55.2-59 Smooth dash

[jaws61]

I'm installing the smooth dash but curious on how people do there butt welding
1) Do you leave a small lip of metal around the radio panel than corner weld glove box area with no metal there... (Think you'd not have it look level)

Or

2) Do you cut out the radio and corner weld that whole area and grind down the welds to make it flow?? This seems better way but a pain to grind..

Just curious what works best or what people have done..I watched the brothers YouTube but it doesn't show the final job..

Thanks

[mr48chev]

These days I would probably cut the area out and cut and shape a patch to be an exact fit in the hole and weld it in. You might even cut it a bit larger so it makes a patch to repair a dash for someone else who has one that was boogered up to put in a sterio at some time.

Every time I try to weld a patch in a stamped hole I end up doing a lot of work to get the area just right after I weld it up. Gas filler neck hold in the corner of the cab is one of those.

[56 3100]

hey JAWS61 I used brothers video. left small gap. top of dash is the most work under edge.i left a little bit of original edge at top to weld to.

[_Ogre]

I didn't cut out the ashtray guts, after cutting my hand 50X wiring TRUK
I'm gonna say CUT OUT THE ASHTRAY !!!

[duramax55]

Jaws61 for best result do like 56 3100 did that's also how i did mine. Probably les work in the long run just my 2 cents

[dsraven]

trim the panel close to the size you need, then mark the truck part and cut that to fit the new panel
clean the backside of the dash steel when it is open so you don't draw in contaminants to the weld
tack weld, hammer on dolly the weld when still hot to expand the spot so it will shrink to normal size when cool, let cool before another weld in the area
those panel clamps work great, magnets work well too but will distort the weld if welding close
a burr works well at the top to get a profile to blend the weld into a nice concave
cleco's also work well but need something behind to hold onto
post up pics when you start

[jaws61]

Thanks 56 3100 that's totally what I wanted to see and how you did it.. the way you did it is the plan now.. I'm also going to be cutting out the ash tray..

Thanks dsraven for the welding tips and cleaning the back side,

I'll make sure to take a bunch of pics but going this weekend to pick up my seats 🥰🥰

[Black_Sheep]

I did mine exactly the same as 56 3100, the weld is easier to bodywork with if you leave 1/2" or so below the break...