Replace Steel Dash

[mrghostwalker]

Has anyone pulled out a steel dash from a square Chevy? Mine is mangled up and needs replacing.

 

[eskimomann209]

Yep. unbolt four bolts on inner side two in passanger side two on driver.
Above the kick panel area.

remove the braces. Some trucks have two some have one.

pull windshield.

drill out spot welds along windshield gasket seam. Spot weld drills exist.

Split the seam. Lift up and out.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I think someone had one for sale here not long ago.

 

[Dleslie212]

Yep. unbolt four bolts on inner side two in passanger side two on driver.
Above the kick panel area.

remove the braces. Some trucks have two some have one.

pull windshield.

drill out spot welds along windshield gasket seam. Spot weld drills exist.

Split the seam. Lift up and out.

Old thread I know. Has anyone done this recently? I'm curious how difficult it would be to replace mine

 

[Ken B]

I did it. You should use a spot weld cutter to go across the top where the dash meets the windshield/firewall

 

[Dleslie212]

How long would you say that took? And how hard to get lined back up properly?

 

[Ken B]

it is a bit time consuming because you dont want to cut thru all the metal and drill big holes that you have to then go back and fill in .

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[Ken B]

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[Bennyt]

How long would you say that took? And how hard to get lined back up properly?

This is a pretty straightforward job that looks way more difficult than it is. Buy a couple spotweld bits and go for it. Takes more time to strip all the components from the dash like the HVAC, Radio, glove box than it does to do the job. It has a couple bolts that help you locate and hold and than its just tack welds and minimal grinds.

And you are in Phoenix, the C10 capital of the world. Literally a C10 in every neighborhood.

 

[CheemsK1500]

Just curious, what kind of damage does your dash have? Is it rusted, wrecked, or did someone botch a radio install horribly?

 

[CheemsK1500]

I think someone had one for sale here not long ago.

LMC actually sells complete new ones now in three styles. I’m not really sure what difference between the styles is, other than the location of the winshield wiper switch and slight changes to the shape of the bezel and pad.

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[Dleslie212]

Just curious, what kind of damage does your dash have? Is it rusted, wrecked, or did someone botch a radio install horribly?

I actually saw the three dashes in the LMC magazine yesterday, which is what got me asking this question

My dash is pretty mangled, especially around the steering wheel area. Most of the smaller, thinner braces are broken, bent twisted and dented, to the point where the wiper switch doesn't even sit straight and flush anymore, it's installed at an angle

 

[kkgp81]

NVM, stumbled across the actual LMC page, 3 different year sets.
As a twist to this, on a 81+ how do you handle the VIN plate?

 

[SquareRoot]

Yep. unbolt four bolts on inner side two in passanger side two on driver.
Above the kick panel area.

remove the braces. Some trucks have two some have one.

pull windshield.

drill out spot welds along windshield gasket seam. Spot weld drills exist.

Split the seam. Lift up and out.

You made a sh!t ton of hard work sound very elegant.

 

[Grit dog]

I’d honestly consider cutting out the bad **** and welding in pieces out of a donor cab if it’s only a couple areas. . You can get any free fcked up cab with a good dash.
Unless you’re really motivated….I hate drilling out 50 spot welds lol.
In the end it might be about the same amount of work though either way…