Dash cutting poll

[CPNE]

Post your thoughts and arguments here if you wish and don't forget to vote! Also if you did cut, what other mods have you made or are planning to make?

[CPNE]

I'll start by reiterating my thoughts from HotRod929's post.

Before I start, let me preface this by saying, it's your truck and to each his own but here's why I won't:

With some upgrades there are no alternatives including HEI and one-wire alternators, the stock design must be altered. And with many changes if someone wants to revert back, it's relatively simple. Once a dash is cut it's not simple (for most of us) to restore it to stock.

Furthermore there are many stereo alternatives, from alternative locations to post-style stereos with modern components that bolt right in. The "cut it" argument here is that the post-style radios are overpriced and produce poorer sound quality. True, but unless you are investing in sound-proofing and all the accoustical changes required to actually here the difference, the argument falls short. If you've invested in the acoustics to that degree chances are you've made radical modifications anyway, so a dash change is of little consequence in the big scheme.

Not that resale value (as parts) should be a major consideration (after all who builds a truck expecting to part it out) but in my 6 years experience selling parts, no one was enthusastic about modified sheetmetal. As a matter of fact, nearly everytime I advertised a cab for sale, the number one and 2 questions are "where's the rust?" and "is dash cut?". That, to me, speaks volumes about these type of alterations. BTW, same with speaker holes in doors!

Many people when they sell a vehicle will remove their custom stereo for the next project. If you cut you are forced to leave it in, buy a cheaper replacement, or sell it with a gaping hole in the dash.

Then there is the desirability/interchangability/theft factor the DIN style presents.

I don't mind disk brakes swaps, moderate lowering, engine/tranny swaps, aftermarket a/c, aftermarket wheels, convenience upgrades, detailed engine compartments, performance upgrades, etc. So I'm not a strict purist.

As you may have guessed I don't like chops, radical drops, 17 inch or larger wheels, bags, roll pans, louvers, shaved anything, frenched anything, (though I believe french women should shave), smoothed firewalls, seats that look out of place, small or radical steering wheels, wild customization, 88-98 beds, non-stock grilles, electronic gauges, one-piece windows, fuzzy dice, and cut dashes. But I respect you and your creativity if that's what you prefer!

My 2 cents on this.

[XXL]

and I mean CUT!

[CPNE]

Kenneth you radical! At least we agree to disagree.

[Mike C]

I don't care for permanent mods, but with that said, I cut mine! I went round and round trying to decide to cut or not, and finally decided that I wanted a CD player in my Jimmy. This was circa 1990 when they were nearly prohibitively expensive and there were no other options as changers were insanely priced. So I cut it. Woohoo! Too great having easy access and visibility to the stereo. I used a pullout headunit, so when I wasn't in the truck, neither was the stereo! I didn't even think twice about it when I got my pickup. Chop-chop! I have several head units that all use the same sleeve. I can swap back and forth between my cars, my trucks and my boat! When I get a suburban it too will fall to the knife! The one caveat is to pick a stereo that won't look out of place in the dash which I think some of the new crazy spage-age looking units are.

[greasemonkey]

It's worth it, you don't have to fool around in the glovebox while you are driving. Other than that, it fits well in the stock opening, looks good if done right, and sounds awesome unlike my previous Custom Autosound.

[old Rusty C10]

ive learned fom the past NEVER cut the dash it destroys the truck

[tom hand]

I refused to cut mine thinking it would make the truck worth less, but I cut the doors for 6 x 9's so go figure. Well at least the doors would be a lot easier to fix. [ especially if you save the piece you cut out] I have the Custom Autosounds unit that looks kinda like an AM pushbutton radio and a 6 disc changer in the console. The radio has preouts so you could make it kick butt if you wanted. It was too expensive for what it is, but I like it.

[cdowns]

CPNE: well i agree with just about everything you stated BUT fuzzy dice are SOO tacky that they're cool

[lngbed71]

I've heard horror stories about the cutting and hacking of the dash. On some custom applications done right, they really look cool, the "other than custom" modifications I've seen are icky. Personally, I wouldn't cut mine but adapt without cutting.

[Apparatus]

I gotta agree with the "beyond tacky = cool" factor for fuzzy dice...

I am currently in this debate over my truck. I'm nearly sure that I'm gonna use either a radio delete plate and remove the old am unit or simply leave the original unit and add a hard drive based MP3 player and ignore any use of a radio, cassette or CD player.

I am however thinking about changing the bench seat out for a bucket with built-in console style seat. I just wish I could find one that didn't look so out of place in the truck.

[Riveted1]

If I was going for the ultimate restoration, I'd say don't touch it! But since I'm going custom.... hack away!

[Riveted1]

BTW, I can't vote for some reason.... And XXL, that looks sweeeet!

[O'l Buck]

I cut my dash in the old cab, but I decided not to cut it in this cab. Now I'm thinking about hacking it and putting the tach in the dash. Here's what I did instead of cutting. It's just a piece of 4" finned alluminum channel I found in the scrap and polished up.

[toms68cst]

I'm with you 100 Percent Jeff - Except for the fuzzy dice! I guess that would be less than 100% then.

[CPNE]

Sorry about the Fuzzy Dice comment guys! O'l Buck, I like your approach.

BTW, I too have a cut dash. I have 2 holes to the left of the gauges for my 72 plow truck's plow angle and lift controls. Now days, they make a bracket for that. I suspect it has to do with the lack of steel in the dashes, rather than respect for the General's craftmanship.

Oh, and I think a big 8 foot snowplow in front of a GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 is cool too. For some reason the GMC grille makes that look. So much for my tastes.

[Zeus]

The original am/fm radio is the best. If you cut out the dash you can never hope to put one in.

[Project1970]

I cut mine...resale value be damned, I'm driving this thing forever!

I completely understand the audio quality argument...you're just not going to have hi-fi audio in one of these trucks at any speed over 50mph or so, just from windnoise.

There is that little thing called a dollar, though, and those high-end post-style radios are not cheap. Not to mention that AFAIK, not a one can be had with any sort of MP3 capability.

[Solarus1981]

I cut mine, I had a clarion in it... loved it. That got stolen now I have a hole in the dash

[Slammed67]

Yes, I cut/modified mine along with just about every other piece of metal on my truck! Of course these modifications have been subtle and tastefully done (in my opinion). Filled side markers, filled trim holes, filled fuel filler hole, smooth firewall, hole in bed for fuel cell filler, raised bed floor, c-notch, modified front crossmember (in progress), under bed mounted battery, etc. I'm building this truck for me, not for someone who might purchase it in the future.

I've got the best of both worlds ...... an in-dash CD player with the looks of a poor man's truck

Hmmmm.... shall we start a "Dash Hacker's Club"??

[Roberty]

Once you "Hack" you can't go back - LOL. Unless it's a total custom truck then don't do it. Nothing I hate to see much worse on our trucks than a hacked up dash or doors cut for speakers. A lowered truck doesn't bother me but one cut to pieces and slammed is a terrible waste of a truck. 17" or larger wheels and tires don't set well with me on these trucks either. Hard to beat a set of truck rallies!!
Just my opinion.
Robert

[bpmcgee]

I wanted an old-looking stereo because I didn't want to give people the desire to break into my truck. After all, who's going to rip out an AM radio?

So I went with the Custom Autosound unit with a 6 CD changer mounted behind the rear panels in the blazer -- right next to the GPS Nav unit!

Brian

[XXL]

Originally posted by Slammed67
Hmmmm.... shall we start a "Dash Hacker's Club"??

I'm there!

[crews]

Someone had already started the "hack" on the crew cab. so I just dressed it up and made it presentable (?).........

I am not much on the audio quality thing.....I just have a few certain discs that they just won't play on the darn radio

At least not the good ones...

Anyhow, my vote is hack it if you want.....make it YOURS....
Heck, no one likes these old crew cabs anyhow... I can't wait to get it back home....

[TODDS 72]

well jeff i'm with you,never liked a hacked up dash,but i'm old and like side walls on my tires to so its just my opion,plus how ya gonna hear your exhaust if ya got the damn radio cranked.....lol