bel air dash?

[blackesdime]

Just picked up my truck this past Friday ('55). Somebody had cut up a bunch of stuff to make it work on a Dakota frame with almost everything Dakota in it. In doing so, most of my dash has been cut out. I can't seem to find a replacement dash for this truck, but it seems Bel Air dashes are pretty easy to find. From what I can tell in pictures... it SEEMS like it would be pretty easy to make it fit. Am I far off?

[blackesdime]

(2nd series)

[Denee007]

I wouldnt know, but I'd like to see your truck and what had been done to the dash! I would think someone here will know!
dne' ; )

[blackesdime]

haha, the truck doesn't look anything impressive. I bought it in pieces... a "trailer case". It was towed to my house using a flat bed and the bed of my truck... lol. no chassis, no motor, just want i need to build something fun.

[blackesdime]

best picture of the dash that i can do for now.

[Denee007]

Wowzers! sure makes it easy to work on "under" the dash! ; )
I found this on a simple search. You need a entire dash patch panel! ; )
I see potential!
dne'

http://www.classicindustries.com/truck/parts/17112.html

[Kim57]

Kabwe put a 55 dash in his build which looks very nice.
The 59 Impala dashes are also an option.
You can also do a smooth dash panel. It all depends on the look you want.
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...number=SDF5559
Kim

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by blackesdime

Just picked up my truck this past Friday ('55). Somebody had cut up a bunch of stuff to make it work on a Dakota frame with almost everything Dakota in it. In doing so, most of my dash has been cut out. I can't seem to find a replacement dash for this truck, but it seems Bel Air dashes are pretty easy to find. From what I can tell in pictures... it SEEMS like it would be pretty easy to make it fit. Am I far off?

I cut my 56 truck dash out and installed a 57 Bel Air dash. It was very easy to do. Then I recently cut it out and I'm replacing it with a Corvette dash (not so easy). In short, changing a TF dash to a 55 -57 Bel Air dash in not at all hard to do. In order to make the steering column look good, you'll need to change the column angle and raise the hole in the firewall, which is no problem either.

[mr48chev]

Are you leaving all of that stuff under the dash or pulling it out and going with a heat/ac system that isn't so bulky?

I'd say you are wide open to put what ever dash you want in it as long as it looks good. Or find a cool instrument panel and build around it.

If you decide to cut that dash out completely, leave enough of it to fasten the replacement dash to. That makes things a lot easier all around when putting the new dash in.

[blackesdime]

Very helpful!! Gives me something to look into.

[bearlakecustoms]

you should have left the dakota stuff, and the plywood dash

[bowt1ed]

Sure would like to know where those 55 Bel Air dashes are easy to come by at. I can't seem to find one at all around here for my 2nd series!

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by bowt1ed

Sure would like to know where those 55 Bel Air dashes are easy to come by at. I can't seem to find one at all around here for my 2nd series!

I got mine from ebay.

[Rude Dude]

Here is one not mine

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-56-CHEV...sories&vxp=mtr