Dash

[ChaseDale3and8]

I was out at this years swap meet and I saw a shortbed 4x4 truck like mine that had the dash removed and had a custom set of gages put in. This truck was built for off road racing, and had a lot of custom work including a full rollcage.

Anyway, I started thinking about the dash being taken out of this truck and how did they do it. Does the dash simply bolt in on the sides and to a brace or two in the center, or is it bolted in and spot welded as well?

The reason that I'm asking is that my dash has been cut out for a CD player and I would someday like to restore it back to stock. I can pick up a dash for my truck at the salvage yard dirt cheap I'm sure but I need to know if it's going to be spot welded somewhere or if it's just bolted in. Thanks for any replies. ...Joe

[dooce]

I had the same problem. I had a parts truck laying around about a year ago and figured the dash just bolted into place. I took everything apart to find out that the dash is pinched and spot welded right below the bottom of the windshield and I think a bolt on either end. I ended up not messing with it and made a patch panel (I guess is what you'd call it) to weld in place of the cut up hole. It worked really nice, and I still have one laying around somewhere. I made mine to work for an aftermarket stereo, the owner before me cut mine WAY too big. If you would like, I can send you a blueprint with dimensions, but the sutout would have to be changed to a factory stereo if that is what you'd like. let me know.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Thanks! If you have the dimensions just PM them to me. I thought about just having the salvage yard just cut the whole section out that I would need and then I could trim it down to what I need if nothing else. Thanks for responding. ...Joe

[dooce]

here is the drawing I said I would get for you. Like I said in the pm, it is very rough and may need some tweeking to the dimensions, but this will get you close enough.

edit: it wont let me add an attachment right now. Im not sure why, but I will try again later.

[dooce]

I think I got it.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Thanks! ...Joe

[dooce]

I edited the pic, one of the dimensions was off. It looks good now.

[Grande Rojo]

I spent most of the day out there at the Auto swapmeet. I guess I missed that truck. The worst part of the day was I did not buy anything!!

[ChaseDale3and8]

Originally Posted by Grande Rojo

I spent most of the day out there at the Auto swapmeet. I guess I missed that truck. The worst part of the day was I did not buy anything!!

You should've met up with me. I could have helped you spend money! Oh yeah,that truck was the white one in the car corral. It had the flared out fiberglass front fenders and hood on it, 6 inch lift, 35s and a 454 under the hood. ...Joe