Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

After many hours of pulling hair out and staring at my dash...I was cutting it ,..and then I wasn't...then I was...well now for SURE I am not. I have made a fiberglass stereo head unit cowl that will conform to the dash right under the heater controls. It's formed up now and I'm on the way to go get more resin. My 71' has the original uncut dash and was a Radio Delete Truck so my cowl has no antenna hole in it. Just didn't seem right to cut the dash, when nothing else has been cut to put this modern stereo in. Pics...coming soon!

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

congrats on the decicion. post pics when you can.
ondrew

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

:wop:

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

Good decision.
Shane

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

glad you did not cut it. mine is in the glovebox with a built housing covered to match the interior

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

As the Beatles said.....but with sarcasm now...Yeah Yeah Yeah....LOL!!! :agree:

Pics???? OK ....I'll go get the camera!

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

So heres the 1st stage. The piece came from my Yukon console. The console was so big I took the back off of in and this piece is cut from it. It was originally for the rear seat DVD player. So I cut the single DIN area from it . It then needed a top and bottom formed back to it and...yes if you look close I formed the bottom with frozen pizza box cardboard and hot glue. Then 3 layers of resin and fiberglass mat. Still gots to do the top and then sand and bondo filler to a smooth finish, and paint torch red the match. The top will have a small change hold area. More pics as the progress wheels move! :aiiet:

1st pic: as it will sit under dash,
2nd pic: strenghtening the inside creating the bottom
3rd pic: upside down FB and resin bottom

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

I like that idea,though I'm not totally against cutting the dash.Depends on the truck to me.While a hienz like mine doesn't matter,it would be a shame to cut an original unmolested rig.

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

Can't wait to see it finished

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

Not cutting the dash....you got my vote:metal:

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

:agree: :cong:

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

Good idea not to cut the dash. Im installing an highliner with speakers and a place for my C/D player. Not as unique but alot quicker.

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

Thanks guys...I really never felt good or comfortable about the idea of cutting the dash see how this truck has never been cut on anywhere. I swear this truck must have been in storage for a long long time, and nothing ever was put in the bed other than leaves. There is not one dent in the bed swb floorboard, truly amazes me!

Anyway here is the progress with fiberglass top and bottom done and bondo-ed up. I ran out of sand paper otherwise the top would be sanded smooth like the bottom is. I'm no bondo expert and probably put too much on, but it will be smooth when I finish sanding, LOL! :b69:

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

Good idea I have the same problem, my truck is also radio delete.:metal:

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

I have seen Alex's truck in person and I can verify that it is one of the niceest unmolested trucks ever! The bed is the best original I've ever seen!

Great work Alex....the new radio mount will look sweet! You are getting real good with that fiberglass! :)

Re: Not cutting Dash!!! My alternative creation...
 

Thanks Larry....ya gotta stop by or I gotta get by to your shop/house too!!!
Thanks for the kind words everyone.