Any tips on how to remove a AD dash - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rhodog77 · 03-16-2010, 09:15 PM

hey guys,

anyone have advice, tips or tricks on how to remove a dash. Im switching cabs and want to pull the dash out of my 50. Its in really, good shape. I want to pull it but dont know where to start. It looks like its spot welded to the cab.

brian

Dan Bowles · 03-16-2010, 09:28 PM

Spot welded in like 50 places. I'd plasma cut as close to the windshield as I could get it but far enough away to be able to weld and metal finish. I'd also try to keep that covered up by the inside trim if I could.

Good luck.

rhodog77 · 03-16-2010, 09:36 PM

damn, 50 welds. I hope you were being funny!!! I dont want to drill out the spot welds cuz I would have to go thru the lip of the windshied sill. It would be swiss cheese after drilling them. not sure what to do

astjohn · 03-16-2010, 09:50 PM

The right spot weld cutter or drill bit and patience can get you through the dash layer without going all the way through the windshield lip.

solidaxel · 03-16-2010, 10:57 PM

Now would be a good time to look at doing something different in the dashes, maybe one from a plymouth or buick something way out there, just thinking out loud!!!

BBEEP · 03-17-2010, 01:02 PM

Actually 16. Cut them with a wheel.

OrrieG · 03-17-2010, 01:50 PM

So they are stitch welds along the edge? Is that out of the ambulance?

dwcsr · 03-17-2010, 05:20 PM

We have a debate in our shop if it takes more patients or more beer to get a dash out. If your not saving the cab then cut it out as Dan says, just cut wide of the seams

BBEEP · 03-17-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrrieG

So they are stitch welds along the edge? Is that out of the ambulance?

Yes & yes!

Dan Bowles · 03-17-2010, 06:07 PM

I'd cut up the cab up on the one you are saving and cut the dash up on the one you are replacing. I sold a dash I removed at the A pillar to a guy once and he cut the heck out of it to put it in his truck. Looked like crap but he was building a "rat rod" and added faux rust and thought he was brilliant. I thought it looked like crap, but I think I mentioned that...

rhodog77 · 03-17-2010, 07:53 PM

im on vacation next week. i think Im going to go after it and see how much trouble I can get in to. I will take lots of pix. Thanks for the tips!!!

T Hilde · 03-18-2010, 03:37 AM

Keep us posted. I might have a line on a '54 GMC dash for my '49. I think the GMC one looks cool.

Lextech · 03-20-2010, 07:39 PM

I'm curious about the easiest/best way to remove a dash also. I'll be pulling the dash out of my 54 soon also. I want to try to graft a 94 Lexus LS400 cluster area into in and then maybe use it as a mold and make fiberglass dash.

Jeff

Dan Bowles · 03-22-2010, 07:29 AM

My manual shows 25 or 27 spots for the dash including the 2 that hold the center strip on. The '54 is about the same.

And Todd, don't ruin that splitter with a '54 GMC dash. Send that dash to me so I can put it into a '54 where it belongs!!

T Hilde · 03-22-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

My manual shows 25 or 27 spots for the dash including the 2 that hold the center strip on. The '54 is about the same.

And Todd, don't ruin that splitter with a '54 GMC dash. Send that dash to me so I can put it into a '54 where it belongs!!

No can do Buckwheat. If I can get it I will graft it on there.

Dan Bowles · 03-22-2010, 08:44 PM

I'll shave you a poodle for it!!

rhodog77 · 03-22-2010, 09:29 PM

just wanted to update. i stripped ths e dash down today. pulled the radio delete plate, speaker cover, glove box, dash support arm and both vents. Im not sure if im going to pull the dash or not. If I do, im definetly cutting it out and not drilling the spot holes out. I think that you can cut it out much quicker and much more cleanly that drilling out the spot welds and trying to seperate it from the windshield surround.

rhodog77 · 03-23-2010, 03:15 PM

Well, got the dash out today. I started off by driiling out the spot welds, then decided to cut it out. Drilling out the spot welds is a pain and in my opinion is a waste. I think it tears the upper dash lip all up. I used my 4 inch grinder with a cutoff wheel. It took about 20 minutes. I should be able to hide all the reweld with the inside trim piece.

**mr48chev** · 03-23-2010, 09:38 PM

I have one cab that I cut the dash out of because I was going to put in a different dash and I cut it out with a sawzall leaving a lip about 3/4 or so wide to connect the new dash to. The original dash in that cab had been customized with a hammer and chisel to install a tape player some time in one of it's past lives. The lip that I left is plenty to attach a different dash to though.

T Hilde · 03-26-2010, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhodog77

Well, got the dash out today. I started off by driiling out the spot welds, then decided to cut it out. Drilling out the spot welds is a pain and in my opinion is a waste. I think it tears the upper dash lip all up. I used my 4 inch grinder with a cutoff wheel. It took about 20 minutes. I should be able to hide all the reweld with the inside trim piece.

03-16-2010, 09:15 PM	#1
rhodog77 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Burlington, KY USA Posts: 338	Any tips on how to remove a AD dash hey guys, anyone have advice, tips or tricks on how to remove a dash. Im switching cabs and want to pull the dash out of my 50. Its in really, good shape. I want to pull it but dont know where to start. It looks like its spot welded to the cab. brian __________________ "Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying" 1970 P10 Stepvan

03-16-2010, 09:28 PM	#2
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash Spot welded in like 50 places. I'd plasma cut as close to the windshield as I could get it but far enough away to be able to weld and metal finish. I'd also try to keep that covered up by the inside trim if I could. Good luck.

03-16-2010, 09:36 PM	#3
rhodog77 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Burlington, KY USA Posts: 338	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash damn, 50 welds. I hope you were being funny!!! I dont want to drill out the spot welds cuz I would have to go thru the lip of the windshied sill. It would be swiss cheese after drilling them. not sure what to do __________________ "Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying" 1970 P10 Stepvan

03-16-2010, 09:50 PM	#4
astjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Troy, MO Posts: 16	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash The right spot weld cutter or drill bit and patience can get you through the dash layer without going all the way through the windshield lip. Last edited by astjohn; 03-16-2010 at 09:50 PM.

03-16-2010, 10:57 PM	#5
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash Now would be a good time to look at doing something different in the dashes, maybe one from a plymouth or buick something way out there, just thinking out loud!!! __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

03-17-2010, 01:02 PM	#6
BBEEP Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: EUGENE, OREGON Posts: 504	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash Actually 16. Cut them with a wheel. Attached Images __________________ 48 GMC Panel Sold 12-14-15 52 White/Chevrolet School Bus 52 GMC Burb/Envoy Meld 61 Impala Wagon SOLD BARRETT JACKSON SCOTTSDALE 1-18-13 67 c/10 SOLD 2012 71 SS454 77 c/20 Sold 11-11-15 08 TBSS The Wife's car!! 50 GMC School Bus SOLD 11-7-10 29 FD Delivery (Chevy powered) SOLD 11-4-11 53 GMC 630 Firetruck/Ramp Truck**

03-17-2010, 01:50 PM	#7
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash So they are stitch welds along the edge? Is that out of the ambulance? __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

03-17-2010, 05:20 PM	#8
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,131	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash We have a debate in our shop if it takes more patients or more beer to get a dash out. If your not saving the cab then cut it out as Dan says, just cut wide of the seams

03-17-2010, 06:07 PM	#10
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash I'd cut up the cab up on the one you are saving and cut the dash up on the one you are replacing. I sold a dash I removed at the A pillar to a guy once and he cut the heck out of it to put it in his truck. Looked like crap but he was building a "rat rod" and added faux rust and thought he was brilliant. I thought it looked like crap, but I think I mentioned that...

03-17-2010, 07:53 PM	#11
rhodog77 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Burlington, KY USA Posts: 338	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash im on vacation next week. i think Im going to go after it and see how much trouble I can get in to. I will take lots of pix. Thanks for the tips!!! __________________ "Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying" 1970 P10 Stepvan

03-18-2010, 03:37 AM	#12
T Hilde Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Faribault, MN Posts: 385	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash Keep us posted. I might have a line on a '54 GMC dash for my '49. I think the GMC one looks cool.

03-20-2010, 07:39 PM	#13
Lextech Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oak Forest, Ill. Posts: 194	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash I'm curious about the easiest/best way to remove a dash also. I'll be pulling the dash out of my 54 soon also. I want to try to graft a 94 Lexus LS400 cluster area into in and then maybe use it as a mold and make fiberglass dash. Jeff Last edited by Lextech; 03-20-2010 at 07:40 PM.

03-22-2010, 07:29 AM	#14
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash My manual shows 25 or 27 spots for the dash including the 2 that hold the center strip on. The '54 is about the same. And Todd, don't ruin that splitter with a '54 GMC dash. Send that dash to me so I can put it into a '54 where it belongs!!

03-22-2010, 08:44 PM	#16
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash I'll shave you a poodle for it!!

03-22-2010, 09:29 PM	#17
rhodog77 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Burlington, KY USA Posts: 338	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash just wanted to update. i stripped ths e dash down today. pulled the radio delete plate, speaker cover, glove box, dash support arm and both vents. Im not sure if im going to pull the dash or not. If I do, im definetly cutting it out and not drilling the spot holes out. I think that you can cut it out much quicker and much more cleanly that drilling out the spot welds and trying to seperate it from the windshield surround. __________________ "Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying" 1970 P10 Stepvan



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03-23-2010, 03:15 PM	#18
rhodog77 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Burlington, KY USA Posts: 338	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash Well, got the dash out today. I started off by driiling out the spot welds, then decided to cut it out. Drilling out the spot welds is a pain and in my opinion is a waste. I think it tears the upper dash lip all up. I used my 4 inch grinder with a cutoff wheel. It took about 20 minutes. I should be able to hide all the reweld with the inside trim piece. __________________ "Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying" 1970 P10 Stepvan

03-23-2010, 09:38 PM	#19
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,711	Re: Any tips on how to remove a AD dash I have one cab that I cut the dash out of because I was going to put in a different dash and I cut it out with a sawzall leaving a lip about 3/4 or so wide to connect the new dash to. The original dash in that cab had been customized with a hammer and chisel to install a tape player some time in one of it's past lives. The lip that I left is plenty to attach a different dash to though. Last edited by mr48chev; 03-23-2010 at 09:39 PM.

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