Replacing the Dash

[4tiresngas]

Is the entire dash a bolt in item or are there welds involved? If it is bolt in, I'd probably replace the whole piece instead of trying to patch my radio opening.

[CHEVIBUBBA]

hey.
i was kinda looking at this a couple weeks ago.it appears the dash stretches under the w/shield requiring removal of it to remove the dash.
i didn;t see any welds but, it wasn't my truck so i had limited time.
i'm gonna replace mine with a custom made,(by me),aluminum or carbon fiber one to shave weight.
if you learn more, let us know.

[avejoe]

It's spot welded under the entire run beneath the front glass.

[4tiresngas]

uuugghh. I figured as much.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by avejoe

It's spot welded under the entire run beneath the front glass.

Yeah, with like a million of em...

Find a donor dash section and do a patch, it'll save you alot of time and frustration.

Word of caution though, go easy when welding the dash area, it's pretty thin.

[bobs409]

I have a section of dash on ebay now that is just what your looking for. My listings:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...sort=3&rows=50

I cut this one up high so there will be less welding than trying to go right around the radio opening. This way, you can cut and use how ever much you would like.



I also have an AC section that I will be listing soon. It has the center vent opening.

[NPilot1975]

If you already have a replacement dash, I heard the easiest way to do it is cut it behind the dash pad where the oval shaped holes are. Cut the new dash the same way and weld it in. The dash pad will hide all your welding.

[Jwill41]

I am doing mine almost the way the green one is cut. I figure I will weld the slots across the top and have very little to weld in each "window".

[4tiresngas]

Ed from MOTHERTRUCKERS got me a patch, I'm just not sure anyone will weld it in for me while I still have the in-cab fuel tank.

[pjmoreland]

I replaced the entire dash in my truck by drilling out all of the spot welds along the bottom lip of the windshield opening. I was very careful to only drill through the cab metal, and not through the dash metal on the donor truck. I drilled all the way through on my truck since I was trashing the dash. Then all I had to do was bolt the new dash in place, clamp the dash to the cab with a few pairs of vise grips, and fill in the holes in the cab with a MIG welder. I then ground down the weld bumps until they were flush. You can't even tell that it was ever replaced. I did this after I tried welding in a patch panel which warped the dash. If you have a lot of experience welding thin sheet metal, then it would probably work out fine.

[sneakysnake]

This is what it looks like out.

[dave3156]

I just replace the center section of mine. I found a patch panel a while ago on ebay. It was a piece that went from the center or the gloce box over to the center of the dash bezel. The dash pad hids the big top weld and the bottom ones can't be seen unless you really look for them. In fact the dash bezel hides the bottom one on that side. Turned out real nice. While everything was apart I replaced the heater vent hoses (one of them was a dryer hose! Imagine that!) Also replaced the glove box liner, dash bezel, gauges, installed original AM radio, and painted everything. Alot of work, but the dash looks like new. The welding shop had no problem with the cab in the tank. They covered everything with an asbestos blanked when they did the welds. It was neat to watch. The big weld from side to side across the top took the longest. I'm going to post pictures when I get a chance.