MTFCA Forum

I'm still designing my firewall, cowl and dash set up for the WWI ambulance and came across this dash panel in the parts stash. Don't even know if it's Model T. Approx. 38" long with 3 1/2" hole for . . . ? Clock? Spedo? Steering column bracket and choke rod hole line up with current T set up. Dash light, but it's toast, might have to find a hole filler for that one.
Any insight appreciated. I Googled images and could not find one that had the large hole.

Don't know exactly what year it is, but suspect it is somewhere between 1923 and 1926. The large hole is for a speedometer and the hole between it and the ammeter is for a dash light.
Norm

Thank you. I will post wanted listing for hole filler speedo and light fixture as neither would have been used in the real world for my project. Or, I may just use the little wooden bracket with the switch/amp meter on it and forgo the metal dash.

signsup wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:21 pm

I'm still designing my firewall, cowl and dash set up for the WWI ambulance and came across this dash panel in the parts stash. Don't even know if it's Model T. Approx. 38" long with 3 1/2" hole for . . . ? Clock? Spedo? Steering column bracket and choke rod hole line up with current T set up. Dash light, but it's toast, might have to find a hole filler for that one.
Any insight appreciated. I Googled images and could not find one that had the large hole.dash panel 1.JPG

Since you intend to retain the 1926 coil box on the engine you might want an instrument panel that was on TT's somewhat coil box looking.
This mounts on the wood firewall & uses the rectangular switch (yes I have both). It gives the look of having the coil box on the firewall & period correct & simple --
From the MTFCA Encyclopedia
INSTRUMENT PANEL
1909-1918
None used. Instruments, if any, were attached to the dashboard (firewall). Accessory instrument boards were supplied by accessory manufacturers, not by Ford.
1919
Boards were wood with “leather” covering in early closed cars, and wood with metal covering later. Open cars, when equipped with starter, used wooden panels initially. The ammeter was of large (about 2” diameter glass) size and had a more elaborate movement than the later meters. Initially, the ammeter had no script but early in the year “Ford Motor Company” was specified. Then in about April, just “Ford” was used on the face. The light switch handle was cast, and painted black. The meter and switch were mounted on a rectangular panel which, in turn, was mounted on the instrument panel.
1919-1922
Metal panel of near uniform width from side to side. The end mounting ears were exposed and were fastened to the rear windshield post support bolt. Instrument panels on open cars only when supplied with electrical equipment. The ammeter was about the same size but of simple design. The switch handle was now pressed steel. The handle, mounting board, and switch were all black.
1922-1923
Metal panel now sloped slightly, with lower mounting bolts behind the panel. The width tapers upwards at each side. Non-electric cars used a blanking plate at the ammeter location.
1924-1925
Similar to 1923 but now had a support bracket for the steering column.
1926-1927
Metal panel built to appear more integral with the cowl. The ammeter was smaller and mounted in an oval, nickel-plated escutcheon. The handle on the light switch was nickel-plated on some of the later production, although most seem to have been painted black. A dash lamp was an accessory supplied by Ford (and others). The instrument panel was painted body color.