Early Cj5 Dashboard

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:

Check out the nice naugahyde:



Here's a pic from the back:

And the front with the naugahide removed


Here are a few pics of example 1966 Tux dashboards:



So I made a temporary sketch drawing of all of the holes in mine:


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.

 

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.

 

But my buddy just got a new Tig welder! We have a bender in our shop so I may actually just do that.

 

Why does the fitment end at 1965? My Jeep is 1966.

 

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

 

The V6 Jeeps have all the holes other than the speedo in different locations.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

Can you post a pic of your dash and maybe what you paid for the dash?

 

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