Nothing is ever easy it seems.

[mechohaulic]

22 hours ago, tjc transport said:

same here Larry. 

by the time i get the old body ready to go out and do anything,  i have to sit down. than once down find it very hard to get back up. 

wish I found it hard  after sitting  down. 😱🤣😂 sorry couldn't' help myself (again) LOL

[Mean Green]

How did the extra gauges turn out would like to see some pics I just cut a hole in my dash and got rid of the lighter and added a pryo gauge and yes one small project is never small lol

[Licensed to kill]

42 minutes ago, Mean Green said:

How did the extra gauges turn out would like to see some pics I just cut a hole in my dash and got rid of the lighter and added a pryo gauge and yes one small project is never small lol

Haven't done it yet. Might be awhile as I don't have the correct hole saw yet and have other things on the go as well. I did make the plug for the lighter hole, just have to weld it in. 

[mechohaulic]

correct hole saw will be a major importance. a size or two smaller and some dremel filing would be my  choice. hole saw on thin sheet metal will bounce  end up way to big possibly. can always file it bigger . can't make it  smaller. 

[Mean Green]

That was the problem I had finding the right size hole saw

[Licensed to kill]

Well, the gauges are 2 1/16" so I bought a 2-1/16" hole saw last time I went to town. Tried it on a piece of scrap and a gauge "fits" but is quite snug, have to use a fair bit of force to get it on there all the way (then had a bear of a time getting it back off) and the saw itself was quite sloppy in the original gauge holes. So, next week when I go to town (to pick up the drive shaft) I will get a 2-1/8" hole saw and that should work perfect. I would much prefer an annular bit but one of those in  2-1/8" would be $$$$$$$ just to make a couple holes so........that's a hard "NOPE". The brand new Milwaukie 2-1/16 saw made a perfect hole when used in the mill and everything clamped down well and run slow so I now feel confident that the 2-1/8" hole saw will be the ticket, just need to get to town to get one. 

 

P.S. I SHOULD be able to finish the welding on the cab today, just have to weld in the driver side front 1/4 and change out the rockers so then I can wheel the welder back to the bench and weld up the unwanted holes in the cluster panel. I HAVE to get the cab done as my son called and he needs the lift to do the brakes on his wife's buggy and my oldest daughter needs her winter tires put on and I am too old (and lazy) to do that sort of thing on the floor any more. 

 

Edited November 15, 2023 by Licensed to kill

[mechohaulic]

so the "test hole"was on scrap piece which was fasten to bench? is the dash hole being drilled still in the truck  which may flex to much? no dremel with emory  or grinding bit ? to widen that small dia.

[Licensed to kill]

I clamped a piece of wood in the vice on my drill/mill table then clamped the small scrap sheet to the wood with vice grips. Will do the same with the gauge panel. I will take a couple pics when I do the panel and post them. 

[Licensed to kill]

I said I would post pics when I did the holes for the additional gauges and today was the day so here is how it went. I started by plugging the lighter hole. I will relocate it to the dash somewhere.

I cut out a plug

 

Then welded it from the back first, then from the front and dressed it down flush with the panel.

 

I then cut out the gauge holes with the new 2-1/8" hole saw (cut a practice hole in some scrap first to make sure the size was right). Unfortunately, I had to drill from the back because that damn light bracket was in the way to mount the panel right side up in the vice and the first hole ended up about 1/16" or so too high so I had to "move" it down. PITA but it is what it is I suppose. I'm used to having to fix my F-ups. 

 

Holes all cut and the first one moved to where it was SUPPOSED to go 🙄. I will likely plug the headlight switch hole as it is too close to the far left gauge for my likeing. "Mack" put it in line with the start button but I will probably move it left to line up with the upper hole. (not sure I am keeping that upper hole yet, not sure what I would use it for. 

 

 

 

 

[tjc transport]

looks good!!

[mattb73lt]

Nice work!! That'll look great when painted and assembled!!

[mowerman]

Wow, I almost missed this. Great job bud.