73-87chevytrucks.com
General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: hotrod24 on February 06, 2008, 04:00:08 pm
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hey has anyone ever replace there metel dash before
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Are you talking about the metal under the dash pad?
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yes it is terrible
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/pics.jpg)
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My opinion, I think its easier to section in a piece than cut the whole dash out and weld in a new one.
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MUCH easier, there is probably 50 spotwelds at the windshield opening you would have to remove to get the dash out....
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Hotrod, Third vote for doing a section. Yes I have changed the whole thing. A truck I bought had a radio hole like yours & the ashtray, glovebox & surrounding dash were smashed from knee dents from 4 wheeling. The windshield area was a little rusty so I changed the whole thing, but for what you have no way! Good luck, Lorne
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yes it is terrible
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/pics.jpg)
Wow and People wunder why I don't mind stock radios so much! The sad thing is, I have seen way too many "Professional jobs that was just as much of a Hack Job!!! :-X
Since you would have to weld in the new dash anyways, I too vote for you to save what you have by welding in a Filler piece....
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sorry to slightly hijack but if you take all the foam/padding etc off the frame, would it look good painted tha same colour as the outside or are there too many holes to weld/grind/fill etc?
cheers
Bitzer
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Ok...Red is the cuts...Blue is metal....White is the Dash bored...
If u took dash bored off and Cut the bottom part of the dash ...Why couldn't u just spot weld a new piece in? The spot welds will be hidden by the dash pad...U would have to take measurements and Make sure u cutting in spots that wont be seen ...If this wont work please let me no...cause if i keep my truck i have to do the same thing
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/chevroletcustomdeluxe/Dash.jpg)
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I have the whole section available if someone is interested you would just have to take it out and actually both A pillars have been cut no dash the radio has been cut but nothing like that basically just the whole firewall still there
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(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/dash.jpg)
well i bent back some of the metel and it looks a little better
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I can only imagine the butcher that was hacking that thing up! Unreal ::)
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yea i know you think that thay would have been a little more professional about it
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2 cases of beer....And free use of a chop saw using a mail box as a templet???
Or was it the jaws of life he used
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii69/chevroletcustomdeluxe/X-tractorCombi3.jpg)
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lol :D
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(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/dash.jpg)
well i bent back some of the metel and it looks a little better
WOW :o That is a hack job!
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(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/dash-1.jpg)
this is what it did look like stupid ha
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O wow that guy had his head slaped against a wall...IT dont even have a tape deck!......he hacked up a truck for a radio out of an 87 chevrolet nova hatch back...??
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!!! Unbelievable!
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Mouth breathing moron!
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you got that right
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how can i tell what year my truck is see my vin and my tittle do match but the inside dose not i have 73-77 sill door plates and my wiper hole had a 78 switch but some one cut it so it would fit now it looks to me it is a 73-74 from looking at the wiper hole
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/100_7159.jpg)
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this is the switch that was in it the 78 switch
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/7-26.jpg)
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this is the 73-74 switch oh would anybody have a old switch like this it does't even have to work i just want to see if it would fit i will pay
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/DCP_5933-1.jpg)
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this is that sill plate i was talking about that is in my truck it is not 78
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/100_6713.jpg)
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the switch could have been replaced with a used one. The door panels look like the right vintage for the older than 78 truck.
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My 74 has those same door sill plates...i think they are aluminum. What does the grill look like? There are certain characteristics of the 73-76 trucks that are unique, like the recessed grill and various switches and interior features.
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(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/DustyTruckpics.jpg)
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well my truck was rebuilt then sold so i think that some one just slap a cab on it and a bed and was in a hurry to sell it the bed is a 80 something
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The front end is 73-78 (headlight bezels), but the grill is 77-80. Wow, they really pieced her together, huh? Tried to get the best of all the years, plus it looks more like a m80 tore your dash apart, or he used a drywall saw to cut the dash!
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Quick question, do you have the lap belts or a 3-point seatbelt? I am not 100% on this, but my 74 has lap belts, but the holes for the "optional" 3 point belts on the b-pillar, so it may have not become standard until 77, I think. If I were you, i'd start hunting down the body panels looking for the original GM vin tags on them and see what you get from there.
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seat belts these are not 78 either
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/103_0217.jpg)
this is where the 3 point go it is not 78 either
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/123456.jpg)
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yea my vin say that it is a 78 gmc think someone just switched the vins when thay changed cabs
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anyone have a pic of there bezel off a 73-74 wiper hole so i can see the mounting holes or when you where restoring your truck or something
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this is the 73-74 switch oh would anybody have a old switch like this it does't even have to work i just want to see if it would fit i will pay
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/DCP_5933-1.jpg)
This is NOT the factory wiper switch. A lot of people installed pulse wiper modules and switches looking exactly like the one you pictured above.
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hey is there a way that i could change my vin plate my truck is missed up anyway and when people have a cab thay just take there old one off and put the new one on but i dont have another cab so how would i do this
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A drill and pop rivets
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is there a way that i could change my vin plate and it still be legel
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The way I see it is the vin is a vehicle ID# not a cab ID. To me the cab is just another part of the truck. I'd just change it and forget about it.
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what do you mean i should just change to another vin plate or leave it the way it is i know it sounds stupid but it says that it is a gmc and a 78 but it is not either one i am not a against gmc i just want it to all be orignal
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Hotrod, What does your title say? Does it match the tag on the cab or the frame? This is what the law is really gonna go by if there ever is a problem. The title proves you own the vehicle with that Vin # on it. You may want to check the laws in your state on what constitutes a need for Reconstructed title. I would hate to see a guy loose his truck over some tag/lack of tag, this could become a real hassle in the wrong situation. I have/do an impound lot & have seen some things go down when the P.D. gets to snooping around that isn't always good, usually brought on by an ex or something like that. Good Luck on this one, Lorne
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my vin and title match i just want to change my vin plate the right way
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I don't understand, what do you want to change it to & for? Is the title/vin for a 2wd & you have a 4wd or something? Lorne
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If you change the cab, I would use the vin that belongs on the chassis. I have done this in the past. Its not technically legal to change a vin but these are different circumstances.
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i do not know if my vin match's my frame or not because my interior is not a 78 the still plates are not right the wiper switch is not right
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So you think your vin doesn't even belong to your truck or maybe the cabs was changed previously?
Do a break down on your vin and see if it matches or at least comes close.
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/VIN.htm
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i done the check and it said it was a 78 pickup 4+4
this is not a 78 dash
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/dash-1.jpg)
see the metal pulled back it had a 78 switch but there are holes for a 73-74 switch so some one switch it
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd224/74chevy/100_7159.jpg)
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my truck has dual takes but no switch that is one reason why i thank that the cab was switch it does not even have a place to put one
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I dont know if I missed it previously but what is your truck exactly? (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 2wd, 4wd?) Does the vin match the general description of your truck?
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yes it is a 4+4 1/2
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If your paperwork matches the vin then roll with it, you'll only raise questions if you change it now. I was told a vin could be found on the drivers front frame rail on the early trucks. If someone knows better feel free to advise.
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ok thank you
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you know a crazy thing it has chevy emblems and it says that it is a gmc but except for the dash emblem
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I put a complete interior off of a 86 chevy into my 78 dump truck I had. It already had the newer doors and the newer dash will fit on the early dash shell. I see a lot of 'mutts' around. 1/2 ton cabs on 1 ton dump trucks or newer cabs on older chassis etc. A buddy of mine almost couldn't get his registered because the vin did not jive with the truck, they gave up and gave him plates because they couldn't prove anything. (and couldn't find the vin on the frame)
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Parts are interchangable within the Various Years, at the sametime, you got to remember that you can still have holes for items, despite what trim level you have... Alot of pieces(IE Dash Framing) are interchangable with the different years (to a point), and different Models/Trim Levels.... Because you have Lap Belts, but other trucks have a 3-point belt, yet yours isn't drilled for it, could be simply explained as the truck being ordered/optioned that way.... It having Chevy Badges instead of GMC, again a simple swap or replacement explains that.... Different sills, could be again explained through the trucks options(or lack there of) when ordered, or they were just simply replaced by the previous owner(s)....
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yea i thought the same thing but some one drilled holes in my dash and that is what made me think that it was a 73-74 and not a 78 and all of the other stuff that is not a 78 but i am not going to let it bother me i am going to put another dash in it
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Yeah the best thing to do is not let someone elses hack job throw you off, but Honestly if your VIN/Title says its a '78, then no big deal! I had an 87 Lesabre 2dr that the Brat who had it before me, decided to kick the heck out of dash with his foot, and drive it into the ground(Blew all Brake Seals at the four wheels >:(), since it was getting Repo'd.... His expensive "Professionally Installed" Stereo job looked like it was done by my 5yr old nephew at the time :o Definately liked the fact that GM went to Modular Dashes in certain models, as it was only an hour job to completely swap the dash out for a new salvaged one 8) The Steel ones like our trucks have can be a pain and time consuming, but it is something that can be done with patience & the correct tools ;)
Just be sure to take your time, and take a Breather when it gets fraustraiting(Trust me it will!)! Also watch out for all the sharp edages, so be sure to wear gloves and a long shirt in some instances!!!
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I am just trying to fix my cab right now. I have to put new rockers on it and cab corners and fix up the interior because someone liked to drill holes, but thank you alot for your help. Oh maybe when I get a new dash you can throw some more good pointers!