Removable Sheetmetal Dash How-To

Edited: 6/21/2011 8:51:53 PM by Maztang

I got an order from a guy out of California to build a dash and door panels for an 88-98 bodystyle Silverado. Being in Texas, I had to get a cab to do this. Luckily my good friend Travis at Overspray Customs has many of these at his disposal haha. He had a 99 Supercrew already ripped apart so we decided to use it. After getting started I found that the only difference in the dash mounting is the steering column location. The 99' is over about an inch so I had to compensate for that, however, this is a step by step how to on a sheetmetal dash. There are many, many different ways to tackle this project, this is how I did it.

First things first, the stock style dash that will be getting replaced.

Dakota Digital gauges that will be installed

The 99' cab that I am using to build off of...

Framing with 1/4" Cold Rolled steel

Original mount locations used my bead roller and sheetmetal brake for this..

Radio mount

More frame work done and radio mount installed

Now this was a little tricky due to the trucks having different steering column locations. Lots and lots of measuring and test fitting in an 88-98 that Travis had at his house...

But she fits like a champ...

Next begins the sheetmetal work. I only have a 30" 3 in 1 shear brake and roll so I have to do what I have to do. If you have access to a 6 ft brake you could make this all out of one pice and that will also cut down on welding. Mine is going to be a little different then most though, I will have more pics up as the project continues...



Steering column location cut out of the sheetmetal and gauges located...

Cut out where I needed to with a hole saw and then cut the straight lines with a cutting wheel

Gauges fit in like a champ

More to come soon...

Edited: 6/21/2011 9:43:12 PM by toreadorxlt

Zillion times cleaner than my attempt! looks great so far. Plans to make the dash vents or defrost vents integrate with the factory blower box?

I did this same exact build for my truck using the stock mounting locations and roundbar... deja vu. watch out because you're going to have a ton of column hanging out... I ended up taking 3" out of my column.

Work look great, what are the going prices for a sheet metal dash like what you are doing? JIMMY

Thanks boss. The owner doesn't want any vents on the front of it but there will be defrost vents. There is still a lot to go on this beast, I have some pretty sweet ideas that I have never seen done in a dash before.

--------------------------------------------

soccorjimmy said:

Work look great, what are the going prices for a sheet metal dash like what you are doing? JIMMY

--------------------------------------------

I estimated this one at $1800 gauges not included.

Got some bead rolling done, and a few defrost vents started. Stay tuned.

nice keep up the killer work

Thanks boss.

Did a little more over the last couple days, this project is taking so long because I work a fulltime job and do this on the side.

Got the defrost vents in the center pretty much done, still gotta do the vents for the passenger side and driver side.

What the vent looks like up close, it looks like the metal below is floating under the skin in person.

Here they are

Here is what I have started tonight. The owner is keeping the original 4"X6" speakers in the top of the dash so I will be making a sweet grille for it. The speaker will mount from the bottom of the dash so that you will see no hardware, only a sweet speaker grille. I don't have a pic of it yet because it is not done but this piece on the passenger side will be the metal for it.

how much would you do just a simple rolled dash for a 93 yota? looking at getting just the rolled shell and ill add the gauges and stuff myself.