I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

Nooooo!!

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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!:chevy:

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

:wop:

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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 ��

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

:ennyd: Pretend the balloon is full of gasoline. :lol: 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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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 . :lol:

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


OH ,Did I mention ? NEVER CUT A DASH !

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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 :)

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

In defense :box: 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.:cool:

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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!

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/fdq84p82kjq...ounge.JPG?dl=0

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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

My truck is Uncut..

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/10/34/76/.../5/920x920.jpg

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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!

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

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!)

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

I always find it entertaining when this subject comes up. I worked in a stereo/CB shop in the early 70's and can't tell you how many doors I cut to install speakers. Didn't have to cut dashes back then because there were no DIN radios. Also drilled a lot of holes in the roofs for CB antennas. And yes my dash and doors are cut in my original family owned truck.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

Yeah I'm not sure why no one seems to be concerned about cutting a bed, shaving drip rails, chopping a top, etc. But someone wants to modify the dash and suddenly its controversial :). If double dins existed in the 60s and 70s, 80s we'd have seen a TON of these modifications.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

FIFY

and btw, probably hear more static about cutting dashes as it is far more common than the other modifications you mention ;)

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

Hers my ordeal with a cut dash

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=730491

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

Perhaps, but Double Dins existed aftermarket long before they were common place in factory installs.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

not that it's germane to the subject but no, they weren't..

DIN is a German institute that created that standard for German auto manufacturers..

which of course the US OEMs and global aftermarket later followed..

now which ever of those YOU were exposed to first, may not have been it's actual origin :)

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

I put a round marine Bluetooth stereo behind the seat with speakers.
So I still have the am installed and it works.
Hit a small toggle under the dash and I auto connect to a nice sounding stereo system
Has a remote control also.
Pretty sweet

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

Didn't know that. My exposure was mostly late 90's early 2000s where most cars had the POTENTIAL, but it required a new plastic kit, the removal of some components etc. IE the modification of the dash. Even some of the german cars I had were similar. Like the E36 BMW where you could fit a double din, but had to shift the heater controls down to where an open pocket was.

In any case, people have been modifying their dash for decades. We just got better/smarter at making things more modular so modification didn't mean cutting metal, and in most cases, was easier to reverse.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

If there were DINs back then there would be no need to cut dashes.

I feel the same way about all truck hacking and that stuff you listed is worse. We do see a lot of griping about those things, too. A lot of it is about what is popular. Only some want to shave drip rails or chop a top, but the majority loves short beds. So they b!tch about one and praise the other.

But... the big difference here is that there are better ways to get good sounding music in a 67-72. There is no reason to cut the dash. You can't chop a top w/o chopping a top, but you can gain CD/XM/MP3 without cutting the dash. It's the easy route, not the better route. And that is why people speak up about that vs body alterations

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

https://scontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.n...8e&oe=5D88C16B

I cut this one in the early 90s (maybe 15 or 16 at the time). Put in a POS Pioneer CD.....

https://scontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.n...02&oe=5DBCE214

Tack welded a backer....


https://scontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.n...83&oe=5D901543


drilled holes in the backer to rosette a paper thin filler


https://scontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.n...79&oe=5D788501

small amount of glazing in the seam and some primer. Its not 100% perfect.....BUT REALLY CLOSE! I still need to do a little more work on it but it should be undetectable that it was ever cut when I am done.

This thread made me laugh because I spent a fair amount of time (sort of an obsurd amount) undoing what I did when I was younger.

Good luck to anyone that tries to 'uncut' a radio delete.

~JH

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

I saved the pieces I cut out. I can weld them back whenever I want. Only thing I'd lose is the original paint.
I could make it look like it never happened. I drive my truck daily. I'm not paying 300_400 bucks for a radio. I'll put that money in mechanical upgrades and sheet metal.
I don't mind spending money on my truck. I've already put buddy buckets in and and many other costly upgrades.tach dash ect. Rebuilt and modified drive train
When I start on the body I'll buy the highest quality parts I can find or go oem. But I won't pay hundreds for ****ty radio.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

Me neither. When I spend good money I want good quality. My son bought a made to fit stereo for his '65 Biscayne (one of the two who makes those) and it was a P.O.S. I have never considered those since. I'd sooner run an empty radio hole with a stereo in the glovebox than use one of those.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

With all of the HIDDEN Bluetooth amps and radio station aps out there now, its just plain unnecessary to have a radio in the dash much less cutting the dash. I am NOT a high tech electronics guy nor am I a music on the phone guy but as soon as this technology hit, I embraced it. Radio delete plates, factory looking radios with Bluetooth or original non working radios is all that goes in my dash now.

https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-2-Channe...gateway&sr=8-4

One of just 10000 options. I traditionally use a 4-6 channel and 4 speakers and a powered sub.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

Yes, I think we are saying the same thing. Date Correct by the pad or the block casting number only tells you if an engine "could have been" the original, but does not confirm - because there is no VIN stamping on these engines. You can confirm if an engine is not original if its numbers pan out to be not date correct, but you can't prove its original if the numbers are date correct.

Re: I cut my dash tonight.
 

72freak, wouldn't welding in a delete plate be taboo also?