Thanks mate!

Also since I'm posting here I figured I would let y'all know. I just joined up over at www.v6f150.com. So if you are a member over there I'm there as well under the same username.

 

While I love how my wheels look clean once they get dirty the chrome drives me crazy. So I was thinking about Plasti-Dipping the wheels. (Kinda kicking myself for selling my factory wheels. Could have painted those and kept my chromes..) Anyway here's a photo-chop:



Thoughts?

 

did you lower it in this chop also and ptm the mirror cap

 

Yes I did. Good eye. I've been debating about wither to do the mirror cap PTM or in Gloss Black.

 

it looks good low but idk if ptm the cap is worth it with the color of the truck and the other black plastic accents you have. that and plasti dip wont be glossy

 

Yeah, I'm still undecided on the mirror caps. But they are pretty low on the priority list. Just messing with photoshop. As for the wheels, I know they won't be glossy with the plasti-dip. I'm still learning Photoshop and I don't know all the little tricks with it yet. It's just glossy because my wheels are actually chrome right now.

Also, it's funny you commented in here because I was just reading your F250 build-up thread. I really like all the 08+ parts you have on there. Nice little details. I hope you're having better luck keeping her safe as of late!

 

Update time, woo!

Okay so my blue film came in this morning for me to finish my gauge cluster project.

Remember this?



Yep those are the two grilles that I shipped off to Pat for my Grille. So you can see how long I've been sitting on this cluster...



Then I took it apart to change out the green to blue:





So this morning I applied the blue film (I tried to take pictures, but you couldn't see much during the daylight. I'll take more tonight) and I started taking the dash apart.

If you are sitting in the driver's seat, there is a 7mm bolt near both of your shins. If you take those out then the lower panel will pop out. It has snap clips at the top, but if you've ever taken out your radio surround you'll know what to do. If you haven't just go gently, they will pop out.

Then you'll be here:



After that, there are two more 7mm bolts holding the top section on. Once again pull gently the piece will pop out. The only difference is that there are more of the snap clips. Here's one for reference:



At this point things started getting a little wonky for me so I didn't take as many pictures. But basically there are four more bolts holding the cluster in place. It plugs in to the top of the cluster and the shift indicator at the bottom.

To get that out there are two clips on the inside of the shift indicator. If you push them both in at the same time it will pop out of your old cluster. Simply push it into the new cluster.

There you'll be around here.



Like I said things started to get a little wonky. First off I totally forgot to put the **** back in the cluster to reset the trip meter when I put it back together. As luck would have it I have lost it since, so I'm going to have to scavenge the old one for that.

Also I tried to use my technique of sanding the back of the shift indicator as I had the gauge face. DON'T DO THIS!! You'll sand through the letters and have to draw them on yourself...

Third problem: The needle for the speedometer was slightly off. Easy fix, just annoying once you've put everything back together.

At this point everything looks like this:



I'm excited/a little nervous to see if the coloured film did anything at night.

So at this point my next projects are to get a new gear indicator, Figure out how to change said indicator to blue, figure out how to change Odometer screen to blue and to add the reset ****.

Yes, I'm a little annoyed that some things get messed up. But I got to spend the afternoon turning wrenches. I sure as hell can't complain about that!

Gauge Cluster Test 01
Gauge Cluster Test 01

EDIT:

Putting this up here so I won't lose it plus if anyone needs it:

The part number for the gear indicator is: 4L3Z7A110AA

Tasca has this for around 15 or 16$ can't remember exactly what he said on the price, but not too bad either way.

 

Okay, so this was a bad idea.

I'm pretty convinced that none of the gauges (save the gas?) actually work correctly. The needles for both the Tach and the Speedo are below the "Zero Line" on start up, and it says that I cruse at around 800-900 RPM. When I rev up the truck it won't go pass 2K. The volt gauge (hope that's what it's called, the bottom left with the battery logo) stays all the way to the right. My oil pressure is through the roof and just because I need something else to deal with my dome light has decided to shut off in less than half the time on leaving the truck (and not turning on at all on opening).

Where's that "bang head" smiley face?



Oh and the cluster makes a baseball card in a bike tire sound.

I'll have a video up in a minute, it's just taking awhile to load.

If it's not obvious already I'm already looking at new clusters...

 

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrfJd1dySz0

Help?

 

Right now I'm looking at this one.

eBay Cluster

I'm guessing I'm having the issues with it because I opened it up and tried to modify it.
For those who have swapped clusters successfully, did installing an un-modified cluster work correctly?


Edit: I pulled the trigger on that, should have it in 4 to 5 days. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

Don't you need to have it programmed in? That gets $$$

 

Try installing the cluster with out the cover and set the needle to where they look like this with the truck off
Edit: just saw that you took apart the cluster you may have put the needles on wrong, that is why they are sitting so low with the truck off or to high


should look like this

 

Thanks for the advice guys, but I'm having other problems with it beyond the mis-read of the gauges. The biggest one is the dome light. It doesn't turn on at all when I open the doors, and only stays on for literally 20 seconds when leaving. I'm usually not even out of the seat before it shuts off. I was reading on here (searching through old threads) and I read something about the 04-06 clusters were different than the 07-08's. So the new one I bought is also from an 07.

Here's the description: "FORD F150 PICKUP 07-08 (cluster), MPH, STX and XL, elec windows, ID 8L34-10849-AA"

I don't have power windows, but other than that it's spot on. Hopefully that won't really effect this. I can't see how it would, but...

@Fordfanatic101, Thanks for the picture. Good to have that as reference guide!

 

Hey animated zombie, first let tell that I have been following your project with this truck and I think you are doing an awesome job! you inspire people like me.

I got a quick question, where can I buy an air dam (valance) like the one you got right now, It does look really good.

I drive an 05 f150 STX, with a 4.2 v6 also.

Thanks man!

 

Right on bro, I appreciate it!

3DCarbon - Whole Kit

eBay Link

I don't remember which seller I bought mine from, but I did buy mine on eBay.

It's the same kit that they use on the Foose F-150's.

Thanks again, and be sure to post up some pics of your truck!