Update on the Edsel dash swap...

[68chevy68]

Originally Posted by rambler

nice fabracating skills, I know I couldn't even begin to do a project like that. It sure will look unique when you are done. those side pieces you added, you could put in AC vents in there if you ever wanted to add AC, or did the edsel already have them in place? are you using a 58 or 59 dash?

Thank you. The dash is out of a 1959 Ford Edsel. It was a freebie! AC vents are exactly what I have in mind for the ends of the dash. I want some kinda close to the stock truck vents, but with flare like outa a 1964 pontiac catalina. They just have some nice chrome that would blend with the dash.

[Richard H.]

Very nice work you got going on , if you look at my build thread at the bottom of the first page the is a handy little item there for forming metal.
Out of the blue yesterday some guy called me about a 58 Edsel ??? Garage kept or shed wanting to know if I wanted it. Once you get past looking at the front end those were neat looking cars. BTW those were a part of Mercury Div. if that sounds better than Ford.

[caja_larga]

will the wing windows open? they look like the will hit the dash.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Very cool!

[sleepertruck72]

That is creative and sweet looking ! Looks like you will gain some legroom as well.Is it going to have a push button ignition ? I like it

[68chevy68]

Thanks for the complements. The wing window will not open, but that is ok with me. A one peice window kit is in store for this truck anyways. Of course without a job, it will have to wait. I do have a ton of parts I could sell though.

Forgot to mention, It will not have a push button ignition, I placed the original 67-68 ignition in the same spot as the original edsel location. There are pictures in there somewhere that show it.

[ChevLoRay]

Originally Posted by Richard H.

Very nice work you got going on , if you look at my build thread at the bottom of the first page the is a handy little item there for forming metal.
Out of the blue yesterday some guy called me about a 58 Edsel ??? Garage kept or shed wanting to know if I wanted it. Once you get past looking at the front end those were neat looking cars. BTW those were a part of Mercury Div. if that sounds better than Ford.

If I remember correctly, Edsel had four trim levels, '58. Dad had a new Ford in '59 and I was always comparing ours to the Edsel whenever we had one beside us on the street. The financial strains of the day caused Edsel to retool and use existing bodies to cut down on expenses (there was a hella recession in '58). The original Edsel was pretty much out there, with some stuff shared with Mercury. The push-button transmission controls in the center of the steering wheel was Edsel. Engines were Mercury and Lincoln (like the 430). For their second year, the economizing of the Edsel found more Ford bodies than before. Ditto for '60, the swan song for Edsel. Whenever you find pix, you can compare the same year bodies for Ford/Mercury and Edsel, and you'll see what I mean.

The dash John Paul used is just like the '59 Ford dash that was in our Ford.

[rambler]

I remember seeing the 58 many years ago at a show.. ( I was 14 at the time) so 30 years ago.. and they had a cool speedometer, it glowed at a preset speed, it was only for the 58,, wonder why it was discontinued after only one year?

[68chevy68]

That is correct. The dash I used is outa a 1959 edsel which shares the exact identical dash minus the trim. I have been doing a little research to find out how hard it would be to find some trim. I am thinking I will just make my own. The trim peices I have from the edsel dash have ford stamped on the back of them.