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It looks like my 62 was originally equipped with a radio. There's an antenna mounted on the cowl and an original speaker/grill on the dash.
I would guess that someone installed an aftermarket stereo at some point in the past. Speaker holes were cut in the doors and some wiring run. All I have left now are the holes and this opening in the dash, which is 4 5/8" x 3":
Does anyone know if this is the original opening? The edges are pretty rough, but I've never seen an aftermarket stereo with these dimensions. (Maybe an old 8-Track went in there?)
If original, I'd love to find a replacement. If not, it would appear the my only option is to weld this opening up and start over. I dislike welding inside the cab--is the dash removable? A diagram in the manual under the Body Construction and Sealing section seems to indicate that it is, but I don't see a procedure for taking it out. Perhaps it's not possible without disassembly of the entire cab?
It looks like my 62 was originally equipped with a radio. There's an antenna mounted on the cowl and an original speaker/grill on the dash.
I would guess that someone installed an aftermarket stereo at some point in the past. Speaker holes were cut in the doors and some wiring run. All I have left now are the holes and this opening in the dash, which is 4 5/8" x 3":
Does anyone know if this is the original opening? The edges are pretty rough, but I've never seen an aftermarket stereo with these dimensions. (Maybe an old 8-Track went in there?)
If original, I'd love to find a replacement. If not, it would appear the my only option is to weld this opening up and start over. I dislike welding inside the cab--is the dash removable? A diagram in the manual under the Body Construction and Sealing section seems to indicate that it is, but I don't see a procedure for taking it out. Perhaps it's not possible without disassembly of the entire cab?
~Steve
That's a pretty bad hack job, and certainly not original.
Ouch. Time to cut out some steel and start welding it in. As for the dash gut feeling tells me it might be removable once you remove all the spot welds.
...--is the dash removable? A diagram in the manual under the Body Construction and Sealing section seems to indicate that it is, but I don't see a procedure for taking it out. Perhaps it's not possible without disassembly of the entire cab?
I looked into this myself to repair my cab. There was a guy here on FTE - I do not recall his name - that dissected the dash out of the cab by drilling out all of the spotwelds. It tremendous amount of work to refabricate it, but he was transplanting an entire eco-boost drivetrain.
Too much work for me, and too much work to reassemble it all back together to look nice after body work and paint.
I had my friend Bill - The other Bill, not ND - use an extra glove box door for the patch, as Schoo mentioned. Turned out real nice, too.
Before I sent the cab out for paint, I drilled the correct holes for the correct radio.
Hope this helps.
John
Steve:
If (big if) you're going back with a stock radio and if (big if) it's the same dimensions as the 65-66 radio, I can cut you a patch panel from my '66 cab with the radio cutout as original. If you're going to block out the entire opening or go aftermarket, you can just use sheet metal.
It looks like my 62 was originally equipped with a radio. There's an antenna mounted on the cowl and an original speaker/grill on the dash.
I would guess that someone installed an aftermarket stereo at some point in the past. Speaker holes were cut in the doors and some wiring run. All I have left now are the holes and this opening in the dash, which is 4 5/8" x 3":
Does anyone know if this is the original opening? No, absolutely not!
Someone butchered the dash by cutting a huge hole in it to install an aftermarket radio. This is a somewhat common occurrence on these trucks.
Look at this parts catalog pic and you'll see three small round holes in the dash. This is original...if the truck came with a radio.
If no radio was installed, there are no holes. Factory or dealer installed, the antenna (C3AZ-18813-C) is located on the right cowl panel, it's repro'd and is the same as 1961/64 Galaxie.
There are two different AM radios: 1961/63's have tubes, 1964 and later have transistors, this radio is the same as:
Look at this parts catalog pic and you'll see three small round holes in the dash. This is original...if the truck came with a radio.
So the small hole on the right and the partial on the left are original? Never would have guessed.
Originally Posted by banjopicker66
There was a guy here on FTE - I do not recall his name - that dissected the dash out of the cab by drilling out all of the spotwelds. It tremendous amount of work to refabricate it, but he was transplanting an entire eco-boost drivetrain.
Too much work for me, and too much work to reassemble it all back together to look nice after body work and paint.
Too much for me, too. For me, welded in = not removable.
Since there's no direct replacement to fit this opening, I'll probably go with a standard single-DIN stereo. My welding skills are just ok--much better suited to floor pans and other hidden areas--so may price a patch at the local body shop. Depending on what they ask, may practice up a bit and tackle it myself. I'll post my progress.
So the small hole on the right and the partial on the left are original? Never would have guessed.
Actually if you look close at the pic, there are 5 small holes in the dash, the outer 2 holes are much smaller than the others as they are for the screws that retain the faceplate.
These 2 outer holes are present on your dash. The one at the left has been partially compromised by the huge hole a thoughtless former owner cut in the dash.
Topic has come up on occasion; suggest going to the 'forum' menu at the top of page and open the 'search' link and enter wording in the search field related to dash repair, or something similar, and narrow the search field to the 61-66 forum. Seem to recall where a member posted several pictures where he welded in a patch and could not tell it had been repaired. I would definitely have that dash repaired, may find a auto body shop, or welding shop that could weld in a patch at a reasonable price?
if your good with sheet metal you could fab one, I used a glove box door from my parts truck
I saw a glove box door for sale on eBay for $50--too rich for me, so I rounded some 16 gauge sheet steel over a large wooden dowel, then welded it into the lower portion of this opening. I had to widen the hole to fit a modern system, but not by much
Still a hole in the dash, of course, but now a functional one. (The paint is temporary until I figure out which direction I want to go with it.)
If filling it completely to start over schoo 's method of using a spare glovebox for the sheetmetal is the easiest , it is already bent to the correct contour of the dash .
There are some awesome panel bonding adhesives used in auto body repair.
You might make a patch panel out of 12 gauge steel for the backside and a 18 or 20 gauge steel panel for the front. You could blend the front panel into the dash with epoxy putty.
It would be strong enough to hold a radio if needed.
