I cut my dash tonight.

[Hammond68]

I've been going back and forth with the idea for awhile. I've read many threads on here about it. Kind of seems taboo to do it,its been stock for so long.
In the end I figured I'm building this truck for me. If I ever decided to sell it it wouldn't be a deal breaker.
I wouldn't have done it to an old super sport. But I'm the one to make happy here. I would have bought a retro sound but why get gouged for a mediocre stereo.

[71gmcC15]

The more people that cut there dashes the more noncut dashed will be wanted. So please cut it. It makes mine worth more. Haha jk

[CG]

Nooooo!!

[Andy4639]

Only a true truck owner can handle cutting a dash! They are only metal and in the end like you said it's for you no one else! Enjoy your tunes.

All the retro guy's are jealous of us real tune guy's!

[57rookie]

Each to their own I say. I love finding uncut dashes. I have a very nice custom autosound unit that is as good as anything as a head unit in the stock location and stock look but I understand we all build to the style, taste , budget , and condition of our current rides. Do as you wish I say.

[Hammond68]

I'm open to any single din radio now. Not just one or two brands. I also saved the cut outs,they can go back in. Retro is basically a 75 dollar radio that they want hundreds for. The older models were basically junk but they kept selling them. I've heard the quality has went up.
But in the end. It's my truck. I'm not building it for resale value. If I were a purist sticking to stock it would be a different story. I already put a stroker in it. And a O.D. tranny. Plus many other upgrades. Nobody would take a step back to 1972 technology with this truck.
It's not just a daily driver, it's my only mode of transportation. And I travel the nation from job to job.
I'll post a picture when I take one in the daylight.

[truckster]

They say confession is good for the soul, but it's hard on the reputation.

[Chris_oz]

Mine is cut, by the PO, and I still have a crap 1980's tape deck, so crap tunes and a cut dash.

Cut away I say.

[Hammond68]

Originally Posted by truckster

They say confession is good for the soul, but it's hard on the reputation.

I didn't hear any complaints on my 383. Didn't hear any complaints on my 700r4. Went with delay wiper module,still no complaints. I'm going to go 3.73 posi from open rear end. I hear crickets. But cut a dash.lol.it's all good. I find this humorous.

[3757chevy]

I did a double NO NO ,,, I cut my dash and a radio delete plate.

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by Hammond68

I didn't hear any complaints on my 383. Didn't hear any complaints on my 700r4. Went with delay wiper module,still no complaints. I'm going to go 3.73 posi from open rear end. I hear crickets. But cut a dash.lol.it's all good. I find this humorous.

[underliner6]

I have a great alpine head unit in the dash and speakers in my doors done by the PO. Sounds excellent every time I’m in the truck.

With that being said, I wish that nothing was cut and I was listening to the original fuzzy AM Radio ��

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 3757chevy

I did a double NO NO ,,, I cut my dash and a radio delete plate.

Pretend the balloon is full of gasoline. My dash is already cut, too! I didn't do it, but I did cut the dash in my old commuter car so that I could use my iPod instead of listening to ads for 2 hours a day when I was commuting.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Well it was the Seventies... I cut One hole in each door; Drivers' side Door and on the Passengers' side, to mount 5" Jensen speakers. I and I found I had to mount some foam extrusion envelopes behind each one to cut down excess reverb. [Rattling, Mon.] I also with malice aforethought did cut one 516 Orange OEM Radio Delete Plate, piercing it with 2 holes, one for the Volume Knob on the left, and one on the right for the tuning knob. It was analog [superhetereodyne] tuning.
Between the holes, I shaped a long rectangle for the Tuner Dial. Then I sprayed the aforementioned holy 516 Orange Delete Plate in Flat Black, to complete my auto Hi-Fi look. I made it into a period correct Radio Face Plate. Then I bolted on a Sanyo Cassette Receiver/Tuner/Recorder, and proceeded to Rock and/or Roll.
[Yes, if I hit the RED button, I could save the hit on the air now!... That was big tech then. Only used it once, and that was to save a Surf Tune. But it was a nice option. Hard to use with a stick shift and manual steering and a driver's preference for hilly roads.]

I may spend an aeon [or two] in the Purgatory of Bad Chevy Truck Owners for my most greivious sins.
(It's a junkyard from horizon to horizon full of nothing you can use for your rig or your projects.)
In my defense, I state:
I only used the holes God gave me.
I NEVER CUT A DASH.

[Grumpy old man]

No problem ,If after you regain your senses and want to go back to how it was born all you have to do is find a dash from a parts truck whose owner had more restraint than you and do the dash restore procedure to bring it back to high Quality AM status ! It's easy and only involves some disassembly , welding and body work with a little paint .

https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Contro.../dp/B00T8AK7AG


OH ,Did I mention ? NEVER CUT A DASH !

[jocko]

Sacrilege... . You raise a great point though, nobody pees their trou over a 383 swap, agreed, but when it comes to trucks, at least these trucks, nobody can prove engine originality beyond the statement that a given engine “could be” the original (unless of course that person is the original owner), I’d say under the hood is fair game. I can’t explain my personal mental block at not wanting to cut a dash though, go to great lengths to graft in an original uncut one to fix po hack jobs. Quite frankly - I wish it DIDN’T bother me on my truck, life could be simpler But for your own truck, it is indeed yours, do what you like and don’t look back. Having said that, I would start shopping for dash patch panel for when you eventually change your mind, as they are bound to get much more pricey

[special-K]

Do what you like. We all think different. For me, if I say it doesn't matter because "I'm doing this for me" when I alter a truck I'm saying "I'm keeping it forever". Otherwise, it's not just me.

There are better ways to gain high quality stereo equipment in one of these trucks than hacking the dash to put it where the factory put the original. AND... there is a great way to put 180w right in the same spot with the same radio face. It's expensive. It's what I plan on doing (Hagan). I want quality and am willing to wait till I can get it. The truck doesn't "have to" have a working stereo until that happens. I'm a true truck guy so for me these old trucks 'are' old Super Sports.

[3757chevy]

In defense my dash was precut by PO and the delete plate that I used had been drilled for toggle switches. I used the delete plate to cover the recess for OE radio knobs.

[Hammond68]

Here's a picture grumpy. It could use a faceplate around it.its a tight fit. The original hole is a little larger than I cut out.

Jocko.You can tell if they are date correct unless it's zero decked.even the the numbers on the back are 010.

[Killer Bee]

interestingly enough, at almost 50, I've never bought an aftermarket radio for an automobile..

had a few that came with, got a couple now that were in the trucks, one in the glove box, one dash hacked but may be letting that one go eventually..

I did add an fm tuner gizmo in my 02 gmc to use my mp3 player in the desert, talk about crap but it makes noise..

uncut dashes and stock AM radio is where it's at, nothing that important to listen to volume or quality wise necessary in a vehicle..

maybe in the back of an rv or limo but not something I'm driving.. I enjoy tunes like everyone else, but also like to hear the road..

now my living room is another story.. 145w/ch 48lb main amp, 110lbs of nht l5 satellites 24 drivers total and a 71lb dual 12" al sub driven by a 20lb 250w amp..

so I'm not completely unfamiliar with high quality audio at eardrum shattering volume if you like that, just never saw the need for it in an automobile..

if I ever do, hidden units in the glove box or faceless units under the seat would do me just fine..

most of the crap I see folks cutting dashes for is far less than impressive anyways.. sorry if that hurts anyone's feelings..

and besides the hacked dash, it's a thief magnet in a very simple to enter vehicle..

to each his own, good luck!

[Astro-Balls]

Its kind of like a Circumcision, Some like and some don't..

My truck is Uncut..

[davischevy]

I had to laugh.

A couple of years ago, I started a tongue in cheek thread, titled "Should I cut My dash?". I was just pulling everybody's leg, but the thread got so septic it ultimately got shut down.

I don't cut dashes, but if you want to cut yours, it's fine with me.

[siggyfreud]

Your ride, your choice. May limit potential buyers if you do ever sell it, but a lot depends on how it's done and what goes in.

When the time comes I'll likely be chopping mine, but we'll see! My bed is already shortened, rear fenders widened, c-notched, etc. So if someone is looking for stock, or a potentially stock-looking restoration, they won't be looking at mine anyways.

For me, it's not so much about WHAT is done, but how well. If it's a crappy hack job I'll pass regardless. If it's done well, I usually give it consideration, even if it's not what I would have chosen to do myself.

Hack away my friend!

I would not do it but to each his own— my P.O. had replaced the factory AM/FM— found an original radio so all good— I only listen to talk radio on the radio and if I want to hear Floyd then I have a million songs on my IPhone

[Ganty101]

As far as I can tell my dash wasn’t cut so much as bent inwards. I think the whole surround is there still though. Could be repairable if I ever want a stock radio (I already do to some extent!)