Hey thanks for the great pics.
You're right to ask about the lights. They are on their own fused circuit through the original block, but not on a bussbar. It might be worth it to just figure on running an individual inline fuse for the instrument lights.
Never used another OE block myself. Played with plenty of them, but none that tickled my fancy enough to use them in an EB. I'm sure others have, but it's hit or miss and all on how you want it wired, how big (most newer ones are huge compared to the EB) and how much trouble you want to go through to re-wire an OE one.
The good thing about sourcing a Ford fuse panel though, would be that many of the wires could be cut farther out and spliced into your existing wires. Since many of them are probably the same color codes, butt splices would be easier than de-soldering, then re-soldering all the ends.
Someone may have some helpful info regarding that.
I think that some of the manufacturers were toying with the idea of new reproduction fuse blocks, but the demand is still pretty low for it. Given all the aftermarket stuff that's better, bigger and uses the modern blade type fuses, most people opt to go down that route.
But with more and more restorations happening, you might see something eventually. Luckily more than just the EB used virtually the same fuse block. So demand might increase enough to make it worth it. If they're not already...
Have you done a deep search to see if something like that is being produced for say, Mustangs or pickup trucks?
Cleaning a complete old one is much easier now. Simply soak it in a bowl of EvapoRust overnight and you have an almost good as new fuse holder. Unfortunately for you, looks like the rust has really had it's way with some of the contacts. As in gone completely!
Looks like it was buried in beach sand for awhile?
Paul
