Swapping in entirely different dashes?

Ok... What do I look for when I am looking for a dash to swap in?

I am currently looking at a Ford Focus dash + consel. Do I have to check the steering colum distances and all of that or is it possible to make most dashes fit? What are the other main problems?

Any info would be great.

Zac

Dude.










Do you have A.D.D.?

Because, You can get help for that you know.


Regardless, I'd imagine you can make most anything fit. Come to think of it though, most steering columns should come within pretty close to each other, they're all on the right side, correct? I'd just invest in a tape measure, and go at it. Remember you'll also have to adapt the guages or go with aftermarket ones, which = P.I.A.

Good luck.

Lol... just wondering if there is a standard or approx. to the steering colums and if I would have to cut most of the original supports out cause there in the way and all. Is it ok to cut everything out and basically start from scratch when mounting a new dash?

Just worried about if I did get one and cut it all so it fit nice, how would I trim all the cut edges to make it nice... How about extending areas that are too short? Fiberglass..?

Zac

lol....A.D.D...hahaha

yeah lets make fun of the kid askin questions on our forums...good idea

LOL... It was only a joke, I don't care... don't worry about it.

Zac

What to look for in a dash when doing a swap?

Probably another stock dash in the colour you want.

Your biggest problems for making any other non-B series dashes fit will be length,width,height and electricals. Our dashes are really small and actually quite easy to remove and install. If you get something from say a Focus,like you mentioned,you've got the airbags to worry about,then the Ford wiring which definetly won't work,and not to mention that the dash is so long compared to a B series,your speedometer would be sitting in your lap and your steering wheel would be up your nose.

And the fact that the dash will most likely be wider,you would probably have to cut it in half and mold it back together,which really isn't worth the trouble.

If you really want to go custom with your dash,use your stock one as a mold or a base and go crazy with fiberglass or sheetmetal or something. As for gauges,there are all sorts of aftermarket gauges out there you can use to replace the stock ones. You could go all digital,or use Autometer gauges for everything,or I even know of a guy in Toronto called Black Cat Customs and he makes custom gauge faces using your original as a template. This is the guy that does all the gauges on Tuner Transformation.

I want to find something simmilar in size as not to have to cut it up - and the guage cluster opening is large enough to use the factory mazda cluster set in behind. that way I know all my guages will function properly.

if nothing else. Sawzall's and fiberglass are always good. That's what I recommend. Find one you like, and make it fit. That's all I meant man. I was just saying most left hand drive dashes should be close.

But no, I don't know of anyone who's swapped out the dash entirely. I don't see anything wrong with the stock one! I like it!

all of my guages work!
hand made sheetmetal w micro fiber dash.