We are still asking: What did you get done on your Bolt today ????
The question, initially posted May 23, 2005, was:
"Whatcha do on your Bolt this weekend?"
After 51,906,997 views, 7378 replies over 185 pages, this thread in General Truck Talk is a happening! And it's not just weekends anymore.
Hi everyone. I'm restoring my 1949 3100. Someone down the line opted to take out the original radio and hack the dash up to put in an aftermarket radio. It looks like they cut the dash out to where the knob control pegs would have gone in. What are my options for repairing this besides buying a whole new dash?
Grease Monkey, Moderator General Truck Talk & Greasy Spoon
I have seen repair panels offered for the radio area. Maybe LMC or Chevys of the 40s. Check the catalogs, they’re out there.🛠
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne 4dr 230 I-6 one owner (I’m #2) “Emily” ‘39 Dodge Businessmans Coupe “Clarence”
"I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Grease Monkey, Moderator General Truck Talk & Greasy Spoon
Tim, it’s been several years ago and I really don’t remember who had them. I’ll keep looking.🛠
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne 4dr 230 I-6 one owner (I’m #2) “Emily” ‘39 Dodge Businessmans Coupe “Clarence”
"I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Without seeing a pic or two. As patch material: Use a radio delete plate which has the same thickness and curvature. Several have sold recently on Ebay for less than $20. or, of course, a donor dash piece from 47-53.
Watch out for careful drivers!!! I'm away on an ego trip. Will be back on Feb 30. I'm not an Auto Mechanic, but I play one on TV. I charge $0.02 for every opinion and I take Paypal. Plan B is always better than plan A, by definition. I recommend invoking MIL-T-FP41c when machining and fabricating I used to think beer was bad for me, so I gave up thinking. Sometimes no nonsense makes sense, in a sense. You can't teach a new dog old tricks. Honk if you're Amish
Depends on how much of the dash is missing and how talented your body man is. The dash in my truck had been cut up to add a larger radio. We were able to fabricate and shape a metal patch, which we welded in to fit very well and added a radio delete cover. Only by looking under the dash can the repair seam be seen. I am told complete dash replacement is a VERY big job as it is welded in.
I don't think anyone is talking complete dash install just for a radio patch. I assume they are asking "is buying a whole dash the only way to get a radio repair patch". It would be quite silly to replace the whole dash in my opinion. It is true that any part of any truck can be "made". But many folks are not that good at some shapes with DIY skills and can't afford a skilled body man. This area does not seem to be too difficult to "bend" a piece of sheet metal (computer tower) over a 55 gal drum or just use a piece of 55 gal drum. ......or something like that. Using a delete plate seems best to me. As I said, without seeing exactly what the damage is. P.S. I do not see a patch offered like TF and up have.
Watch out, Jerry has a wheelbarrow tub trick he may employ here.
BTW: old washers and dryers make good free sheet metal. Avoid the powder coated ones if you can.
Watch out for careful drivers!!! I'm away on an ego trip. Will be back on Feb 30. I'm not an Auto Mechanic, but I play one on TV. I charge $0.02 for every opinion and I take Paypal. Plan B is always better than plan A, by definition. I recommend invoking MIL-T-FP41c when machining and fabricating I used to think beer was bad for me, so I gave up thinking. Sometimes no nonsense makes sense, in a sense. You can't teach a new dog old tricks. Honk if you're Amish
If I had a hacked up dash, I'd take a couple of good/clear photos of my dash, showing enough of the dash so that the viewer sees what needs to be repaired/replaced.
Clearly mark the borders of the area of your dash that you want to replace. Make a paper template for the area you want, with "orientation markers" on a standard dash.
Post those photos here in "Parts Wanted". There are members here with unrestorable cabs/trucks, who might be willing to cut up their dash. Be ready to send your template to a responder who says they have clean cut-out area on their donor dash. The seller should send you clear photos of the dash area they intend to sell you. The seller should then make a copy of the template and return original template with the cut-out metal. That way the buyer/seller has a copy of what was ordered and what was bought/sent.
If I still lived in upstate NY, I'd first check with Bob Adler in Stephentown, NY - I do not know if he sells cut-outs, but I know he has a lot of 47-55 cabs.
I coulda sworn Wheelwright Restorations had a patch but I didn't see one there. I noticed that, if his product is being sold through a supplier, he takes it off of his web site. You might inquire to see if he makes a patch.