Just a Dash

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

Surely the dash in the top right photo is just an early panel intended for the civilian style cluster fitted with an adapter plate to take the later instruments. I would guess that this is an Australian mod in the interests of standardisation when the civilian clusters became hard to source from the military supply chain.

As Grant says the 'standardised' round gauges come in many variations but at least they fit the holes ! Also reproductions of the more common ones (like for jeeps) are available.

David

My understanding is that the type in the middle was adopted by the Australian Army by utilising a late-production GMC CCKW insert and standard military gauges, but I do not have any documented references for this view, or a date when this was implemented. It is reasonably common to find this insert fitted in early build "civilian dash" Chevs in Aust.

The 1st and 3rd pictures are the only type mentioned in the Chevrolet CMP parts manuals.

[Bob Carriere]

Sometimes it makes you think they used what they had in the parts bin since I have record of Australian contract trucks (C60 with 16 inch wheels and axles) (still in Canada) assembled a few weeks a part in late 1944 and one had a civilian cluster the other round gauges......where they made that way or field repairs.....?

Repro Civilian cluster reached a peak of $999 US on Ebay a few years ago but now can be found around $500.......... round gauges may still have the price advantage.

It is your truck you make it look the way you want and drive it........let some one else prove you wrong