83 K5 Interior Rebuild

[Stantonss]

When you replaced your dash did you put new bulbs in?

If so would you happen to have the part numbers? and how well are did they light up your dash?

Thanks!

Stantonss,

I had planned on putting new bulbs in simply because I had two bulbs that weren't working.  But after I got to the bulbs I was able to play with them a little and get them both to work again.

I do have this information:

http://chevyk5blazer.com/wb/index.php?topic=868.0

You should be able to put your make/model in to find any number you need.

Thanks man! Big help

[VileZambonie]

It looks like your dash pad is not seated in the clips on the frame.

[GoatBeard]

The only reason I am pretty sure that it is seated is because I hooked it up the first time and it was not seated -- there was about a 3" gap between the dash pad and the bezel itself (it was really screwed up bad!).

So the 2nd time I was able to get someone to help me install it (hard to handle by yourself).  On the passenger's side it was hard to tell if it clipped or not because you couldn't actually see what was happening.  You kinda had to feel it.  With it installed you can actually look under the dash with a flashlight and see whether or not it is hooked.  On the driver's side you can actually see it clip in and slide back since that area is more open in comparison to the passenger's side...

I will double-check the clip though.  I hope you are right.

Do you guys remember how the gas gauge hooks into the back of the dash?  I must have somehow knocked the connection loose when I reinstalled the dash.  The first day I drove it after getting it back together it registered totally empty, even after I added $15 of gas.  Today I added another $25 because I had to drive it about an hour.5 away (didn't want to run out).  Today it decided to move a little, but it's still below 1/4 of a tank with $35 worth of gas.  It HAS to have a lot more than that.  Y'all have any suggestions?  Wiggle wires and such behind dash?

Thanks!

[GoatBeard]

Well, I dropped the truck off today at the upholstery shop.  He's doing the front buckets for me.  He said he thought that truck had the wrong frame on the driver's side -- anyway, he's going to fix that.  I'm going to put black vinyl in it with some red stitching.  I hope the red stitching isn't dancing too close to being totally goofy...  We will see in a couple of weeks.

[ccz145a]

Make him call you if he thinks it's goofy.

I would think it would be too much contrast. Seam stitches aren't supposed to stand out unless you really want to call attention to them, and they had better be very well done if you do.

[Captkaos]

Pull the clips and see how it sits.

[GoatBeard]

I had originally thought about doing some red piping, but after looking at some examples online I think that would have been terrible.  I'm tempted to call him and see what kind of price difference there is between leather and vinyl!  I asked him not to stitch the entire seat with red stitches, only enough of it to look good and not go overboard (basically where your butt and back hit will have red stitching).  I'm gonna call him again in a minute and just tell him to make it look "right".  lol

Chris, I compared it to the old dash pad but just a side by side comparison.  What I noticed is that the original dash pad looks like it's got a slight curve to it in the instrument bezel area.  The left side of the old one definitely sits about 1" lower than the rest of the dash pad.  The other thing was that the old dash is far more rigid than the new one so it's curve in that area doesn't have any "spring" to it.  In contrast, the new dash pad is more "springy", which in my opinion allows that one edge to pull back up just a hair.  I'm thinking that I could literally bend the edge down and it'd stay there, but I'll have to take it back off to do that.  With it on I can't bend it, it's got too much play for the bend to take.  At this point, since everything is finally back together, it's debatable whether I have any will left to redo it another time.     The bezel does need a new sticker and I've got to fix that gas gauge that's quit on me -- so I'll wait and see what is required to fix that stuff before I rig the dash.  It may be that I'll have to take everything back apart anyway...  At least I have some idea of how to do it now, so maybe it'll go fast! 

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

[Captkaos]

The aftermarket dash like you have is "springier" as it doesn't have a complete metal shell frame, only a partial.

[GoatBeard]

When I get it back from upholstery I'll take another look at it.  Either way, the dash looks great!  I'm happy with it and I guess that's all that matters!  Thanks!

[truckjunky]

 The whole thing looks good. Awsome job i'd like to use some of your ideas for my truck. Like the red and black.

[GoatBeard]

Thank you!  I had a lot of fun doing the interior -- it was my first to totally redo.  The hardest part was actually the decisions on what to do with all that red (every single stinkin' piece was red...ugh!) -- I think the red/black combo worked out well, too.  I'm sure I over thought it times infinity, but the end result is the pay off.  I should be getting the truck back from upholstery this week with the new black seats with dark red stitching.  I'm nervous about it, but hopefully it'll look "right".

I'll get more pics when I get it back.  Thanks again!

[GoatBeard]

I finally got the K5 back from the upholstery shop.  I couldn't be more happy with how the seats turned out! 

[GoatBeard]

Few more pics out in the sun.

[Armor]

that looks fantastic!!!

[bigfosty]

I hate red interiors!


But yours looks awesome. Nice work.