old truck new dash dont do it
 

has anyone tried to install a new dash in an old truck ? im trying to install a 1998 dash into a 68 crew cab and i'm fin ding it to be one **** of a headache the dash is too long by a 1/4 of an inch and about 1/2 to 3/4's of an inch on the bottom anyone have any ideas ??? thank you guys ill post pics of the dash in tomorrow thank you guys in advance

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

Well I cant add anything to help you out, but I cant say I am suprised the swap isnt easy. The two styles of trucks are so different, I imagine a lot of fab work will be needed and is quite the challenge.

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

The title says it all "DONT DO IT" !!

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

I kinda agree with the previous posts.
Just because you can do it don't mean you should. Don't get me wrong, I am all for making your truck the way you want, but I am not quite certain the 98 dash is all that good looking.
I have fit together enough stuff over the years that "didn't want to live there" to last me a lifetime. Mostly cause "I had it and wanted to use what I had.
Be a different story if you had this really cool dash cluster that you wanted to install.
JMO

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

I agree with the others.

To me the dash is one of the iconic things about these trucks and should not be changed. I don't even like aftermarket gauges. To anyone who has these things, I'm not 'dissin your truck-I just don't personally like anything but stock.

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

what is your tranny out of?

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

Im guessing you havent seen the 95-98 plastic dash start craking? Mines cracked in a few places, its pretty annoying when its starts creaking and rattling on rough roads. To each hos own and kudos for being different but you may want to really rethink this on a durablility level.

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

Now that's a project. I think it'll be cool if you can pull it off.
The dashes are deeper also... so I suspect you'll have less room between you and the steering wheel.

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

I'd have to agree with you, it is a headache to retrofit parts into a space they were never intended to go. I think you are largely on your own with the mechanics and fabrication of this swap.

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

yeah, that's one gargantuan project you've got yourself into..... I seen a guy take a SN95 mustang dash and interior and install it into a "Fox Body" mustang once, but that was the easy part, he also stuffed one of those "Terminator" supercharged 4.6L engines into the same mustang.....talk about a beast! surprisingly, the front "K" member fit just like it was supposed to be there, now the wiring, well, that took some re-engineering......Good luck with your project!
Ben:metal:

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

Measure carefully and remove 1/4 inch from the center and weld it back together....but wait...that's a PLASTIC dash. Good luck with that stuff!

I was always partial to a '59 impala's dash.......it needs to be narrowed a couple of inches but it's steel!

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

I'd go for a 55-59 dash rather than a new one

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

Very well done!!!

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

:metal: amen to that!

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

It's be cool if you can pull it off. And you know... air bags would be pretty nice to have in these old trucks...

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

Thank you guys i might just abandon the idea all together ill keep everyone posted

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

its out of the parts truck the motor and tranny of the 98 are in the frame rails its an nv4500 5 speed

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

One thing I absolutely love about these trucks is the well designed bi-symmetrical dash in front of me. C/10, K/20, C/30 tow truck, Blazer, Suburban, C/60, the view's the same. I can't imagine why anyone would want to change it, especially for a lump of modern plastic. And to think us classic GM Truck guys didn't like the '73s because we felt they had become cardboard and plastic

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

Ive some guys pull off a 99-06 dash in these trucks. Didn't look bad.

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

Your only problem with that is you don't have the airbag computer or the impact sensors either and the sensors must be matched to the computer...not just any old part will do!

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

It seems that my new dash project is making some people upset on here so I wanted to take a minute to a apologize to all the people on here I might have offended My goal was to blend or meld old and new together if I didnt have such a huge brain fart and cut the original dash out I would have used the old dash with the new components but I am past that now I cant get a dash so I'm using what I have again I am sorry if I offended anyone

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

yea I wanted to have every part of the new truck blend with the old truck even anti lock breaks lol how sweet would it be to have anti lock brakes on a 1968 Chevy truck :metal::metal::metal:

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

This is a relatively old thread but I found it while looking for dash pics. JP, you don't have any reason to apologize. I doubt anyone got offended, they were just voicing their opinions. If they got offended then they are allowing too much emotion into their perspective on someone else's project. I'm not a fan of dash swaps at all, but everybody gets to make their project they way they want it and sometimes that means using what you have. Good luck and ignore people who are more interested in finding fault with what you are doing instead of making helpful suggestions. I hope you got this all worked out.

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

That was very well said. I certainly don't get offended by such things. The only thing I'll add is don't post something on the internet if you only want people who agree to respond. .Especially when you have "Don't Do It" in your title

Re: old truck new dash dont do it
 

I'm just wondering if he found a way to do it. If so I would like to see some pics. Problems like this can be very discouraging.