What's a stock '32 dash look like?

All the stock 32 dashs had an ss ringed oval center with 3 gauges in a panel that had an engine turned surface and attached to the firewall and floated behind the dash. There are closed car dashs, 3 window dashs, open car and truck dashs and pu dashs.There lots of different dashs that fit the different models. That is the basics of the 32 dash.
 
Krylon32 said:
All the stock 32 dashs had an ss ringed oval center with 3 gauges in a panel that had an engine turned surface and attached to the firewall and floated behind the dash. There are closed car dashs, 3 window dashs, open car and truck dashs and pu dashs.There lots of different dashs that fit the different models. That is the basics of the 32 dash.
Click to expand...

Alright, I can kind of envision that. Do you have any pictures? I'm mainly interested in the instrument panel, though I'd be interested to know the differences between the various dash types as well.

-Dave
 
Okay, found one:

1932_deluxe_3.jpg


Look about right?

-Dave
 
The instrument panel (see first photo, note knobs are not correct) was chrome with engine turning originally (except for a very few early painted ones). An excellent stainless steel replacement exists but you will need to find an original tunnel and dash, remove the legs and spot weld them to the new stainless steel instrument panel (see second photo). Note that the legs are different for the trucks and passenger cars. The whole assembly bolts to the firewall and free floats in the dash. The instrument to the left is always the ammeter. Almost all ammeters are 20/20. A few 30/30 ones show up periodically (I think I have seen 2 in the last 40 years) but I am not sure they are correct. The may have been associated with the high output generators or cars with radios but I am guessing. A very rare after market accessory (oil chex) sometimes appeared in this location that combined a 20/20 ammeter and on off/on (at 5 psi) indicator for the oil pressure (see third photo).There are good reproductions available for all of the knobs. I believe they are available in black or brown like the originals. They have the functions engraved into the face and highlighted with white paint (throttle, dash light, choke). See fourth photo for an original knob. The knob on the left is always the throttle. The shaft of the knob goes to a bell crank and then with another rod attaches to the foot throttle. The center and right hand holes were used for a choke or a dash light (see the dash light switch in fifth photo) depending upon the engine in the car, the time when he car was produced and whether it was standard or deluxe. The hole in the center bottom was sometimes filled with a plug when the dash light switch was not installed. The speedometer in the center was 80 mph for the early 4 cylinder and 90 mph for all of the V8’s and the later 4 cylinders. The instrument on the right was a gas gauge utilizing a red fluid (it looked like a thermometer) to indicate the gas level in the tank. Slightly different faces for the gas gauges were available during the production year. A rare Ford accessory released late in production combined the fuel gauge and a temperature gauge (the dual temp gauge).

Absent from the instrument panel was a starter button. The V8 and late 4 cylinders had a push button switch mounted on the steering column in the engine compartment and a rod extended through the floor board. Early 4 cylinders had a pull cable mounted in the steering column assembly and used a knob which is also reproduced with the word start. If the pull cable starter was not used the hole was plugged. The switch for the vacuum operated windshield wiper was located on the wiper. The ignition switch was part of the steering column lock assemble (much like on modern cars).

If you need to fine tune any of this information see “The 1932 Ford Book” available from the Early Ford V8 Club (earlyfordv8.org).

Charlie Stephens
 

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Charlie, I never properly thanked you for your input on this. Your explanation has gone a long way for me.

To clear up one other point regarding controls - headlight switch is at the center of the wheel, correct? And by '32 Fords had automatic spark advance, so there is no spark advance lever anywhere?

Did I leave any controls out?

Thanks,

Dave
 
David Conwill said:
Charlie, I never properly thanked you for your input on this. Your explanation has gone a long way for me.

To clear up one other point regarding controls - headlight switch is at the center of the wheel, correct? And by '32 Fords had automatic spark advance, so there is no spark advance lever anywhere?

Did I leave any controls out?

Thanks,

Dave
Click to expand...

Yes on the headlight switch and no spark control. There are not any other controls unless you count the steering wheel and brakes.

Charlie Stephens
 
Well done Charlie! One minor exception is that all early '32s had 80 MPH speedomters, be the V-8s or fours. The changeover to the 90 MPH versions took place first with V-8 passenger cars and then on fours after the existing inventory of the 80 MPH versions was exhausted.

Regards,

Dave
 
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