swaping dashes

[sandmanb]

i was wondering how hard or how easy it is to swap out dashes on an fsj? i'm geting ready to build my truck from a body of an 87 j-10 and the driveline of a j-20. probaly swaping bodyies instead of drivelines. i dont like the late model dash. i would like to use an early model dash with the round gauges instead of the square ones. i will also be replacing the windshield so thats not a concern. how much wireing will be involved? ect?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Swap in the whole dash and wireing harness it will be a bolt in. Wireing is quite different as a lot of switches and heater controls are in different locations so get the whole deal and swap it in. ;)

[Rogue]

open hood, unbolt wiring harness from fusebox on engine side of firewall, locate and disconnect vacuum lines for heater controls quadratrac etc, go inside unbolt steering column, remove gauge panel or if can reach from underneath remove speedo cable from gauge panel, pull fusebox loose from firewall, four bolts held my metal dash to A-pillar frames will have to get from underneath ( air ratchets and long extension worth their weight in gold here ) , i've read other posts about windshield interference !?!??!?!? had no probs here with that, i pulled metal dash out with dashpad and all electrical wires etc etc attached, all parts can be swapped onto new dash on bench top a lot easier than afterwords, you may have a few loose wires here and there that my 74 didn't, cool thing about pulling my dash is i found a missing grommet where the antennae coax comes through the A-pillar the source of a water leak for me, good luck

[Lindel]

I think what Crazy is saying, is that you'll have to swap the "entire" dash, not just the instrument panel.

The dash for the 87 is mostly plastic, and completely integrated, as far as defroster, heater, glovebox, etc.

It will go in, but will take a massive amount of disassembly/reassembly.