Joe - folks need to know if it's a 41-46 style [47 1st series or Deco style] or a 48-54 style [47 2nd or Advance Design] .... there's an assembly manual at most vendors for the AD series, I've never seen one for the Deco series
if you have the skills/patience or can afford to hire it done, it's always best to work with original metal, but if things are too rough 2nd choice is find some good used, just takes looking and waiting, the Parts Wanted forum here can work .... repro patch panels will take some amount of fitting, but are usually reasonable quality and workable .... not sure on your year if the dash is bolted in, a lot of series they're welded in, too much work unless you really need to replace it
Bill
