a new and free gauge cluster mod

gyrate · 02-15-2007, 09:23 AM

I know some people paint the bezel, others instal overlays, but for me, none was going to cut it because the bezel was in the way. I never liked it.. made the truck seem so utalitarian.

So i cut it off! After some reading on how to separate the clear plastic from the black frame, i decided to dremel it away on the top and sides and pry the bottom part (easy once you cut the top edges). Anyhow, i didn't crack it unlike some other members

After roughly dremeling the ugly plastic away, we have this; a rather classy cluster.. nice and flat with nothing in the way.

I still have a lot of detail work to do + sanding + paint to make it look oem.. as for the big tow needle, ill fabricate something.

Here are the pics so far:

gyrate · 02-17-2007, 02:55 AM

just about done... the cover is gloss black and the flash really shows the edges off.. otherwise the blending is perfect

it should give me the cool reflections i so miss.

i could go and put it in now, but it is 20 degrees out.. i am waiting till sunsire!

titaninak · 02-18-2007, 11:31 AM

can't wait for the finished product.

Lurchdubious · 02-18-2007, 11:34 AM

cool idea! finished product should look sweet.

54warrior · 02-22-2007, 11:29 AM

I'm not trying to be a jagoff, but from those pics, it isn't clear to me what exactly you accomplished? It looks like a stock guage cluster to me. Maybe some different pics would be better? did you lay the clear back parallel with the guages themselves?

**konigfritz** · 02-22-2007, 12:32 PM

he removed the inner bezel that surrounds the gauges.

gyrate · 02-23-2007, 06:56 AM

Having some lens problem (my macros died) so i finally found the old camera to snap these close ups.

yes i removed the black plastic which serves no purpose. I like things flat with no shadow variation and i also like the reflections on the top at night. the bezel also covered a portion of the actual dials (as well as needle bases).

Here is a little useful information which i am sure has already been posted: for the non BT titans, although the tranny temp drawing is there, the motor to drive the needle (and the needle) are missing. so you do need a new cluster assuming there is even a transmitter in the transmission (probably not). So no BT cluster conversion is really possible for non BT titans. At least not with the oem gauges.

bigjimbo · 02-23-2007, 08:11 AM

sweet. Does anyone know if you can buy a needle for the tranny temp gauge? for the non-big tow'ers out there.

I thought i read that a guy said on here the harness is different...

sorry didn't mean to de-rail this.

cpaul · 03-09-2007, 10:23 AM

You can find a BT cluster set and use it. You can't just put a temp guage in that cluster and make it work without the programing to make it work, and that only comes from the manufacturer Visteon that I know of. As for the temp signal, there is a temp sensor in the tranny and it sends the signal back to the meter along the controller area network(CAN) lines if it has a BT cluster or not.
P.S. If you get another cluster make shure the truck has the same equipment such as 2X4 or 4X4, VDC, and such. There are a lot of different clusters.

jaho1979 · 03-09-2007, 12:07 PM

That looks very sharp, it took me a minute to figure out what you were even doing, then it hit me. That looks a ton better.

jaho1979 · 03-09-2007, 12:09 PM

I had no idea the big tow gauge would be under there. Is everyone certain that it doesn't work already, and just needs a needle?

Advocate07 · 03-09-2007, 01:47 PM

Just looks like an older ford gauge cluster now..

gyrate · 03-11-2007, 12:22 AM

functionality > old "ford" design

after driving 3600 miles in the past week, i can tell you i love it. no sun shades, no blocked faces, the passenger can also see it..

it's a personal preference thing i know. won't suit some, others won't find it worth the bother. either way, i am old school and proud (hence i like flat things).

**crash519** · 03-14-2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Advocate07

Just looks like an older ford gauge cluster now..

Looks good but that was my first thought as well. 90's Turd F150

bigkurt666 · 01-17-2008, 12:39 AM

so ur saying that if someone were to buy a big tow cluster it the tranny temp gauge may work?