Dash swap

[ponyracer]

First off great site!! I've learned a ton in the last few weeks. I'm new to chevy trucks but not new to fabrication and customizing. I'm in the market for a 73-87 2wd swb chevy. I just purchased a wrecked 95 suburban with a 5.7/4l60e combo. I'm planning on swapping in the running gear BUT should I do a stand alone tbi harness or swap the electrics over from the suburban? This leads me to my interior question, anyone ever swapped the entire dash and interior from a later model truck? I can't imagine it would be to difficult with both trucks complete and sitting right next to each other?? As long as the width would be close. Prob have to swap the entire metal subfames as well. Again not to big of deal. That way you get a nice comfy interior with ac and still the nice looks of the early iron. Am I mad??

Thanks

[Captkaos]

I have seen it done a few times.  The dash want flow into the door panes like stock, and the dash is narrower than the original 73-87 dash.
If you can do the wiring, I would swap it over especially if you have a working donor...

[dumbucket1]

Are you sure there is enough room? I used to have a 07 gmc sierra classic and the dash on it was very deep where as the dashes on these 73-87 is maybe a foot deep?

[Captkaos]

Pretty sure there is some pics here with a dash in one of them.

[camdenoilchange]

i would like to see pics of this if anyone has some. sounds cool.

[biodiesel84]

me too...

Chuck

[Fordeatinz71]

someone over at FSC is swapping in a 99-07 dash in his '85 as we chat...it's a pretty decent fit...it is a little narrow though

[78 Chevyrado]

Here's apic I found a while back.  I have no idea where I got it or whose truck it is.

[ponyracer]

Wow thanks for the pic, that's just what I was thinking.

[2502]

Wow thanks for the pic, that's just what I was thinking.
[/quote]almost positive that truck was just on ebay for 19k i think the bidding went up to like... 16 or something close. it's a 79 yellow stepside with the tailgate shaved, etc. they bought the truck like that and told me who to get ahole of for the dash swap...

[HAULIN IT]

Anybody have more pictures of it? I think Dumbucket is right, it looks to me that they made a template of the windshield area & cut off the dash to match. Just curious about how "short" is it widthwise. You could probably make door panels that wing out like allot of the newer vehicles to make up the difference. This yellow truck, Does anyone know is did they use the A/C ect. under the dash from the new truck, the original or a A/M a/c unit? To answer Ponyracer's question, The dash your referring to is a different dash than the one pictured, likely you could do the same thing (cut/grind it to fit) the door panels, carpet, trim ect. won't work. The seat with fab'ed brackets may work. I have an old junker ('78 4x4 shortbed) that I use around the house that a friend put two 40 parts of the '88-up 60/40 seats on fab'ed brackets (mailorder, I think) they fit nice with a Blazer console in the middle. Do some measuring & let us know. The parts scored off of a '99-up & a clean old 6cyl. truck would make a nice project! Have Fun Pony! Lorne

[werewolfx13]

To each their own, but I must ask..why on earth would you want a late model dash? The layout of our dashes is one of the draws to these trucks..that and no air bag garbage to explode from the dash to kill someone..

[dumbucket1]

this is just my personal taste but I drive the old trucks because I like the old styling, interior and all. If I want to sit in a new truck interior I will go out and buy another new truck again. But to each their own as werewolf said.

[camdenoilchange]

that looks sweet imo!!!

[ponyracer]

I have always had "old hammers" and I'm getting a little older so my bones are begining appreciate the newer nicer stuff. I'm mainly looking at it because I have a parts truck that has a nice dash and I'll be swaping the wiring out of it anyway so I figured why not? I also do like the old chevy dashes but it sure would be cool to have the new ones!!