Factory AC Dash Swap

[ksamps01]

I currently have a cut up non-AC dash in my 67. I would like to swap an uncut factory AC dash in it's place. Has anyone ever done this? How difficult is it? Thanks for any help.

[Jim68]

I haven't done it, but hear if you cut the dash in the slotted line under the where the pad sits and then unbolt the sides and weld the new one in that way you cant tell. Cant be too hard with a welder and a grinder. James

[71swb4x4]

I am going to do this and have gotten a few ideas from the board.
1 is the previous idea, cut the old dash at the dash pad seam and unbolt it - bolt the new one in and weld it up.
Some people go all the way and drill out the spot welds in the windshield frame and pull the whole dash. Either way works well, the second one is more work - just depends on how picky you are.

Shawn

[KEH]

I did it by drilling thru the tack welds. As long as the windshield is out, it's an easy enough job.

[68lwb]

I drilled out the spot welds, and it isn't that hard to do. I have heard of being able to buy a special drill bit made for this task from companies like Eastwood, but I used regular drill bit. Maybe some one on here would be able to hook you up with such a drill bit.

[mdill]

Why don't you just cut the AC holes into the
current dash ?

Mike D.

[Hooter]

its not that hard to cut the holes, and you can always patch the radio hole

[71swb4x4]

Here is a thread that I started a couple months ago. Look at what Gee_Emm wrote about 2/3rds of the way down the page - his second reply. Its a pretty good way to cut the holes.

Shawn

http://207.68.164.250/cgi-bin/linkrd...goto%3dnewpost

[71swb4x4]

That didn't work - I will copy and paste his response.

Here is what Gee_Emm had to say: Cutting the side vents is just as easy as the middle one. Ideally you need to have access to a AC cab. Take a sheet of white paper, cover up the vent hole with the paper wrapping around the bottom of the dash board a bit. Using your "garage hands" (dirty hands) rub the outline of the vent through the paper. Without shifting the paper at all rub the detail of some of the holes that are underneath the dash, one of the holes is for the e-brake assembly to attach to I think. Cut out the shape of the vent hole that is marked on the paper. Using the underdash reference holes that you made line up the paper on the dash you want to cut the hole in. Mark and cut. DO NOT use a sawzall, I would recommend roughing it with a cutting wheel and finishing it up with a die grinder.

Here is what Frenchblue72 had to say: I used a plasma cutter on mine very easy and the guy only charged me 15 buck's to cut the vent hole's then I dressed the hole's up and installed the vent's..

[kaycee]

I did the cut and weld bit under the dash pad way,it was not that hard.There r some spot welds in the corner of the dash by the window that r a real mutha.I took a hammer and chisel and got them loose unbolt the 3 bolts on each side and cut through the slots on the front edge and it is out.Everything on my non ac truck had center punch marks where the ac stuff was used, so all I had to do was locate what hole I needed and drilled to the right size.Installing this ac was alot easier than I thought.Take your time it is simple

[1-PU70]

I used a coping saw from Home Depot for $9 with a metal blade to cut the side holes in the dash. Worked very well.

[ksamps01]

Thanks for the help guys. Doesn't sound to bad whichever way I decide to go.

[mdill]

I expect that you do know the holes in the
firewall are different between AC/non-AC
equiped trucks.

Mike D.

[67chevemall]

Yep you'll have to cut the fire wall up too!
And get the a/c unit