Nope it's not removable. I'm sure you could modify it be and still look reasonably original but you may compromise structural integrity of the cab. It looks like to me the dash is an essential piece. I did a complete rewiring job on my 47 chevy and had to work under the dash. If you leave the radio out you can actually sit up under the dash and work that way which isn't as bad as some of the alternitives.
Make sure to color code your wires and make things disconnected at the firewall. Just becasue you "did it right" don't mean you wont be back up there again.
I installed a new blinker module when I redid the wiring and I tied it into the main hot wire. My thought was I wanted my emergency flashers to work with the truck off so I don't burn up points or the coil. But found out the dumb thing drains the battery, I think there's a problem with the micro circuit that keeps the in cab position light on. So I gotta fix that. Also my truck was converted to 12volts long ago which I kept. I planned on wiring up the heater through a resistor as it's better on the motor, well the motor don't turn on 6volt. It's either so wore out it needs the 12volts or it was converted too. SO don't ever say you wont be up there... And you never know what you may need down the road, air horns, brake controller etc.
As far as paint, I'd recommend it, but you'll have to hand brush it. Very hard to get a paint gun particularly a gravity fed up there.
