I know there are different opinions about cutting the dash for a newer type radio and I know this has been discussed numerous times. However I would like to know does it truly effect the value and if so how much or is it just a preference thing. Also is this any different then relocating the fuel tank from behind the seat to under the bed? I cut my dash after struggling with my inner self for several days now I wonder if I screwed up. Has anyone ever repaired these cutouts with any type of success without replacing the entire dash? On another note I had the PO who is the son of the original owner call me today and ask if I wanted the protecto plate and the original radio...of course I said "HELL YES"

I'm also debating whether to cut the dash or not. I've searched for a original radio but no luck. Let me know if you want to get rid of the radio that you're getting. Randy

LawMan02,
I have an original radio (spare) that you can have for the cost of shipping. I used to Live in St. Francisville. I worked at Angola for a while. Just PM me is you want the radio.

The dash is cut in my truck(by po). However I have the center portion from an uncut dash if I want to return to original. I would have to find an AM/FM to return to original. Doubt that will happen because these things are not cheap.

Jason

I passed on three trucks that had the dash cut, there are newer radios that fit an uncut das that work and sound great. I would leave it alone. JMO

It's not a deal breaker to me, but I would rather it not be cut.

Wow, I've been going back and forth in my head about this subject since aquiring my truck. As a bonified GM muscle car nut, I have NEVER cut a dash on any car I've ever owned. I tend to fall in love with cars that are more stock than hot rodded but each one has required at least some modification to get it just like I want it. I kinda like the "period correct" thing with some vehicle's, but lately I've been wanting some better tunes.

I love my truck a lot and for a couple of months now I use it every day. I've shuttled the kids around in it, hauled stuff to the dumps, hauled bags of "pothole patch", pulled my daughter's horse trailer, and used it for grocery shopping. All these things are things I never do with a Chevelle or Camaro, and that makes me realize that I'm using this truck as a tool to get stuff done. And I am willing to modify a tool to make it easier to use. Hence, I have decided to cut the dash of this fine old truck and install a DIN CD player that is Sirius capable. I've settled on one that has two big knobs and "sorta" reminds me of an old style GM radio. What do you guy's think of my decision?

that radio does kinda remind me of the old style GM one heh I have a cut dash done by the guy I bought the cab from, I had an uncut one in my old one but I junked that and didnt think about the dash :doh: I would perfer having and uncut dash IMO but its not a deal braker.

Do those of you who refuse to cut the dash also refuse to relocate your gas tanks, lower your truck, or other major modification?

Do those of you who refuse to cut the dash also refuse to relocate your gas tanks, lower your truck, or other major modification?
yes!

and rick, that is one nice head unit! does the display show color, or is it black and white?

It is your truck do what you feel comfortable with. I went to the trouble of repairing the dash in my 70's cab to get it back to normal or at least close to it, but if I decide down the line that I want to go with a DIN style CD unit, I'll cut er. If you just want radio, to me there are way to many options that will fit into the stock area of dash where you won't need to cut. The big problem for cutting is decent speakers and what you do with them.

The way I see it is it's my truck so I will make it the way I wan't and not worry about what the next owner will want because I am not selling it for a long time.

Stock is stock and cut is not stock.

Maybe not so much a deal breaker as a bargining tool. ;)

All depends on what your looking for and the criteria your working within.

A dash can be repaired once cut if done properly and as long as the initial cut was clean.

Personally, I prefer an uncut dash. If I am looking to buy a truck and see a cut dash, I wonder what else has been hacked. There are alternatives with audio units that fit without modification to the dash, or in my case I mounted them in the glove box. So for me, a cut dash sends up a red flag.

Hey that’s a good fix vtblazer!!! The PO cut up the dash on my truck and I was thinking the only way to fix that would be to find good dash at the scrap yard and cut it out under the dash pad. That way, my crapy welding skills will be hidden by the dash pad when I put it all back together. At least I think that would work.

You cut the dash and NOW you want the original radio? :confused:

The PO cut up the dash on my truck and I was thinking the only way to fix that would be to find good dash at the scrap yard and cut it out under the dash pad.

One word of caution about doing it that way is this:
There is a metal strip spot welded onto the underside of the dash that are very hard to get off "cleanly" meaning not messing up the dash section your wanting to save (the one in your truck) is hard to do.
It's hard to explain but I started in that direction recently and decided not to do it because of those spot welds.

You cut the dash and NOW you want the original radio? :confused:

Might I suggest going easy here. :hmm:

Do those of you who refuse to cut the dash also refuse to relocate your gas tanks, lower your truck, or other major modification?

Yup :)

It was a wrench to install bucket seats or not, even though it was an original option...

Do those of you who refuse to cut the dash also refuse to relocate your gas tanks, lower your truck, or other major modification?

I think an original radio in the dash with a hidden system is slick. It's not about factory correctness for me, I just like the classic look with modern audio skills. I'm doin other mods, just prefer dash left alone . Whatever you put in there after cutting will eventually be dated. The original radio will never stop being classy.

Guess it all comes down to your intentions....I didnt want the dash cut in my truck (am planning to use a AM/FM original radio)...but I had no problems relocating the gastank and cutting into the fleetside fender to do so. I really dont plan to sell this truck anytime soon, so i could careless if I damaged the resale value, but I just couldnt take the idea of 20+ gallons of gas within inches of me. I may end up getting a better stereo system and if so, will most likely be of a remote type thing and the stock radio will be a back up/decoy. Anything can be fixed with either time/money -or- both!!!!
HAVE FUN, in the end, that's what it's all about.

My Camaro, bought from the little old lady next door, is unmolested and will remain that way until the day I die!

My truck was a pile when I bought it and I have absolutely no qualms about hacking it up, lol!

I guess I'm Jeckyl & Hyde on this issue!

personally, i'm still running a shaft mount radio, but i've taken the ash tray out
and replaced with an equalizer/booster.cutting the dash dousn't make much diff to me.i probably will when my radio goes up.

as far as the gas tank? you can't be doused with gasoline if you arre in an accident with the tank under the bed.however, this is just my opinion.

I cut mine for the DIN size unit. Much more convenient and easier to get to than the glove box mounting. Done correctly, it does not detract from the appearance but that's obviously just my opinion. Newer DIN style radio/CD combos are far superior in performance than any shaft mount stereo ever available. I also lowered mine, relocated the gas tank, put a fuel door in the bedside, welded up the antenna hole and made other modifications too numerous to count.

Now, my 1970 Mach 1, was restored with only bolt on options and no cutting other than the Shelby upper control arm relocation to improve handling.

I'm all for cutting!!!!!!!! :)

The dash is the only thing on my truck that hasn't been cut up, so I figure I might as well make it match with my dremel. AM sucks too bad to want to keep it stock around here.

Anyone have any pics of a "properly" modified dash and a good looking unit installed ??

I don't think mine looks that bad. You can see a little of the old radio cutout on the left. If a guy wanted to get rid of that you could probably make a plate to go behind the radio.

The dash doesnt show the orange peel in person like that one pic does. :(

yes!

and rick, that is one nice head unit! does the display show color, or is it black and white?

I haven't recieved it yet but I believe the display is white. If it sounds good, you'll be able to hear me singin'....I found it for $159 plus shipping on Ebay.

I guess I don't see what the big deal is about cutting a dashboard. If its your truck, you do what you want with it. The PO of my truck put in a cheap cassette/AM FM radio in the stock holes, and it looks way worse than cutting the dash to put in newer radio.
And besides, a custom AM/FM radio for these old trucks is what, 180 dollars or more? I can buy a badarse CD/Radio for that, and possibly universal mount speakers, too. Just my thoughts on this. I'd cut the dash anyday

I cut the dash on my sons' 69, back in '99. He wanted a din-sized unit with a CD player, so there was no option for us. I used a Dremel Tool, and sized the cut with the sleeve that the radio (a Jensen) slid into. When I sold his (my) truck, the prospective owner never flinched at the opening. He could see that it was not butchered....and, it wasn't.

As for the past, I've seen so many dashes that have been butchered when the owners would mount, or just try in some cases, to install a radio that never was intended to fit. Anyone with a few years under their belt, will recall the factory radios that Ford used in '55, which had a round face/dial. I have seen that radio, installed in a 55-59 Chevy pick up dash. Not good. At least in todays' lifestyles, we have some standardization in radios, with DIN and Double-DIN being the majority of the offerings from various manufacturers.

Any job that is worth doing, is worth doing well. If you want to install a DIN-sized radio, then by all means go ahead an do it. I have one more double-shaft Pioneer, that will fit my '69. When it takes a crap, I'll see what's on the market and make my decision at that time. If I can adapt a Sirius/XM tuner to my Pioneer and and make it work, it'll happen. I'll just use a Dremel Tool and carefully plan my cut, then make it happen. It will look good, and the DIN-sized radio will fit and look very nice.

I cut and filled the radio knob inpressions. Before I did the paint. The cut looks awesome. It looks stock and not hacked up. I would NEVER want only AM/FM in my truck.

If you do a real clean instalation,,,,I wouldnt mind...Take your time!!!Make it look factory!!!
NO BEST BUY JOB!:barf: :barf:

Mine's not cut and I plan to keep it that way.

Anyone care to list and/or post some pics of the radios that fit in the stock dash opening?

The dash is not cut on my Longhorn......but this is only 'cause I have not spent the cash for a good system! IMO, these old trucks are not going to pull the bucks as the old muscle cars do (for stock resto). after chopping the top 4", channelling the body 1 1/2", dropping suspension, shaving, adding a steel tilt clip......I guess cutting the dash would be a moot point;) Anybody want my stock dash? He!!, I dont think its worth anything.......but if you have some bucks, I will cut her out:lol: Too much yackin.....its your truck, build it how you like it.....:crazy: L

Hell yeahs brother! :metal:

You can see a little of the old radio cutout on the left.
i cut out the holes and welded sheetmetal there. it looks way better this way.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/matthufham/forum/100_0752Small.jpg

[QUOTE=matthufham]i cut out the holes and welded sheetmetal there. it looks way better this way.

Yeah, that's what I did too.

your truck is beautiful, again (can't say that enough).

That looks great Mocwon...where did you get the aluminum bezel and glove box?

That looks great Mocwon...where did you get the aluminum bezel and glove box?
if i remember, they're custom made

Yeah, but if your "Runnin down the road, trying to loosen your load" and want to skip a song ar change the station, you have to:
A:Have a friend switch it, if theres a friend with you.
B:Pull over and switch it
C:Suffer through the pain of crappy music or commercials.
Therefore, I will cut my dashboard.

To cut or not to cut that was an easy answer for me. I hate to see anyone with a good cab cut the dash. When I see that I think of my kids or grandkids cussing me when they attempt to restrore it much as we would cus someone who bought a 56 chevy to turn it into a dirt track car!!! We used theis route... no idea where to get on Disturbed Koncepts gave us ours. The only dash we cut was the 1ton truck bc the dash in it already looked like crap.

no balls!!! cut the dash!!! lol. if it bothers you just put it somewhere else: glovebox, center console.... but this is coming from a guy who relocated the gas tank, lowered it, and i dont have much money for new trim and marker lights so i shaved them off. i was gonna lose the heater box too off the firewall too cause i needed another one but luckily my friend got me one.lol. later...

tom

I've had this one for eight years.. 22 watts X 4 channels.. It works great in an uncut dash.. I purchased one of the mp3 players that plugs into the cigar lighter, and it takes care of the digital needs.

That looks great Mocwon...where did you get the aluminum bezel and glove box?

Here's the website:

http://www.jjengineering.us/products/products.htm

The owner's name is Javier Sanchez, a really nice guy to deal with.

Here is mine cut and primed . You dont see the gap on top once the trim ring in installed.

If you want to cut it then cut it if you have doubts then don't cut it or weld in the filler plate..

I've had this one for eight years.. 22 watts X 4 channels.. It works great in an uncut dash.. I purchased one of the mp3 players that plugs into the cigar lighter, and it takes care of the digital needs.

How does that MP3 cig lighter set-up perform? Does it sound good ?

Yeah, but if your "Runnin down the road, trying to loosen your load" and want to skip a song ar change the station, you have to:
A:Have a friend switch it, if theres a friend with you.
B:Pull over and switch it
C:Suffer through the pain of crappy music or commercials.
Therefore, I will cut my dashboard.

One word: Remote :)

One word: Remote :)
bingo

How does that MP3 cig lighter set-up perform? Does it sound good ?

I'm happy with it. I didn't expect much for thirty bucks. Before I was using a mini-disc player through a casette adapter. This sounds better, and is much more convenient.

I think you guys know my opinion:lol:

but this is coming from a guy who relocated the gas tank, lowered it, and i dont have much money for new trim and marker lights so i shaved them off.

tom


Thats a hot rodders way of "fixing up" an old truck. lol I was going to do the same thing with my lights but got some new ones for x-mas.

I have a vision for you guys...how about a GM touch screen nav system? I want to remove the ashtray. Cut a big chunk out as wide as the indent on the factory location and weld in a filler panel smooth it all out....cut it again to the size needed for the nav. Install the radio with stuff from the junkyard and fabed. Polished trim ring all the way around the radio with allen bolts countersunk. XM and gps pucks where the stock speaker would go under the dash. Should work through the windshield. Anyone done a double din size?

My Son and I have been discussing this one. I have seen the butchered ones just to install a cassette or an old F**D radio in there and that sucks. I think that to properly "modify" the dash to install a modern standard sized DIN unit would be acceptable, I don't like it but, many of us make modifications to improve the truck. My son does not want to modify the dash and I see his point also, but what better place to put the new unit than where it is easiest to use ??? The debate goes on......

i just remembered jayspot.com, forgot the owner, he took a radio delete, and hinged it, hiding a new radio.

http://www.jayspot.com/images/truck/radio-1.jpg
http://www.jayspot.com/images/truck/radio-2.jpg
http://www.jayspot.com/images/truck/radio-3.jpg
http://www.jayspot.com/pages/67gmc-int.html

i like that hinge idea but with my luck id break it.

need to put cupholders on the inside of the delete plate.

I have a vision for you guys...how about a GM touch screen nav system? I want to remove the ashtray. Cut a big chunk out as wide as the indent on the factory location and weld in a filler panel smooth it all out....cut it again to the size needed for the nav. Install the radio with stuff from the junkyard and fabed. Polished trim ring all the way around the radio with allen bolts countersunk. XM and gps pucks where the stock speaker would go under the dash. Should work through the windshield. Anyone done a double din size?

I guess I am in two camps. I like the nostalgic look with unseen technology, and I also like ultra-modified stuff. The first style is what I'm doing with my Burb, thus my previous post. The second is where I'm taking the '61. It's smoothed and I'm going to put an LCD in there. It has to be one extreme or the other for me. :metal: Here's the '61 dash:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/61%20C5%20PU/P1010006.jpg

is that all metal? it looks super duper none the less.

All metal and a skim coat of filler. There used to be holes next to the column too.

I see a few comments I highly agree with, First I would cut my dash mainly because I have dealt with radios under the seat, in the glove box, laying in the middle of the floor. My opinion is as someone else stated these trucks will never be worth anything like a 68 Comaro RS or 56 thunderbird etc unless you happen to be the original owner and your name is Prince Charles. Installing an aftermarket player in the dash so that it looks clean looks every bit as good as an original but sounds 10X better. I have seen on this post guys who would not cut their dash to put the CD there but instead they welded a plate in the glove box and installed the player there. I would buy the truck with the modified dash before buying the one who just made the glove box useless so now I have to put everything under the seat or take the $hit out of the mail box. My truck is far from stock but other than seeing a rake to it, different wheels/Tires and engine noise nobody except a person knowing these trucks and is a fanatic about it being totally stock knows the difference, and the fanatic isnt going to like that late model truck seat or Grand Prix buckets in their either. I personally think that the Blazer gas tanks in the rear or these trucks look rediculas, you see this big ass bulge hanging down in the rear(kinda reminds me of my kids when they where babies and filled their diapers full of $hit), it looks far more unnatural than cutting up a dash to install a nice radio or DVD setup.

It certainly hurts the originality, which affects the value if the truck is otherwise stock. If the truck is custom all over, no one's going to worry about a cut dash. If it's a very stock truck like a Cheyenne, then IMHO cutting the dash is a *bad plan*.

I plan to leave my stock radio in place but upgrade the speaker a bit. Long live AM radio!!! :)

Bill Lattimer
billla@warbird.org
1972 C10 LWB

This is really cool!!!

I'm working on something similar for for my plane. I'll have an original radio panel in the bird that pulls out to reveal a modern radio stack. At a show, it all looks correct and I get the benefit of modern radios in the air.

My truck isn't anywhere near stock but for some reason I just couldn't cut the dash. I decided to go with the custom autosound deck with a 10 disc cd changer. So far I'm glad I went this way but it isn't finished yet.

http://images.snapfish.com/3459236%3C7%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3258%3E388%3E352%3EWSNRCG%3D32334272%3A7%3C68nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/3459236%3C7%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3258%3E388%3E352%3EWSNRCG%3D32334272%3A7%3C66nu0mrj

I've cut the dash on both of my Chevy's. I'm not worried about resale value, these trucks won't be leaving our family. As a weird side note, when I removed the plastic trim from my 70 Coronet, the hole in the dash was a perfect fit for my din mount stereo.

I guess I am in two camps. I like the nostalgic look with unseen technology, and I also like ultra-modified stuff. The first style is what I'm doing with my Burb, thus my previous post. The second is where I'm taking the '61. It's smoothed and I'm going to put an LCD in there. It has to be one extreme or the other for me. :metal: Here's the '61 dash:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/61%20C5%20PU/P1010006.jpg


Nice work on that dash, let me know how your install goes. I'd like to see how it mouts in there.

OK where did you get the killer looking dash and glove box door?


http://images.snapfish.com/3459236%3C7%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3258%3E388%3E352%3EWSNRCG%3D32334272%3A7%3C66nu0mrj[/QUOTE]

I got them from no limit. Heres another pic.

http://images.snapfish.com/34592%3A2%3A4%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3258%3E388%3E352%3EWSNRCG%3D32334275883%3B%3Anu0mrj

do you have a link to their website?

This is it...they advertise alot in Classic Trucks & Custom Classic Trucks Magazines...they also have alot of tech articles in them from this shop...http://www.nolimit.net/

Do those of you who refuse to cut the dash also refuse to relocate your gas tanks, lower your truck, or other major modification?
You bet ya! ORIGINAL is where it is at for me. By all means this is not slamming anyone, I still respect other peoples choices to do what they need to get it done or look good. I love ORIGINAL but I like it when people change it too.

matthufman : I dig that idea of the hidden HU using the radio delete but can not figure out what he used for the hinge part of it any ideas.I would dod this mod in a HEARBEAT CHevy HEARTBEAT NO DOUBT:lol:

I have a vision for you guys...how about a GM touch screen nav system? I want to remove the ashtray. Cut a big chunk out as wide as the indent on the factory location and weld in a filler panel smooth it all out....cut it again to the size needed for the nav. Install the radio with stuff from the junkyard and fabed. Polished trim ring all the way around the radio with allen bolts countersunk. XM and gps pucks where the stock speaker would go under the dash. Should work through the windshield. Anyone done a double din size?


that's the way i was going. i wanted that original indent to stretch on down to the a/c controls, gently slanting back out at the bottom. if the po hadn't cut the dash, i'd say leave it stock, but since it's already done, what the hell. it seems it would be just as easy to repair the hole no matter which one was done. i just can't decide whether to use a salvaged (or new) system from gm, or whether i should just build my own our of a computer. more possibilities with the computer, and probably less expensive. anyone have any idea what a unit from gm would cost, new or salvage?

on that note, i understand microsoft may be working on an automotive comp. system, called the "t-box" since so many guys have been building their own out of pcs and mac minis. that's microsoft for you, wrecking everyone's homemade fun...

the tough part is convincing the wife. she's a purist, and wants the original radio. it'll be a hard sell...