Xlhowie

Hey guys, I am back on the restor project after a winter hiatus. I am trying to install a steering column I received via the forum and doesn't seem to be long enough, or my dash is incorrect. Can someone look at the pics and tell me everything they see wrong???? It's a 68 S and I don't see a whole for the glovebox either. I am thinking the first builder changed the dash out!!! Please help, any suggestions? I tried putting the dash plate with guages in and the steering column is too wide for the cutout on the dash plate.
thx, Howie

scr8p

he didn't change it, he filled everything in.

gonna have to get a new dash. or try to remove all of the "custom work" and save your original.

Beob

Wow looks like removed dash then customized the frame. The pics show what the original dash frame should look like

Beob

PIA doin this from iPhone

Xlhowie

It is so different from original, the custom shop must have had some plan in mind. I am at a loss. Any Ideas? thx Howie

Xlhowie

I bought the car with this dash installed. The custom shop went bankrupt years ago and has since left the state and went to Texas..... warrants issued if you know what I mean. ANY idea on what car this dash is from? thx, Howie

allyolds68

Maybe look at the VIN in the dash and see what it's from. If they took that much time to modify the dash maybe they just took it out of a Chevelle or something and never changed the VIN.

Xlhowie

I am not sure. If I compare it to the pic BEOB sent me, it looks significantly different. Even where the column comes out, looks way wider than his pic. I am guessing another car model. Any ideas? thx, Howie

Xlhowie

VIN is a 68 S, for sure. I have had it titled by DMV and they had to inspect it. But, doesn't mean the VIN wasn't re-rivited on this dash. I am hoping someone will say, hey thats a 69 chevelle or something. I have found that the rear end is out of a 69 chevelle,,,, frame possibly is newer as it has "tow holes" in it. I am stumped. Thx, Howie

allyolds68

I did a quick check on Google Images and I didn't see any 68-72 dash in Chevelle or GTO that's even close

scr8p

you can tell it's a 68 dash, most likely the original. they just filled in the glove box door and the lower trim where the radio, gauges, ignition, and all the rest mounts to. the upper pad will probably bolt right on...... all by itself.

if i had to guess, they didn't butcher it. just welded sheet metal to it to get the desired effect they were going for. if it was removed carefully, you could probably save the dash. if you can't, go find a parts car somewhere and cut the dash out of it. i wouldn't install the whole thing though, that way you don't have to transfer vin plates around. just replace what is needed.

allyolds68

I initially thought that was probably the case but at the very least they grafted a completely different lower portion to it

m371961

Builder was most likely going to install aftermarket column, as offered by Flaming River

oggie442

Can you lay on the floor and look at back side of the dash to see what they did ?

Xlhowie

Xlhowie

Xlhowie

OK here are pics, kinda looks like he filled in areas. I hope these pics help. I couldnt get my fat head up in there LOL. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Howie

Xlhowie

allyolds68

Cut all the custom crap out and get a donor 68 dash and weld it in. You're never going to figure out what the guy building it had in mind unless you can talk to him.

Beob

Here's a close up of the column area

scr8p

i still think you could dissect what was done to the face of the dash and put it back to original. the top looks like it's gonna be the tough part. going by some of the welding marks, as well as the fact that the speaker grill is visible from the bottom but not the top, and with the rows of holes for the defroster, i would assume they welded sheet metal over top of the dash most likely because it was rotted across the lower windshield. the area where the wiper trans bolts to the cowl would prove that point since it's smoothed off.

no matter what you do, you will be opening up a can of worms, but something needs to be done.

where are you located?

Xlhowie

I am looking at the pic beob sent. The dash looks way different. The one he sent has a rounded bottom below the steering column. Mine is concave or recessed. It makes the steering column way too short. I am scratching my head. I may end up taking it to a custom shop that is metal workers. I'm a wrench bender and horrible with a welder. LOL
I see that there are lots of rework that was done. I wish I even knew one of the workers from the old Tampa custom shop, I'd ask them if they had a plan,,,,,

Xlhowie

I am 25 miles East of Tampa Florida, any recommendations?

oggie442

Will your gauge cluster still fit ?

Xlhowie

No, not even close.

oggie442

How about your dash pad ? Does it cover all the holes ?
You could go with after market gauges like Auto meter in the holes in dash pad.

2blu442

I agree with allyolds68, cut everything out and install good used dash support metal putting it back to stock format. I think that will save you headaches trying to make this work. There's several members here who have parts cars with what you need.


John

oggie442

It all depends on how original do you want it ?
You could have someone cut it out and replace with another dash, if you can find a shop to do it. Any Street Rod Garages down There ?
How much will cost to replace the dash ? Verse a set of gauges ?
You could get Speedo, Tach, and cluster of 4 (fuel, water, oil, alt) for around $700.
It looks like it has after market wire harness any way ? (Yes ?)
Yeah you might have to drill few holes for headlight switch, wiper switch, and cut hole for heater control, and always hide radio under dash.

Xlhowie

I found a guy local that has 100 old olds in his garage, wow, what a collection. He said I can cut out one of his dash's and keep all of it including gauges for $600. Now, this is a little beyond my expertise. Where do ya cut???? What do I cut out and do I leave overlap, or what? Anyone with experience in this? thx, Howie

Xlhowie

It does have an aftermarket 22 circuit wiring harness. So,,,,, getting stock equipment and gauges to run with this harness may be an issue also. Man, am I stumped. I feel like the USS Enterprise,,, going where I've never gone before

allyolds68

It's not easy to remove and you'll lively hack the whole front end trying to do it. He's taking advantage of you charging you $600. I'll bet one of the guys on here that part cars out will charge you a lot less even after they remove it and ship it to you. You're going to have to remove the plastic and pad before you start cutting. You're not going to get it out in all one piece. For that kind of money it better have a mint A/C dash pad


BTW, don't you already have the dash plastic and pad?

allyolds68

I can probably get this one fairly reasonably if it's still in the yard around me (it's from a 69). I don't know what the base of the windshield is like but I doubt you would need it unless you're going for the perfect repair

Xlhowie

I thought they were different. I have the plastic face plate and radio face plate, glove box door, that's it.

Xlhowie

I would cut it just above the dash pad holes???

Beob

If u r not good with wiring definitely get an original harness. Will save u a lot head scratching. A good used one should be fine.
Too bad u can't figure out what was done, the original frame might still be intact under all that. Any way u can find an olds guy in your area to come to your place and check it out.

allyolds68

68 and 69 dash metal are the same. 68 dash plastic is different than 69 because of the ignition in the dash vs the column. 69 may have an extra vent hole but I don't think so.


You have enough good dash left that I would consider just patching the correct stuff back with a donor piece. Like scr8p previously said, I think they just laid metal over the top of the dash and tacked it in to cover the upper part of the dash where the speaker area is.


I'd try to patch just below the dash pad holes where the dash pad will cover the joint


It very hard to tell what to do without seeing it in person

Xlhowie

I took the best pics I could. This guy here is an expert but I'm sure he wouldn't come out. I am realizing that the wiring harness installed is geared toward an aftermarket set of gauges. I will look at it again and see if I can just cut out the junk and re-do what I have,,,,thx, Howie

Xlhowie

Here are a couple pics from the top. Looks like I need to change out quite a bit. Does it look like they installed a certain aftermarket dash?? Vent holes are different, speaker hole is missing, small indentations on front edge by window edge missing. Maybe somebody will recognize thie dash??? fingers crossed

allyolds68

Isn't the old dash metal right under it? I thought I saw the old speaker grates in one of the pics from underneath


Edit:


This one, upper left

natedrag

No such thing that I have ever heard of. They slapped some tin on, welded it, little body filler and sprayed it. You're hoping you can just buy the rest of the pieces to bolt in, cause they "had a plan", well, unfortunately NO....