dash swap

[ibnfe]

Anybody know if the dash from a 78 Chero' will fit in a '85 GW? Thanks.

Greg

[FSJ Thing]

It should fit. I've never tried to, but according to my Childrens manuals, they look like they should mount in the same places. Let me know if they don't.

[mark]

how hard is it to remove one?ill prolly keep the one in my 79.

[tomd]

Can i just remove my dash and leave my instrument cluster/heater controls on my 74? Everything else on the inside is stripped, so why not?

[FSJeeper]

The dash is a PITA to remove. There are screws under the winshield gasket that have to come out to get it off. Plan on having a lot of patience.

I am taking my dash completly out and may be using the original dash cluster mounted to the rollcage for a while until I get my gauge situation figured out. You will have to find a way to support your steering column if you take the dash out.

[tomd]

oh yah, forgot about the stupid steering column, not that it would be that hard to make a support.

[FSJeeper]

I just took mine out. This one was easy. The PITA Torx screws under the windshield gasket were not frozen.

If you take the lower steering column support off the dashboard (It is spot welded), you will have the same amount of support with that piece without the dash. I just checked it out. I will be tieing mine into my rollcage, but you would not have to.

[turtle jim]

I changed the dash in my '69 to a '76.Perfect fit.Easiest way is to remove the windshield.While you're at it,permanently cover the defrost openings with screen wire to keep the small stuff you throw on the dash everyday from disappearing.You can't do this with the windshield in place.The only difference I saw was where the steering columm fit.'69 columm is smaller diameter and could be made to work in a '76 dash,but a '76 columm won't fit in a '69 dash.Also,the wing windows in the '69 will no longer open when the doors are closed.The padding on the '76 dash gets in the way.Newer wing windows have less of a point to clear the dash.Heater and defrost controls are all about the same and can be made to work easily.The fresh air vent controls on the"new"dash will fit the old vents.I had to rewire the dash electric plug to match the'76 instruments,but then it just plugged right in.I see no other reason different years won't interchange.The dash itself will fit.There's nothing really difficult about this swap,it's just tedious and time consuming.

[TexasJ10]

An interesting discussion concerning the VIN plate attached to your dash is underway in the For Sale section of the forum under the title of "Is this Legal". Before swapping you may to check local laws concerning the transfer of the VIN plate that is rivited to the corner of the dash.