Cutting for a deck?

[Shane]

we can weld in rockers, cab corners, inner and outer kick panels but we can't patch a dash?

good lord.

[rbagley]

So, we've established that there are differing opinions that are equally valid?

[LONGHAIR]

Either way, the name-calling, childish, and political stuff needs to stop.

[WIDESIDE72]

[QUOTE a cut dash does nothing to devalue one of these trucks any more than than those NON ORIGINAL rally wheels on your truck devalues yours.

QUOTE]

In your opinion... Although Rally wheels can be swapped in about what... ten minutes? Can you weld a new piece of a dash, and paint it to match in that amount of time?

What everyone forgets her is that the main reason most dashes were cut was 20 + yrs ago, there were no radios available that would fit the stock opening of our trucks. Now that there are so many options, it is not necessary.

Replacing cab corners and rockers is done because of damage done by the elements, not by someone who knew better.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by haminator

I have five of these trucks and none of them are cut. Kinds of ruins the whole truck somehow, in my opinion. It could be the nicest truck around then I'll say "yea but they cut the dash" Guess I'm anal. DON'T CUT IT. Would you cut a 57 Belair dash?

It depends what I want to do to the car. But if it involved cutting the dash, Heck yeah I'd cut it and not look back. Just like I'd tub it or what ever. Who cares? Most of the time any of these old vehicles have so much money jammed in them they exceed what they really are worth anyway. Plus, chances are, a potential buyer will find more with the truck that he doesn't like besides a cut dash. And it is so hard to repair this. Um, no it's not. Dash13, if I were you I'd do it and not look back. Me personally, I don't want my radio clear in the glove box where I can't reach it. But it doesn't matter to me because I'm saving old rotted vehicles anyway.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

[QUOTE a cut dash does nothing to devalue one of these trucks any more than than those NON ORIGINAL rally wheels on your truck devalues yours.

QUOTE]

In your opinion... Although Rally wheels can be swapped in about what... ten minutes? Can you weld a new piece of a dash, and paint it to match in that amount of time?What everyone forgets her is that the main reason most dashes were cut was 20 + yrs ago, there were no radios available that would fit the stock opening of our trucks. Now that there are so many options, it is not necessary.

Replacing cab corners and rockers is done because of damage done by the elements, not by someone who knew better.

It is easier than most would think. Remove the dash pad, unbolt the dash at the lower dash on each side. Mark along the slots under the dash pad, cut it, remove it. Repeat for your new dash, align, weld it up and if you didn't care you don't even have to grind the welds because the dash pad covers it up. This isn't a 10 minute repair, but sure isn't "Hard" to do. I'd rather do this than repair cab floors.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by panhandler62

Let's try to keep things constructive and courteous here.

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

Either way, the name-calling, childish, and political stuff needs to stop.

Two staff members have requested everyone post in a civil a manner and they have been ignored. Thats not cool!

Anyone thats posts from this point forward be warned, negative comments will result in account suspension

[N2TRUX]

Now back to the OP's question. Personally I could care less what you do since its your truck. If it were me I would consider one of the many options for hooking an MP3 player up to what you have. I don't care if you cut it or not, but I do think a stock radio is less prone to be stolen, and we all know how bad that sucks.

[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Now back to the OP's question. Personally I could care less what you do since its your truck. If it were me I would consider one of the many options for hooking an MP3 player up to what you have. I don't care if you cut it or not, but I do think a stock radio is less prone to be stolen, and we all know how bad that sucks.

i agree, i thought about it in mine but with the technology now i don't need to i'm just gonna buy a radio that fits the stock dash that uses a mp3 or aux. input. there is no need to use CD's anymore for me, when i can carry a 3in long piece that will hold hundreds of songs and not have a bunch of cds in my truck

[DeputyDan]

I think the reason people get upset about the cutting, dropping, and chopping issue is because some folks are trying to save these old trucks so future generations can see them as close to original as possible. Some folks see it as a time capsule with a sense of responsibility attached to it. After you have dropped, cut, and chopped how much of whats left is really a Chevy C-10? There will always be debate surrounding the issue but were all brothers on here there's no reason to attack each other! On the same hand brothers tend to kick each others ass every now and then lol!

[Jacfourteen]

I haven't measured, so I'm not totally sure, but it looks like the stock opening is too tall for a standard DIN opening. So I think if you just cut it and mount your new deck it will have a gap at the top and/or bottom. Easiest way to fix this would be to use the billet plate mentioned above. Another solution is to cut out the radio opening and then cut a piece of steel that will fit the larger recessed area of the dash that surrounds the radio, then cut the opening in that and mount your new deck. This is more work but then the hole is the right size and the deck sits flush with the rest of that panel instead of being sunk in. Not sure if that made sense, but I will try to find a pic, I saw someone else who did it on here.

As far as the cut or not to cut debate, I am undecided if I will cut mine or not as I'm still on the fence about it. As for your truck, do what makes you happy.

I read the title of this thread and was expecting some "don't cut it" advice, but wow I wasn't expecting this much "debate"

[dan42]

There's not that many "good options" that fit in the original space put there - not compared to all the other options you have if you cut the dash. I bought a retrosound for the express purpose of saving the dash, but after a year and a half of trying to make the flash player work, the crappy digital 80's look, and the poor sound quality, I'm ready to get the cut off wheel out. (Although if I can get something fairly convenient to work in the glovebox I'll go that route first).

[69 longhorn]

I have to get a chuckle every time this one comes up! Its your dash CUT IT! I drive a chopped top /channelled dropped 69 LONGHORN,she has the tail lites in the gate(6 of em), & the tail pipes exit through the rear bumper. A steel tilt front clip, & a few mods I have probably forgotten about....but the DASH is stock.....I wonder If I can E-bay that pc for big bucks, just to offset the cost of the next thing I cut up on the old truck? Its only steel....if you can cut it, you can weld it, you can fix it(restore). I dont like 2x4's....the last one I cut, I cut it 3 times & it was still too damn short! What I didnt like about it was that it cost me 3 bucks, & Ill be dammned if I could weld that pc back on crazyAl

[jitteryguy]

Originally Posted by 69 longhorn

I have to get a chuckle every time this one comes up! Its your dash CUT IT! I drive a chopped top /channelled dropped 69 LONGHORN,she has the tail lites in the gate(6 of em), & the tail pipes exit through the rear bumper. A steel tilt front clip, & a few mods I have probably forgotten about....but the DASH is stock.....I wonder If I can E-bay that pc for big bucks, just to offset the cost of the next thing I cut up on the old truck? Its only steel....if you can cut it, you can weld it, you can fix it(restore). I dont like 2x4's....the last one I cut, I cut it 3 times & it was still too damn short! What I didnt like about it was that it cost me 3 bucks, & Ill be dammned if I could weld that pc back on crazyAl

Glue !