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Dash mystery hole

Nowik35

Full Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2018
Messages
201
So it only took me 5 years to realize my dash has an extra hole in it. Of course my pictures before disassembly are all crap and not clear but looks like the PO of this bronco added an extra hole and had a 66 knob in this hole, but I can't make out what the bezel said. And I have no idea for what purpose? I bought all new bezels and I have every hole for a 69 dash accounted for but any idea what went here or what I could use it for???

https://flic.kr/p/2p8GoLs
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
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Nov 3, 2003
Messages
51,618
Does it have a manual choke to the left of the steering wheel? If not, maybe they added one.

Paul
 
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OP
Nowik35

Nowik35

Full Member
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Aug 27, 2018
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201
I do already have a manual choke on left and tank switch
 

okie4570

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Bronco Guru
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Jul 16, 2012
Messages
9,536
Loc.
NW OK
Hand throttle would have been on the left side too if it were present. Every hole looks normal but that one, no telling what a PO put there over the years.
 

blade

Contributor
Maker of sharp things
Joined
May 13, 2020
Messages
195
Loc.
Santa Fe
I think my 69 has an add on windshield washer switch there. I will take a closer look later.
 

Jdgephar

Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 25, 2012
Messages
1,517
These are all of the dash layouts:

dashlayoutonly-jpg.493268
 
OP
OP
Nowik35

Nowik35

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Joined
Aug 27, 2018
Messages
201
So mine follows the 68 to 72 layout and I have all the switches, including the cigar and windshield wiper switch. But that hole is still empty. Is there a separate windshield washer?
 

Jdgephar

Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 25, 2012
Messages
1,517
Washer pump is part of the wiper switch (push it). You have an extra, non-stock hole in your dash. You can use it for a USB charger or something.
 

Viperwolf1

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electron whisperer
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
24,448
So mine follows the 68 to 72 layout and I have all the switches, including the cigar and windshield wiper switch. But that hole is still empty. Is there a separate windshield washer?
Only '66 and '67 had the separate washer switch below the light switch.
 

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dmoses42

Contributor
Bronco addict
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Messages
652
Loc.
Chatsworth, Ga
My guess is the knob on the left of the column is a hand throttle (since it should be) and the mystery hole is for a choke. Some military vehicles still have hand throttles and some people use them as sort of a "manual cruise control" on convoys, very dangerous to do that but it happens. And of course the choke is used just until warmed up, and with the mystery hole's location near the ignition switch that makes the most sense to me.
 
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OP
Nowik35

Nowik35

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Joined
Aug 27, 2018
Messages
201
So the only bezels I have from my dissembly were
Choke
Ignition
Flashers
Lights
Cigarette lighter
Defroster
Fan/heat
Temp control.

Which know only makes me more confused. On top of the mystery hole looks like things where not in their proper hole homes. And the brake warning light was missing entirely. I think the Mister hole was the lighter, and where the lighter should have been looks like there was a switch installed without a bezel. So now what was the mystery switch for?

Anyways is there a traditional bezel look for a USB port?
 

jamesroney

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
2,596
Loc.
Fremont, CA
So the only bezels I have from my dissembly were
Choke
Ignition
Flashers
Lights
Cigarette lighter
Defroster
Fan/heat
Temp control.

Which know only makes me more confused. On top of the mystery hole looks like things where not in their proper hole homes. And the brake warning light was missing entirely. I think the Mister hole was the lighter, and where the lighter should have been looks like there was a switch installed without a bezel. So now what was the mystery switch for?

Anyways is there a traditional bezel look for a USB port?
You are only confused because you are trying to make sense of what the "last guy" did.

If you stop trying to figure out what the extra hole is for...then everything will become much more clear.

The "Extra hole" was used as a cigarette lighter. It was added after hole #7 was repurposed with a small toggle switch and a big washer. So after hole #7 was occupied, someone later added a hole.

The extra hole is not the mystery switch. The mystery switch is the one that was in hole #7, and it was a small (maybe 1/2 diameter) hole.

If you move the radio power wire to the cigarettel lighter, then the cigar lighter hole makes an excellent USB resource, or the giant DIN hole that someone cut out will likely have something with USB capability.
 
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OP
Nowik35

Nowik35

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Joined
Aug 27, 2018
Messages
201
Great idea looks like a few places sell a chrome USB replacement to the cigarette lighter. I'll be placing that in the mystery hole. But you brought up another problem I didn't think of. I want year appropriate retro radio with modern amenities but looks like my hole is larger then the stock size bronco radio? Is there something I can do maybe a chrome adapter plate to make stock radio look like it belongs in my dash?
 

DirtDonk

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Bronco Guru
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Nov 3, 2003
Messages
51,618
I want year appropriate retro radio with modern amenities but looks like my hole is larger then the stock size bronco radio?
Not just larger. Stock radio doesn’t even use an “opening” so to speak. Just three small round holes.
If I’m remembering correctly anyway, the two outer holes are for the controls, and the center hole is for the illumination lamp.
You’ll have to just choose the radio first. Then see what it takes to create the correct mounting scenario.
 
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