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Early Cj5 Dashboard

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by truckee4x4, Jul 16, 2019.

  1. Jul 16, 2019
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    Bubba put a LOT of gauges and holes in my dashboard. I think that instead of trying to plug/patch them it would be wiser to cut most of it out and replace with a new panel cut on a CNC machine that has the correct holes dimensioned and cut in from measurements made from an original stock dashboard panel.

    Here is a pic of my dashboard as it was when I got the Jeep 11 years ago:
    Photo Jul 09, 6 11 24 PM.jpg
    Check out the nice naugahyde:


    Photo Jul 09, 6 11 21 PM.jpg
    Here's a pic from the back:
    Photo Jul 11, 7 37 09 AM.jpg
    And the front with the naugahide removed
    Dashboard with tape measure.jpg

    Here are a few pics of example 1966 Tux dashboards:
    65-jeep-006.jpg
    dashboard.jpg
    1845535733d1_low_res_1966-jeep-8322-cj-5a-tuxedo-park-mark-iv.jpg
    So I made a temporary sketch drawing of all of the holes in mine:

    1966 Jeep CJ 5 Dashboard Holes2.jpg
    As far as I can tell from my archive of pictures from other's projects, the OEM holes are the red ones in my drawing:
    • Speedometer
    • Key
    • Choke
    • Lights
    • Glove box
    • Chrome "Oh ****" Bar
    Can you guys advise me as to whether or not I am correct?

    Once I hear back, I will complete this drawing with dimensions to the appropriate scale and then I can cut it on the CNC and stitch it into my panel. And, I'll share the file if other folks want to do the same, and I'd be happy to help anyone else out that needs to make a new one.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jul 16, 2019
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  2. Jul 16, 2019
    CJ Joe

    CJ Joe Truckhaven Tough!

    Pinon Hills, CA
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    When I built mine I had a sheet metal shop make the simple bends on the edges. Then you wouldn't have to stitch weld and worry about warping it.
     
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  3. Jul 16, 2019
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    But my buddy just got a new Tig welder! :bananatool:We have a bender in our shop so I may actually just do that.
     
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  4. Jul 16, 2019
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Dash Board Assembly 1955-1965 CJ5, CJ6

    There's a bit more to it than a flat sheet of meal- there's also re-inforcements required to keep the thing from ringing like a bell & to support the steering column..
     
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  5. Jul 16, 2019
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Why does the fitment end at 1965? My Jeep is 1966.
     
  6. Jul 16, 2019
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Is that when the controls moved to the left of the column? They might have meant till '68, Walcks seems a little hazy on 5 stuff :confused:
     
  7. Jul 16, 2019
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    I'm going to take the one I'm working on and cut a good section out of the dash. Roll the inside edges (like the glove box is) for support, and then put another panel on with a hinge or just small bolts. The goal is to be able to pull the guages and wires out front a bit and make it MUCH easier to work on.

    I will also say I'm not going stock on the gauge set as I have a dual 5" gauge set - one speedo the other all the individuals in a single spot. I'll also have to modify for the new column support I'm putting in it too.
     
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  8. Jul 16, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    If you really want to TIG it, cut some patches and fix it. Not sure that TIG is much of an advantage over MIG or gas welding in this case. I think the main thing is to planish after you weld a spot at a time, to keep the panel flat. Could be done.

    Robert's thread here is quite interesting: MP&C Shop Projects - Page 41 - The Garage Journal Board
     
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  9. Jul 16, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    The V6 Jeeps have all the holes other than the speedo in different locations.
     
  10. Jul 16, 2019
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    This is another option. This guy does fantastic work. he will make you a new stock one or modify it however you want. Some real neat ideas if you look around his site.

    Double D Fabrication, LLC
     
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  11. Jul 17, 2019
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    When I built my 64 Tux, I used a 66 V6 dash from a donor Jeep. I didn't used the column shift, chose to use the V6 steering box, because they are stronger than the 64 Ross column shift steering box, and I wanted the floor shift anyway. I didn't notice any difference between the 64 column shift dash and the 66 V6 dash except the notch for the column shift, if fit right in, no problem. My 64 column shift dash had hacked up so bad that it would have taken more that the cost of a replacement to fix it right. I kept it and all the column shift parts just to have, the transmission, steering column, and linkage. Good Luck
     
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  12. Jul 17, 2019
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I think the hole you've marked in red on your sketch at the far lower left corner, which I believe is intended to be for the windshield wiper vacuum line, is in the wrong place. If you look at the first photo you attached showing the dash examples (the one with the bright red dash), you'll see that it's actually above and to the right of the location you've marked.
     
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  13. Jul 17, 2019
    Dave B

    Dave B Frankenjeep '67

    Northern Minnesota
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    Made mine in two pieces with the seam at the speedometer. The two piece approach made it simpler to bend (without a bender) and fit. The speedo cut-out leaves very little seam.
    [​IMG]
     
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  14. Jul 17, 2019
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    The example of the yellow dash shows a plug in a hole lower left of the speedo. That is original. There should be holes for a choke, throttle, light switch, and ignition switch surrounding the speedo. Yes, there is a hole for the vacuum line left of the colunm as shown by the red Tux dash. These comments apply to an early - mid '60s F134 CJ.
    On making your own dash, the factory pieces have 4 small studs on the back side to mount the speedo, and one or two more for mounting the flasher and ground.
    -Donny
     
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  15. Jul 17, 2019
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Donny do you (or does anyone else) know how the holes you mentioned would be differently located for the V6 in 1966? I'll post the CAD drawing with dimensions of what I think should be OEM later tonight and maybe get some feedback from you guys on that.

    Thanks McRuff for the link from DoubleD - that's a good option to have in my back pocket. As usual there's someone making a perfect high quality replacement product for a couple hundred bucks...but I'm probably going to try and fix mine or make my own anyway. I'm not trying to do a concours restoration, that's way over my head, just trying to be historically accurate for the joy of it.
     
  16. Jul 17, 2019
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I thought that the V6 Jeeps had the same holes in '66 that the 4 cylinders had. As Howard mentioned '68 was when they moved everything to the left of the column.
     
  17. Jul 17, 2019
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
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    Got my dash from DD. First class. Highly recommend . The mount for the steering column and hole for glove box will take a lot of work if you do it your self. The holes for switches are not round, there are flat spots or notches in them. More work
     
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  18. Jul 17, 2019
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Can you post a pic of your dash and maybe what you paid for the dash?
     
  19. Jul 17, 2019
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    I don't think the V6 used a throttle, but the factory may have used a plug in the small hole. The V6 models didn't have vacuum wipers, so I think that may be different too. Unfortunately, my '66 V6 has an aluminium home huilt dash, so I will be correcting that in the future, and can't comment as to what holes are correct. I'd like to know too.
    -Donny
     
  20. Jul 17, 2019
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Didn't the '66 V6 have vacuum wipers?
     
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