Patch or replace Dash??

Somewhere along the line, like many others, the dash of my truck was cut out to fit a more modern stereo. In order to restore the dash to its original look I have two options:

1. Purchase the patch panel sold by our host
2. Replace the entire dash with one from a donor truck (yet to be found)

I was hoping to hear opinions from people who have tackled either of these options. Which will be easier/look better/etc.?

Thanks in advance


Chris

 

Well being the location your in I would patch it. But when I was in Cheyenne, Wy I found 7 or 8 of the 50 chevy trucks with perfact dashes in a junk yard. I even found a replacement windsheild for my 59. So unless you get out that way I would just patch it. So fare my time in California has shown me the
50's trucks are slim pickin. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

I Replaced the whole Dash In my 58,and I now have a 59 with the dash Cut Up,
I would Change out the whole dash in my 59 If I could Find one Complete!
I Personally, Think It was Pretty Easy,You Just have a Lot of Spot Welds to Deal With
and the attachmant Points Under the Dash at Each End.I Worked in the Aircraft Industry
and Used a Temp Fastener Called a CLECO and lined Up the Whole Dash with Cleco's
Before I Welded it Back in at the Spot Welds.You Would Not have to Have the Cleco
Fasteners for Yours But it made the Job Just a Little Easyer!
Good Luck With Your Truck!Allen

 

Not sure why you would replace the entire dash if its just the radio spot that needs replaced. Since the patch is available and will never be able to tell if welded in right.

 

I Will Agree with you!
In The Case Of my Truck Tho,I should say that my truck was already stripped of everything
ie;instrument cluster was out,steering colomn out etc, and I had the doner dash already outof another truck ready to go,there were a few holes drilled in the dash that did not belong and the Radio area was a total mess.So I opted to replace the entire dash assy:
After cutting the two bottom corners and drilling out the spot welds I had it removed in
about a Half Hour.It really was not that hard with everything out of the way and I would have to say if you had windshield in all dash stuff in place and you relied on this as a Daily driver than NO I would not go this route and would opt for the patch panel!
with my Cameo torn apart this is the route I went with and I just wanted to say in this case it really was not that hard and found it really Easy in my situation the truck was at at the Time!
Again FWIW,Allen

 

Currently my truck is scattered into thousands of pieces all over the place, so removing the dash wouldn't have been that difficult, based on AZ58CAMEO. I also had a donor cab lined up with a dash in much better condition than mine.

I've since passed on the offer for the cab and, although it is likely still available, opted for welding in the patch. I am currently transferring the NAPCO drive train from another truck onto mine and didn't want to have a 3rd cab laying around the yard. Additionally, I'm still a ways away from worrying about the dash and other body work to be done.

Thanks again for everyone's input

Chris

 

Here is a link to classictrucks this month. They did a tech artical on dash repair were the radio had been cut. Not a complete dash replace but a nice dash patch.



http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/1103clt_repairing_an_old_dashboard/index.html

 

Thanks for posting that link, I have been wanting to replace that in my '59, someone cut out a DIN opening in mine and I'm debating whether to restore it to factory or not.

I've seen many people pulling and replacing the entire dash and I get the sense that there isn't replacement dash available unless you have a donor vehicle. Not sure how much of a market there is for this but it would be nice to have the option to replace the entire dash piece on these trucks.

For now, I'll have to look to doing a lot of welding.

Thanks again!

 

Great Link!

Thanks Mikebte, that link is great and will help a lot as I prepare to make that exact repair. I hope to preserve the heater control opening but we will see.

Thanks again

Chris

 

Classic parts also sales a full dash for a full dash replacement. Its a little more the just a dash patch. Here is the link.

http://www.classicparts.com/1955-59-Dash-Panel-Complete-Steel/productinfo/44-163/