Different year dash pads?

[wilkin250r]

My truck was put together with a multitude of different years, so I'm not always sure what year(s) I'm looking for when replacing parts.

My cab is definitely pre-80, but the dash pad that I got is a post-80 style. It's kinda falling apart, so I can't really tell you if it "fits" or not. But it looks like it mostly fits, and all the heater vents seem to line up.

Is this even possible?

[88Jimmy4x4]

73-76 have a rounded pad on pass side with no vin hole in front of driver and no defrost vent covers (open).
77-80 same as above except has vin hole cut out
81-87 has defrost cover grating and is flat on pass side top

[whiskeydented]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

73-76 have a rounded pad on pass side with no vin hole in front of driver and no defrost vent covers (open).
77-80 same as above except has vin hole cut out
81-87 has defrost cover grating and is flat on pass side top

Vin went to the dash in 79, 78 still had the Vin by the door stiriker.
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

[wilkin250r]

And I think my cab might be a 79, it has the vin number up on the dash. But like I said, the dashpad itself is flat on the passenger side top, it's clearly the 81-87 style.

Anybody have experience swapping dash pads from different years? I doubt the previous owner swapped the sheetmetal.

[ont_guy_38]

Sheet metal is the same . If you have a 81-87 style dash then you need a 81-87 style gauge bezel if you want it to look correct and visa versa .

[wilkin250r]

So I can swap the dash as long as I also swap the bezel? I really like the 81-87 dash much better, and I have to buy a new bezel anyways.

[ont_guy_38]

If you say it has the 81-87 dash now then it more then likely has the newer bezel already . Got any pictures?

[wilkin250r]

It probably does indeed have the newer style bezel, but the entire dash and bezel is garbage. In fact, the seats aren't bad but otherwise the entire interior is garbage,no glove box, no carpet, the heater and fan don't work, and I had to replace the entire gauge cluster.

Both my current dash and bezel are severely cracked so I want to replace them anyways. At first I had no idea there were different styles, so when I started looking around I found the original 79 style and I didn't like it nearly as much as my 81-87 dash. If I have to buy a new set regardless, I'll get the style I like. I just wanted some feedback from some knowledgeable people to find out if I'm going to run into any pitfalls.

My truck already has the front clipped swapped to the 81-87 style, which I don't like significantly more than the 73-80 style but I'm certainly not going to expend the energy and time to swap it back.

[motornut]

you can use the newer pad with an older bezel
i'm running 89 pad with 78 bezel in the 78
it's when the head light and wiper hole moves and
it's the newer bezel with older pad leaves a funny gap along the top of the bezel