Custom 1940 Ford Hot Rod Gauge Panel- 1933 3W Ardun Coupe

Before heading to Australia Matt started building a gauge panel for the 1933 Ford 3 window but had a hard time cutting the first choice of material. After taking a break and rethinking the design Matt is back to work to build gauge panel with regular steel. After cutting the circles, Matt works on welding studs to hold the rear mounted gauges. Once the gauges are mounted it's time to do the same to the dash to mount the panel. During that process there was a slight accident, and the speedo need a new glass lens!!!
Get 10% Off Your Eastwood Order With The Coupon Code ITG15 At Checkout * Some Products Excluded -
-Eastwood 200 Amp Digital Tig Welder - www.eastwood.c...
Eastwood Panoramic View True Color Helmet - www.eastwood.c...
Eastwood COB LED Work Light - www.eastwood.c...
Music Used -
Runaway Deer - Arc De Soleil - Epidemic Music Library
Sink Like A Stone (Instrumental Version) - Zyke - Easton - Epidemic Music Library
Heart In Hand (Instrumental Version) - Ramin - Epidemic Music Library
Wanna send us something?
Iron Trap Garage
PO Box 6
New Berlinville, PA
19545
Amazon Wishlist - www.amazon.com...
Matt's Instagram - @irontrap - / irontrap
Mike's Instagram - @mhammsteak - / mhammsteak
Iron Trap Parts Instagram - @irontrapfinds - / irontrapfinds
Iron Trap eBay - www.ebay.com/u...
Email us - [e-mail]
Get Your Iron Trap Merch Here - irontrapgarage...

[@deuceman32]

I love the gauges that you have chosen. It's an area where many builders opt out on an otherwise period build due to the effort and expense of collecting and restoring the real deal pieces, and I appreciate that you are going the distance. Well done.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Pete! Gotta have the right stuff all around!

[@deuceman32]

@@IronTrapGarage It's Rick actually 😁, and you are most welcome.

[@28cruzin]

Use carbide to cut stainless, the high speed steel bit is fine for aluminum and mild steel. If you shift your gauges you can still use that stainless material. Love this show!!

[@michaelguinn5736]

Morning Matt, looks like I'm not the only one that has a bad day out in the shop, sometimes I have to walk away and come back later, I did get a 39 Ford dash to fit into my 31 Ford Coupe, y'all be safe!! God Bless!!

[@semperfi5861]

Dude, that 3 window is so bad ass looking. I love that car 👌😉🇺🇸👍😊

[@randomyank7777]

As an "old school machinist , I always lay a piece of plastic , or plywood , under the piece I am cutting . 1 , it saves the table . 2 , it helps hold your piece flat & stable for the best finished cuts . 3 , it saves on tooling , as once the piece moves , it can get ugly really fast . 4 , it's much safer , less material wasted , & a truer finished product . I have learned a lot from you , Matt . So if I can give you tips on an area I'm familiar with , I will gladly do so . If you secure the sheet to plywood , use screws tight to the hole size drilled in the scrap area , for the least amount of play . Also , only drill over the table slot . On a piece like that , you can hold center all of the way down the length . Just some helpful tips , from a humble subscriber . Love the gauge selection , & Love you guys !

[@tomfortson2684]

Hey Matt, OK, it didn't go as well as it could have, but seriously! You're really doing a great job on this dash! The whole effect is going to be killer when you're done. I have confidence in you!

[@chrispiazza7487]

Matt, thanks for including your dark moments in this video! I thought I was the only guy out there who destroys shit while trying to make beautiful things. There are always steps taken backwards while trying to go forward, as shitty as that is. Many times I just stop what I'm doing and go home.

[@IronTrapGarage]

It’s the reality of this hobby! None of us are perfect!

[@fastwalker2000]

what a day, you just gotta keep on.

[@terryeustice5399]

Sorry to see the glass on speedometer break on ya. I would of had a few choice words after all that work and time. Matt know is will be fixed . Thanks for sharing! 💯👊

[@lloydgreen4091]

Anytime When Machining Metal you should use Cutting Oil especially when it's smoking. Quick sure way to dull tool bits. If you have a Stained Glass shop in your Neighborhood they can make a New piece of glass for you --No biggie. Your Dash Boards Always Look Great.

[@rogeryoder3680]

I had to chuckle at your response to breaking the glass on the speedo. I love the gauge set up and agree with your approach keeping it clean.

[@michaelkading1423]

I personally liked the creative language. I've sure have had my share of moments. Just being real. Thank for taking us along.

[@graemeburr6463]

Nice work Matt. Glass can always be replaced. I like the fact you do show the f ups. You can buy that paint that has a "hammered finish" that might look good on the insert.

[@terrancesweeney1870]

Very nice job Matt on the dash panel on your '33. I'm sure you'll find the glass for the speedo. Please don't get discouraged.

[@BrianSmart1959]

Failure is not the opposite of success, it's just one step in the process.

[@jongolliher3806]

For sure and the further into the unknown one traverses, the odds just naturally begin to lean much heavier towards failure. Plus, I would guess most failures could at least be considered a success because of lessons learned! Thanks for that Brian!

[@alseidel5622]

Matt Nice job. As for the speedo lense check out Ronell Clock they have curve and flat glass 15:11 in about ever dis for clock faces. They will have a perfect size. Also sand the aluminum to what ever finish you like and build a fixture so then you can use an Eastwood engine turning scroll . Lay out your pattern with sharpie and then use your drill press to create the pattern. Practice a bit and you will get the hang of it. Actually quite therapeutic and very good results. Good luck very cool cluster.

[@atruefreethinker1944]

ugh... rough project. good to know I'm not the only one that has a potty mouth. hang in there Matt, and thank you for sharing ALL aspects of your builds.

[@1936fordcrazy]

Thanks for showing some reality on building a car its not all rainbows and sunshine its how you adapt and overcome the challenges. Keep it up guys

[@robertszymanski7804]

Amen Scott! not one of us can say we've never been there before. It's how you finish that counts and my opinion is the dash is out of the park! Matt always has a way of turning it around 👍

[@ericargo9157]

Your whoopsee makes me feel better about myself when I "F" something up! I'll be darned Matt...you are human! One thing I'm very good at though (like you) is the fix after the F up. Dash looks great.

[@cliffordmarkell40]

All you guys watching you need to help out half-ass Kustoms their shop burned to the ground😊

[@richm.6220]

Matt you know you should have sandwiched between two Pices of wood and clamp it closer to the sides. but sometime we get in a hurry try short cutting it.. But still lover your show because you show all the basic stuff how it should be done. keep up the great entertainment for all who are into fixing stuff are selves.

[@murdoc6501]

Dash is magnificent, a true work of art! Go Iron Trap, keep moving forward!

[@77Sunsetstrip]

I could hear: "Better Days" (And The Bottom Drops Out) by Citizen King playing in the background...😂

[@davidpark9727]

Love the dash ! As a reminder, have mentioned before keep Insurance coverage relative to total value in your building. Look what just befell Halfass Customs !

[@donwoolley1811]

Just keep on keepin' on. I can certainly relate to that episode of lessons learned. My approach on the final appearance would be to remember that how good the insert looks is dependent on what choice you make for the rest of the dash. You did not mention your strategy for that, but they have to work together for maximum appeal.

[@dalemettee1147]

If I remember correctly, holes in stainless stl. is made with a punch press. Holes that big can be made by nibbling out the hole. Cutting with a fly cutter is very slow.

[@RichieCat4223]

As stated use carbide or HSS cutter that is sharp. Use a very low speed when cutting with plenty of coolant. Stainless will work harden when hot. Also support the work piece more than you did. Why did you leave the gauges in? You could have taken them out and mounted a think plate to the studs to finish your work.

[@threynolds2]

Black wrinkle paint is the classic hot rod gauge panel finish. See what Eastwood has for valve covers. Look at the gauge panel on the 1965 GT350R Shelby Mustangs for an idea of what that would look like.

[@stevesimons6333]

When I was in High School machine shop I was making some traction bars out of 2 X 4 .120 wall tubing. I was drilling 3" holes with that fly cutting tool in the mill. I was feeding the tool very carefully through the tube. It stuck ( a hard spot in the steel ) and the collet turned a quarter of a turn wrecking the mill ( New Bridgeport for the school ). Man was I ever in trouble. So when I saw you using the fly cutter I said to myself, be carefull. By the way we were able to drive the collet out ( almost leaving a new key groove inside ) and saved the mill. Great tool for many uses but can be tough on equipment.

[@jakeswartout4456]

As much as that sucks its great for us watching. Youre mortal just like we are. Gives us confidence that we can do some of the things that you do even after we screw up. Its just part of it. Youre one of the best fabricators on youtube man. Thanks for teaching us the real way!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Yep we mess up tons! Just an amateur myself. Just trying to share the journey!

[@Gregorybridgewater]

The guages look at home in the dash now. At first i did not like the rectangular hole, but the guages totally made it pleasant to the eye! That kind of vision you have is awesome. It came.out great and im sure you can cut another gauge glass and fix that speedo. I really am loving your work!

[@RXRSawdustStation]

Bummer about the troubles! But, that looks fantastic! Excellent choices (most of them 😉)! Looking forward to your progress on that amazing machine! Thanks for your efforts!

[@JT-un7dc]

I've used those bits for tile. Never thought about using them for metal.

[@nickmacmillan-ci6dj]

Have a look at the wrinkle finish paint that's used on M.G. dashboards, it can be quite good looking.

[@dennissheridan1550]

Matt, maybe you can find a good quality vinyl contact film with an engine turned pattern to cover the panel and keep the original theme going. Broke the speedo face a bummer, if you can't find a replacement you might try an antique clock repair or parts outfit that can cut you a new one.

[@oldtymer85]

This video is so relatable. Really sucks but this project is coming along nicely!! Keep up the great work Matt and ITG team!!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Andrew! We all mess up; it’s just how you handle it!

[@nickmeoli6903]

Great to see that even the best make mistakes. You handled it a lot better then I would have. Looks awesome!

[@IronTrapGarage]

I yelled a bunch! But then just got back to work. Only thing you can do!

[@donnengler7532]

Sorry, I don't want to be an bummer, but I've been watching you guys doing way too much welding and grinding around glass, I'm just surprised it was a drill that finally ruined a piece. Otherwise, I love the dash design, and the 33/3w in general. It's just so cool. Oh and SS is a pain. I work with it daily. Special drills, cutting discs and other tools all the way around. Keep up the great work 😁

[@Don14320]

sorry for your loss, I know exactly how you felt and feel about the accident.

[@carlofirpo3006]

Saw that one coming when you started welding, kept thinking, take the gauges out.

[@Jack-gy7cs]

Looks like it was "one of those days" for you. Oh well, the speedo will look great with a new lens.

[@steveanderson5888]

Such colorful language it can't be perfect all the time overall it all looks good brother

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-1983]

I may know where you can get the glass in a chrome ring for your speedometer. It's an 80 mi an hour speedometer. It's a little baby shot in the dark. It does have a white face with black markings. It is round and appears to be similar in size course it would have to be exact. On the most recent or second most recent episode adventures made from scratch with Silas out there in South Hutchinson Kansas. It's the episode where he has a crew cab mid-60s early 70s international blue pickup as the thumbnail. It's just a possibility...

[@rodjames2]

This coupe is one of my favourite builds! I did like the idea of the engine turned insert Matt. You could try a paint that drys kind of hammered looking metal. It comes in copper and silver but I don't remember the brand.

[@allanrichards3752]

When you said stainless I thought its going to be tough to cut the holes. What I call squeaky cutting stainless is really tough to work and hard on cutters. I guess we all get jobs that fight us all the way but its looking good now.

[@brucecampbell5917]

I would suggest covering the gauges to protect from welding splatter on the glass/plastic covers.

[@jimandlinsnow7002]

The dashboard looks great. Everyone makes mistakes. Ain’t no thing. I’m sure that you will figure out a repair for the Speedo.😊

[@alanatkielski2572]

A Watch or Clock Repair Shop for the Glass & Bezel on the Speedometer- Curved or Flat Glass. A Frosted Plexiglass overlay over the gauges with the Gauges face cut out . Backlit or Front Lighted Gauges ?

[@patrickcallaghan7432]

Love the gauge set up. The dash adds a lot to the interior. Thanks for including the breakage. We've all been there.

[@IEchuckie]

The dash is what you see when you're driving the car

[@richardsiddon610]

Kitchen French eh?😂 We all have our moments.. looks great though.

[@bucksnort4188]

Super job on the instrument cluster!!! Very unique!! that what hot rodding is all about!! Great job Matt!!

[@johnfowler6600]

My suggestion is 2 tone dash with main part no glare black & recessed area around gauges, ashtray, glove box same color as whatever interior you choose. Great job so far Matt

[@caltrask130]

Guage panel looks great!

[@lawsonclark2466]

Some years ago I was at a swap meet in Pomona, CA. I came across an unusual aluminum centrifugal flathead supercharger. The plenum bolted to the stock intake and curved down over the left head to the horizontal in-cased 12" impeller at about the spark plug level. Under the impeller was a gear case out of which was a fan belt driven shaft /pulley that spun the impeller. The stock carb bolted to the top of the impeller case. This placed the carb. about 16" to the left of its stock location, (dr.. side). It would have been wild looking . I was flatheadless by then so no buy. I have searched on line and have never seen anything like it. There was a bell-crank system for throttle link. Sound familiar?

[@Racemojo]

Hey Matt, a crinkle paint or hammer finish would look good on that panel. Also don't sweat about that gauge, any SW glass the same diameter will work the face and needle is the unique part of that gauge. If it were me the rest of the video would have been one long beep! Matt- Mojo Speed Shop and Lounge

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for the tip Matt

[@RK48frazergasser]

Hey Matt have not seen you on the eastwood channel you still work there. Love the videos on Iron trap I'm build a 1948 frazer gasser blown chevy 454

[@MrJeep75]

I wouldn't of been doing fab work around those rare gages in the first place

[@georgeezzell4474]

Love that dash.

[@michaelmyers3892]

Another beautiful build good thing it was only the glass and not the gauge getting messed up glasses lot easier to replace than the the gauge

[@donhoughton271]

That dash looks great , as well as the gages.

[@shartne]

Glad it didnt hurt you. That was beveled glass. Ouch. I bet you can get another one someplace. They have stickers like that.

[@DeusTex-Mex]

Seems like you should be able to get a new piece of glass cut for that gauge? Not sure exactly how it's held in, but especially with a bezel on it, it seems very possible.

[@billbeyer657]

Idea for new series: Tools That Kinda Suck: Circle Cutter

[@stephenhammer7357]

love the progress

[@pierrelataillade7564]

Well big brother..... I normally don't comment on these videos.... for me this is a learning channel.. But today I can say that since this material is stainless, you need a stainless cutting bit. Possible you could use a stainless bit that's shape as a cutter bit... I think that might help.....Good luck..

[@jessebarta8195]

How about a piece of Tolex for the panel around your gauge set? Might give a nice finished look. Clock shop may have a piece of domed glass for that gauge if there is one nearby to you

[@pinwizz69]

Matt, you can cut that type of stainless steel. And circular brushed stainless like they used on old early aircraft control panels. I used it for arcade games control panels on some games with track balls. No vinyl artwork on top just botton stickers. You set it up like you did but you put some 2 inch angle steel about 2 inches on each side of the hole front to back with 2 cross pieces welded between them also 2 inches from the hole edge clamped down tight. When you cut it use cutting oil, NOT regular oil. Only cut till you see it begining to smoke or getting hot then lift the cutter and let it cool down for 10 minutes. It takes some time but the hole will come out perfect.

[@thomasst.martin3308]

Matt, really like what you have done with the '40 dash. Nice detail added. As you were cutting holes for the gauges I had a flashback to a long time ago. Our business used to be next door to an electrical contractor and we were good friends and talked a lot about different projects. I needed to cut a hole in a piece of steel for a gauge, or maybe two, and the electrical contractor sent me over to their supply house. Amongst the other tings they supplied like wire and conduit, they would cut holes into fuse boxes so the electrician could add additional conduit. So I came in with my little piece of steel and they punched in the holes I needed in seconds. I don't remember how, or what they used. I just remembered that it took not time at all, and I was back out the door.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Knockout punches but they don’t usually come in the 1/16th sizes like I need

[@waynespyker5731]

Pending grade and hardness stainless can be difficult. Two tow clamps on the end was minimal. Consider punching holes in the hole blanks on either side for t-bolts to prevent cutter dulling movement, sharpen the cutter bit as needed. Use the mill's quill stop or the table rasing crank for a graduated depth feed instead of down pressure handle. Consider a boring head attachment for the mill if more precision holes are in the future. Had to trim an 1/16 x 18 inch hardened stainless plate from Master Carr once, it burnt 3 dozen 1/2" 4 flute endmills! You can engine turn bare metal with a wood dowel in your drill press using valve grinding compound and a fence to stage the rows, mark the fence for advancing the overlap. The design and selection is perfect.

[@danielpancu9841]

Es muy bueno el trabajo que haces, y las histoias que cuentan con los autos, son realmente muy divertidas e interesantes... hoy ese tablero, se complico en el corte circular, se complico en el vidrio roto... y eso no fue bueno para ti... pero si fue bueno para los que miramos, que nos dejaras ver que puede sucederte algo inesperado... lo cual, te hace ver aun mejor... te hace ver como una persona, de bien... frontal, y honesta. Tu trabajo y tu conocimiento son de gran calidad. Gracias, desde Argentina.

[@motorfreaknew]

That dash looks really great! 👍

[@rexdouglas4874]

Looking good! Nice touch!

[@Dave-1277]

@5:30.... MATT! IM YELLING AT YOU!!!! GET YOUR HAND AWAY FROM THAT DAMN CIRCLE CUTTER AND ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES!!!! For the love of god man, we dont need to have a one arm Matt in the shop!

[@garycamara9955]

I have a hole cutter just like that. I got it at Sears in the early 70s.

[@gerrymilidantri6457]

Matt you have composer I would have sent the drill into orbit. Beautiful creative job as always ! You maty want to consider hydra/dip transfer coating. They have all types of designs available

[@tkirkwood3366]

Thanks for sharing the good & the bad !!!

[@87mini]

Beautiful dash, and I think that some quality wrinkle finish would be more period, but spatter might work too. Nice thing is that you can easily cut and spray test panels to try the look. See a clock repair shop for gauge crystals - they have catalogs full of that stuff. At least the glass is replaceable - I had a similar thing happen but I scratched an anodized piece. Similar language was used, and just watching you I felt that "stomach sinking through the floor" feeling. Worst thing was that a moment before it happened, I thought "I should protect this", then boom.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Agree on the wrinkle finish’

[@tinbadge]

On my 62 VW bug in behind through the slots is a cool lookin mesh/screen and depending on how much lip you have on the edge of each gauge you could get some screen and lay it over top the panel you made and it might look pretty cool. And you could paint of polish the panel you made and then paint the screen a contrasting color. 👍

[@haasfogle8425]

that milling process is called trepanning. in case you want to research it more. you can "spot polish" your aluminum dash to get the engine turned finish.....

[@daleking8529]

Really like the dash and gauge setup! Nice job! You put your words together well also! lol

[@billy2534]

For the panel, you could try a thinly padded piece of whatever you're using for the upholstery...

[@garycamara9955]

Stainless is nice. But I used aluminum and engine turned it on the Bridgeport. Kinda like a fancy drillpress. I guess you used a Bridgeport as well.

[@2duser2]

I feel for you and the spedo. Cant tell you how many times I have done the same thing. You would think I would learn after 10 or 20 fails.

[@donhoughton271]

You can use a sweral look stick on decal that would look great.They sell it in all sizes. 😊

[@MegaPhil1951]

Hi Matt get a small wire brush in you drill and cover the insert with nice swirls

[@JONMEREDITH]

That's a really nice dash, Matt! Looks great!

[@willardway3037]

Just a suggestion before your rap up the 3 window have those old gauges refurbished. Just to make damn sure they work and work correctly. Plus fix up a boo boo. LOL glad to see your human just like the rest of us.

[@IronTrapGarage]

The car is far from done. I plan to send them away and have them all redone. They definitely need to be look at! Thanks for watching

[@georgestemple3310]

Looks great I think bare metal like you have it looks great

[@DAVIDBrown-zp8sz]

Thought it was dumb to be welding next to the gages but didn't see that coming! Hammerite gray paint for the dash. Or green but that might be too much.

[@bobgaylord8883]

I was wondering why you would weld & drill the insert with the gages attached. I have done several "questionable" things like that and paid the price, over the years. Sorry for you problems, but on the bright side, it proved you are human and gives us some hope for ourselves and the final result is beautiful. As far as the making the holes for the gages in the insert, just two words: Hole Saw !

[@IronTrapGarage]

There isn’t a hole saw that’s exactly the size needed for the gauges I could find unfortunately

[@davidbisnette7673]

Dash looks really good in the car , maybe a hammer tone texture for the gauge inlay?

[@IronTrapGarage]

Sorta what I’m thinking but black

[@Ecosse57]

man that sucks about the oopsy but glad ya kept plugging at it. matt how about some of the black wrinkle paint they use on valve covers for that insert?

[@lordleonusa]

Sorry you broke your speedo glass, I thought that stuff only happened to me! Thanks for leaving your mistakes in the Video and keeping it real. For the dashboard finish how about black wrinkle finish or is that not in period?

[@MrGGPRI]

On your Bridgeport put a second cutting bit on the other leg of the cutter and with two bits they will balance and cut the SS much better but the metal will still get hot and discolor unless coolant used. These engine turned SS panels are very tensil and very hard to cut; punching these panels requires an industrial machine--- been there, done that...

[@mopar4656]

Cut my gauge holes in stainless, with hole saws. Was gonna engine turn it, but opted for polishing it, instead. Looks like chrome. SW gauges, but new ones; [ assembled in Mexico, 😬as I recall.]

[@reneprovencher8395]

They make peel and stick material that looks like your stainless. It will look great. I believe EBay has it?

[@hotrodmyk]

The dash really looks good. And, hey, @*%!! happens.

[@DuckReach432]

That was exciting. I think those gauges must have had a Gypsy curse on them. As you re-fitted the dash back into the car, I was expecting the shop to be struck with lightning.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha maybe it was a curse of I’m just careless!

[@steveclark4291]

Matt , I don't know if car and truck speedometer are the same ! I don't know what year your speedometer is ! But if they are the same ! If a 1955 to 1987 will work out of a truck you might try LMC Trucks in Kansas city or H&H in Bentonville Arkansas ! If I can find it again there's a company that restores old guages ! I found them in a Hemingway catalog so you could possibly find them in it ! They might even have old car stuff listed in it also !

[@kalinagoedge2777]

Thanks for cussing when it went broken! We all do it!!

[@patrickcortazzo6251]

Looks good