The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 47-53 dashes

Looking for some pictures of customized 47-53 dashes. Not wanting to copy anyone's work, just want to see what everyone has done. Im not 100% sure on what I want to do, so far my plan is: weld up the holes for the radio and weld in a filler panel where the center speaker cover/grill and ash tray was. So far Im keeping the glove box for storage reasons. Basically any holes not used will get filled. Another thing I was thinking of, since I have two 5" gauges (1 speedometer and 1 tachometer) in the stock gauge locations, I was going to mount my 4 smaller 2-1/8" gauges at a angle towards the driver were I weld in the speaker grill filler panel.

Then do I either paint the dash or cover it in vinyl...

For some reason or other all the photos I see in Classic truck and Custom Classic Truck of near original dashes have the speedometer and gauge positions swapped. I have no explanation for it.

I have 2 5" gauges for the speedo and tach, and have the other 4 where the speaker grill was. I fabricated a new panel and kept the original in case I wanted to chenge it back to original someday. See my photo bucket pictures.

Check out my photo bucket pics...I installed a wood insert.
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Tim

hey there WAPWALLOPEN PA

I'm keeping mine stock,but have you considered leather?

I know at least one 'bolter who has done this and it looks neat!

Hey Mick how's it going?




Thanks for the replies guys
fasteddie1017 that is something for me to consider. Probably alot easier and nerve racking than welding on the dash itself.

SW_radial the wood insert looks awesome and should definitely turn heads at the car shows.

leather is something to think about....



Maybe this weekend I will try mocking up the 4 smaller gauges. What Im afraid of is welding in my filler panel then messing up when I cut out the holes for the gauges. Maybe what I will try is just temporary screwing my patch panel to the dash and then cutting out the holes for the gauges, this way if I screw up I don't need to cut out and reweld in another panel. By the way, a spare bed side splash apron works great for this project, with a little flattening it has the same curve as the dash.

I did mine in leather, bought the hide on ebay for about $75 and had more than enough to do the dash and the back panel behind where the gas tank was. I have it on my photo page. Easiest project I did

I am going all stock with my truck, had to order a V8 temp unit to make it work with my 350 engine. check it out here http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/53monster/

truckernix, I didn't know a lot of people switched the gauges, but I did with mine because of the modern clutch/brake pedal installation. the speedo cable would have gotten mutilated in the original location.

Looks as if your hard work is beginning to pay off. Should be one sweeet ride. Keep us posted.

well, to each their own.........I find them h ard to beat with the stock dash and no mods.........just my opinion..

53monster,
thanks, that must be the reason why they do that.