old truck new dash dont do it

[jpmanyhearts]

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

[HeavyD]

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.

[doo142]

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

[cooperhw]

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

[MARKDTN]

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.

[michael bustamante]

what is your tranny out of?

[jpmanyhearts]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

what is your tranny out of?

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

[57taskforce]

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.

[summitflier]

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.

[leftybass209]

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.

[snipescastle2]

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

[Taibo]

Originally Posted by jpmanyhearts

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

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!

[57larry]

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

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by 57larry

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

amen to that!

[doo142]

Originally Posted by Taibo

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!

Very well done!!!

[Sturvin]

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...

[Taibo]

Originally Posted by Sturvin

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...

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!

[jpmanyhearts]

Originally Posted by Taibo

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!

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

[jpmanyhearts]

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

[special-K]

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

[rockyrivermark]

Originally Posted by special-K

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

Amen to that.
Posted via Mobile Device

[F.A.A.benny]

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

[jpmanyhearts]

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

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by jpmanyhearts

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

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.

[special-K]

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