrument panels. It is too much trouble to re-plate them?

[mot]

Ive bought several renickeld and butler finished from Dan Bixby
they are done right ,he sells them for about $100,
I think its a bargain

[AL in NY]

Mot, do you have Dan Bixby's contact information that you could send me. I'd be very interested in getting rid of my Chinese repro junk dashboard.
PS.......Can anyone tell me if the dash panel on eBay ( item #280637050078) is an original????

[Mitch]

Dan's seller name on ebay is phonconn out of Freeman MO. I have bought several things from him including a dash. Top quality restored original parts.

[Don/WI]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

The biggest headache with repro instument panels is the holes are in the wron location. It really shouldn't cost any more to have the bottom two holes moved 1/8" over, so they are in the correct position. Thankfully there are enough originals to get replated and installed.

I bought a repro about 6 years ago. When I was ready to install it last year, I found that the bottom holes were 5/8" further apart than the original. That is 5/16" (0.3125") off from where they should be. And besides that it was a bright chrome and would not have looked right. I ended up having my original nickle plated with a "Butler" finish. Cost me $125, but I'm glad I did it. It's right finish now, along with the parking brake lever. Don/WI

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by AL in NY

Mot, do you have Dan Bixby's contact information that you could send me. I'd be very interested in getting rid of my Chinese repro junk dashboard.
PS.......Can anyone tell me if the dash panel on eBay ( item #280637050078) is an original????

SELLER'S DESCRIPTION:
"Here is a nice original 1930 1931 Ford Model A Coupe Sedan Roadster Dash gauge cluster, speedometer etc. Nice original condition, chrome is nice, stewart warner speedometer is clean and looks good. This is a good one to use or good for parts, getting hard to find these in any condition. Check out the pictures and see what you think. The winner will need to include shipping and payment is to be taken care of when auction ends. Thak you and good luck!"

The pictures don't match the description

I've seen Dan Bixbey's restored instrument panels, and they are excellent. I also bought an excellent original instrument panel, for my friend's 31 widebed, from Rockhill Will.

There is NO point in buying a repro instrument panel, since the screw holes don't line up. At least this has been the case with every repro early style instrument panel I've tried to install. I haven't tried any mid 30-31 panels, so I don't know about those screw holes.

[Cider Mill]

There's one left on the "swap meet" tab listed today. They are 28 - early 30 originals, re-plated. I just bought one of em.

[LukeDahlinger]

I'm curious who made the reproduction instrument panels in the 1970s? One of my cars has a repro panel that was likely made in the 70s, it fits quite good but the detail is off when compared to an original. Overall it's not bad for what it is.

I have a small stack of nice original instrument panels I need to get replated.

[Deluxe Delivery Don]

Luke, I believe they were sold by J C Whitney. But don't know where they were made. I have one from the early 70's and fits perfect and looks real close to the original.

[50Trucking]

Any tips on how to modify these repo instrument panels to fit your car?

[Oldbluoval]

You have relocated the lower screws ….
Which basically means replate.
Better starting with an original

[David in San Antonio]

Economical 3D printing of metal can't happen soon enough.

[Gene F]

Originally Posted by Deluxe Delivery Don

Luke, I believe they were sold by J C Whitney. But don't know where they were made. I have one from the early 70's and fits perfect and looks real close to the original.

JC Whitney...wow. I used to get their catalogs. I bought a few things from them. Some stuff was good, some was so-so.

[Oldbluoval]

Gene F
Back then it was about all we could get
Sears used to sell some decent parts …back when

[Gregb]

So things have not changed since this thread was first started as I just bought a reproduction dash for my 28 and the screw holes don't line up. I am really surprised the vendors still sell these useless items. The one that was in my car is really scratched up and does not look very nice and there are no platers left in my area. I did notice there was a Made in Germany tag on the back side of it so not an original.

Greg

[Oldbluoval]

Your info does not indicate your “area”. Unless international, shipping works pretty well.
Craig Riker often has original dashes outright. Very reasonable

[Gregb]

I have added location, yes I am international. I now have a source for an original re-plated dash panel.
Thx

Greg

[v8fordman]

Originally Posted by Oldbluoval

Your info does not indicate your “area”. Unless international, shipping works pretty well.
Craig Riker often has original dashes outright. Very reasonable

Craig does excellent work as well but he tells me he is slowing down. He is fantastic to deal with and I hate to see this. I just sent him anything I thought I would ever need.