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Retro Fit Clusters

Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1972-1976 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1972-1976 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=19836
Printed Date: 23-April-2024 at 5:10PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Retro Fit Clusters
Posted By: afri-can7
Subject: Retro Fit Clusters
Date Posted: 11-October-2021 at 1:22PM
Hi,
Iv'e searched the site and can't seem to find any info on Retro fitting the '72-'79 clusters. I'm trying to get away from the old style gauges but keeping the old look. I've searched the inter web and found couple of companies doing it. Has any one else on this forum done it? One of the places actually sent me a picture of a '72 they claim they did.




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When i die.....i know where i'm going!
'73 Gran torino sport formal
'72 Gran Torino Fastback
'06 F150 Supercharged
'79 Chrysler 300



Replies:
Posted By: 72 RS 351
Date Posted: 11-October-2021 at 1:34PM
I haven't seen anything myself either. I would be interested in most of that you pictured, but I'd like a full sweep for the tach and speedometer, 7000rpm would be plenty for me, and 120MPH is better also.


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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W
73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later.
92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W


Posted By: Praxguy
Date Posted: 11-October-2021 at 7:19PM
Can you link me to that cluster? I’d like to see the price. Thanks!


Posted By: afri-can7
Date Posted: 12-October-2021 at 3:05PM
This one in the picture was a one off and i believe it was around $2000......



-------------
When i die.....i know where i'm going!
'73 Gran torino sport formal
'72 Gran Torino Fastback
'06 F150 Supercharged
'79 Chrysler 300


Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 12-October-2021 at 5:50PM
thats nice! but $2k Shocked


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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE
74 VETTE CUSTOM
90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED
77 CELICA CUSTOM
75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED
79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED
75 VEGA V6 5 SPD
70 CHEV C10 P/U
68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION


Posted By: SeattleJay
Date Posted: 07-December-2021 at 5:07AM
These days 2k seems about right. Just getting aftermarket gauges is $$. Take into account calibrating the new gauge with the matiching face they have to produce it would take some time. Plug and play you gotta pay! If you do it yourself bet you would have it done under 1k. I would look for Mustang retro gauges and use them, buy the cluster, take them apart for the torino cluster. Should be pretty straight forward restore your factory faces. Once you sort it out you can builds some for us...at a discount of course! Image below for ref. 900 for the set at CJ's

After looking at the gauges you posted I would bet that they are using classic instruments gauges with the restored face. You should check out Classic, huge amount of options, and a set runs around 700 and you could fit them yourself. 



Posted By: afri-can7
Date Posted: 01-January-2022 at 1:33PM
Yes, gauge sets are not cheap. I have 8 Autometer gauges in my 2006 F150 which cost me around $1500 before installation.
So I just made the decision to get a custom build and I like the fact that the amount of wiring is so reduced and also the custom look appears stock but with better reliable electronics.






-------------
When i die.....i know where i'm going!
'73 Gran torino sport formal
'72 Gran Torino Fastback
'06 F150 Supercharged
'79 Chrysler 300


Posted By: lynchster
Date Posted: 01-January-2022 at 2:07PM
Sharp

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Chuck
72 Gran Torino Sport
13 Taurus SHO "Mr Pig"


Posted By: Compton
Date Posted: 01-January-2022 at 2:20PM
That’s pretty slick there mate especially how the backs been done…who did it and what did it run you? Been contemplating something similar myself but the interior is still a way off…


Posted By: afri-can7
Date Posted: 01-January-2022 at 2:22PM
Dakota digital.......custom design and set up run me around $2000.



-------------
When i die.....i know where i'm going!
'73 Gran torino sport formal
'72 Gran Torino Fastback
'06 F150 Supercharged
'79 Chrysler 300


Posted By: Compton
Date Posted: 01-January-2022 at 3:31PM
Nice…you get what you pay for tho…will be putting DD in myself…like how you can add nodules for FI etc


Posted By: lynchster
Date Posted: 01-January-2022 at 4:17PM
Originally posted by afri-can7 afri-can7 wrote:

Dakota digital.......custom design and set up run me around $2000.


How do you adapt for the existing harness plugs? Is it a complete rewire?



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Chuck
72 Gran Torino Sport
13 Taurus SHO "Mr Pig"


Posted By: afri-can7
Date Posted: 03-January-2022 at 3:17PM
It comes with it's own brain box. Simply hard wire all your sensors to the module and then one main cable connects module to cluster. Nice and clean setup.






-------------
When i die.....i know where i'm going!
'73 Gran torino sport formal
'72 Gran Torino Fastback
'06 F150 Supercharged
'79 Chrysler 300


Posted By: Eliteman76
Date Posted: 08-January-2022 at 6:12PM
Man, that is nice and clean. Looks like they modify the original housing, but that's nice how they do it.
Simple, clean and modern.
I'd use the brand new back piece with the '72 front, because it has removable metal trim plates.

Not my style on the gauges, but I'd love to see that lit up.

Redline can do retrofits, but you pay for their time. As it should when your dealing with a custom business doing higher end stuff like this. You don't want to cheap out, especially if you're going to stare at it.
Cheap flat aluminum plate bent to fit with gauges, for the basic down and dirty look, or retromod the factory piece. any number of ways to skin this cat!


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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod
Pondering: #99Problems


Posted By: MOTORCITYBADBOY
Date Posted: 14-October-2022 at 9:56AM
Dakota makes good stuff. My 78 Tbird already has the gauges so I don't think I will mess with it.


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Tom
A soft heart for orphaned cars...
6 Mustangs- 69-2014
3 Ford trucks 69-96-03
2 Tbirds- 79-95
1 Lincoln Mark IV- 1972
1 Full size Cadillac- 1985
1 Harley VROD-2005


Posted By: hogfiddles
Date Posted: 27-November-2022 at 3:20PM
If they could leave the gauge faces original, then I’d sure be tempted with something like that!!

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1973 Gran Torino Sport - Q code “Q-Clone” project-on-hold
1972 Gran Torino Sport - Q code new project
1972 Gran Torino - parts
1969 Torino GT - M code
95+/- mid-80's Yamaha XJ-Series (10 trophies)


Posted By: 72 RS 351
Date Posted: 28-November-2022 at 12:07PM
Ditto, if the faces were close to one of the original designs, that would help a lot.


-------------
Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W
73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later.
92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W


Posted By: Neal
Date Posted: 08-April-2024 at 1:45AM
Next on my list is to swap in a sport dash with better gauges. Been looking at piecing it together myself, or using a solution like Dakota. Any updates on people who have done this?

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--Neal
1972 Gran Torino Sport


Posted By: SEKCOBRA
Date Posted: 08-April-2024 at 9:55AM
Had my cluster converted by Digota digital about a year ago. Just got it installed a few weeks ago. Love it. It is a bit pricey. Mine was about $2300 for the conversion.

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69 MACH R CODE


70 TORINO COBRA J CODE
71 TORINO COBRA J CODE
72 Z28 CAMARO
94 MUSTANG 5.0 LX NOTCH
72 GTS Q CODE
61 Galaxie 427
62 Galaxie 406 tri power
64 Galaxie country sedan 390
1972 GTS Q CODE


Posted By: Neal
Date Posted: 08-April-2024 at 10:02AM
Yeah, it seems like there's no way around that price. Do you have some pictures?

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--Neal
1972 Gran Torino Sport


Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 09-April-2024 at 1:02AM
Ok other than tec what is the 2000 adv. I put leds in my 79 with new circuit,looks great.


Posted By: Neal
Date Posted: 09-April-2024 at 1:37AM
Reliable gauges, want to be sure I don't lose an engine to a 50 year old electrical instrument.



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--Neal
1972 Gran Torino Sport


Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 09-April-2024 at 2:00AM
Ok makes sense my sending unit went (oil) yr ago had to install sep gage.I could never find one that would fit where the old one was. New ones were to fat.


Posted By: SEKCOBRA
Date Posted: 11-April-2024 at 6:44AM


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69 MACH R CODE


70 TORINO COBRA J CODE
71 TORINO COBRA J CODE
72 Z28 CAMARO
94 MUSTANG 5.0 LX NOTCH
72 GTS Q CODE
61 Galaxie 427
62 Galaxie 406 tri power
64 Galaxie country sedan 390
1972 GTS Q CODE


Posted By: SEKCOBRA
Date Posted: 11-April-2024 at 6:49AM
Ill take a picture with the lights on. Looks much better at night. I wanted to be as close to stock appearing as possible. Works very well. Has a bunch of features. Other day I saw one, I was driving and a low fuel warning started flashing on the screen on the MPH side.

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69 MACH R CODE


70 TORINO COBRA J CODE
71 TORINO COBRA J CODE
72 Z28 CAMARO
94 MUSTANG 5.0 LX NOTCH
72 GTS Q CODE
61 Galaxie 427
62 Galaxie 406 tri power
64 Galaxie country sedan 390
1972 GTS Q CODE


Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 11-April-2024 at 12:56PM
That does look pretty good! Not so far from stock that it stands out.


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Vince

1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car

GTS.org Admin


Posted By: Neal
Date Posted: 11-April-2024 at 1:57PM
Originally posted by SEKCOBRA SEKCOBRA wrote:


That looks very good. Thanks!


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--Neal
1972 Gran Torino Sport


Posted By: peter.jenerette
Date Posted: 12-April-2024 at 1:02AM
This thread caught my attention, and wanted to do this, but it is currently cost prohibitive to me as well as I don't have a good sport cluster to be modified.

In the future, I may consider seeing what they can do with my standard cluster to add a tach and a multi-gauge faces.

I did reach out for some basic info, and here is what their reply was:

Quote
We can definitely make you something for your Torino. Here are a pair of previous builds we have done:

{Removed the two photos they sent, one is the one on this thread, the other is similar but with a 160mph speedo and later style guage face.}


From here, would direct you to the Customs page on our website. 

 

https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=214/category_id=417/mode=prod/prd214.htm" rel="nofollow - https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=214/category_id=417/mode=prod/prd214.htm

 

Here you will find the 3 different systems we offer, VFD3, VHX and HDX.  We do not offer custom build options for RTX or GRFX currently.

You can also find pictures as well as specs and pricing on all 3 systems. The order forms are here as well.

 

Current lead time for a custom build is 4 months.

 

If you decide to proceed with a custom build, once you send in your dash assembly, we will then disassemble your OEM gauges and build our gauges and components into your housing.  Limitations may vary, and permanent modifications may be required for fitment into the original housing(s).

If you feel this is something you want to do, then go ahead and fill out the order form and prepare your shipment to the following address: 

 

Dakota Digital

Custom Shop-Attn CJ

4510 W. 61st Street North

Sioux Falls, SD 51707

 

Once I receive your gauges, I will be in contact with you if I have any questions and to obtain a 50% down payment.

                                                          

Custom pricing begins at:                                               

HDX $3000   Matching HLC Clock $550                               

VHX $2500   Matching VLC Clock $450                                

VFD $1500   Matching VFD Clock $250                               

                                                    

Here is a simple comparison between the gauges:  https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm?ptype=results&category_id=697&mode=cat" rel="nofollow - https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm?ptype=results&category_id=697&mode=cat

                                          



Should my current guages be bad, i will go this route. (Then i have an excuse to spend the $) :) 


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Pete Jenerette
1972 Gran Torino (H-Code, 4 speed [Converted])
2023 F250 XLT 7.3
2003 Thunderbird


Posted By: Neal
Date Posted: 12-April-2024 at 3:09AM
Hey Pete, very nice, thanks for sharing the info. 

The HDX series mentions full TFT screen, not sure what that means. TFT is touchscreen? Are the gauges physical or, are they merely computer screen images of gauges? Or... is the TFT part just the small rectangular insert with the digital readouts?

The VHX series looks good, I like the wider sweep of the Speedo. 

I really like how they tout their needle caps, like that's a serious feature. "Spun aluminum needle caps!" LOL

1968- 69 Ford Torino, Fairlane and Ranchero VHX Instruments
https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=1326/category_id=688/mode=prod/prd1326.htm" rel="nofollow - https://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=1326/category_id=688/mode=prod/prd1326.htm

Too bad they won't add the  72-76 to their lineup, the 68-69 is quite a lot cheaper at $975


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--Neal
1972 Gran Torino Sport


Posted By: SEKCOBRA
Date Posted: 14-April-2024 at 7:29AM


-------------
69 MACH R CODE


70 TORINO COBRA J CODE
71 TORINO COBRA J CODE
72 Z28 CAMARO
94 MUSTANG 5.0 LX NOTCH
72 GTS Q CODE
61 Galaxie 427
62 Galaxie 406 tri power
64 Galaxie country sedan 390
1972 GTS Q CODE



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