This is the best picture I have of the old dash, but I'm sure y'all know what they look like.


Hey yall, I've been away for quite some time, working on Barbara Ann; my 1974 F-250 Crew Cab. It's my third highboy, after a '68 that I just got back from a resto after 8 months and im not happy with, and a 76 I bought for an engine and trans that was too nice to chop up. Either way, the old heater was acting up even after a half rebuild, the dash levers were worn, and the dash itself was lacking. So, I decided to make it personal and a little more me. I'm no expert but I think I did alright. I removed the original dash with the simulated wood, along with the retro sound head unit, dual coil, and light/wiper switches. Needless to say the upgrade started. I removed every switch, bracket, mount and bolt and was left with the shell. I cut some thin board, reinforced it all, stained to match, and mounted my new head unit, new door speakers, new dual coil for the dash, and new heater controls. The heater is a vintage air gen 2, the head unit is a mechless pioneer, and the switches on the new drivers side panel are for Foglights, Back up lights, Under Hood lighting (because working under the hood with tools, a flashlight, and only two hands sucks) and bed lights. the factory light and wiper switches were remounted, and the truck now sports a delay box from an '84 so I have delay wipers. Easy upgrade, I wish I knew about earlier.

 

Wiring the new panels




Touching up the harness




Cleaning it all up




As installed. I left the ***** off of everything so I could test in place before the final install.








Stained on the bench to the best I could match.




With the head unit Temporarily installed




New drivers side panel




The run down of the new dash




Heater controls and heated seat switches. The front bench is zoned for the driver and the middle/passenger off the top two switches respectively. The rear bench runs on the third switch. Who can argue with 6 heated seats?

 

Nice work!

Any way you could show more pictures and more info about the new heat system and controls? They look great and much more modern.

 

Absolutely. I'll take a few pictures and post them up. I rigged mine a little different than explained in the destructions but who needs those anyways?? Once the dash is completely back together I throw those up to as well. Anyone know how to make my pictures not ridiculously huge on here? I tried resizing them before import. Thanks

 

You are my new hero .

The delay box wiring you spoke of. Do you have a link to where you got that info? I'd LOVE to have wiper delay.

 

Hey boss. The delay box is no magic. Any one from the 80's and probably early nineties plugs right in. Basically, remove the dash, unthread the old wiper switch, unplug it, and plug in the new one. The delay box and harness are a little long do you have to route them around the existing wires. Go to a pull it yard and find a truck. The easiest way to tell is the wiper switch for the delays rolls counter clockwise for the delay and then has two clicks clockwise for the standard wipers. The old 2 speeds only go clockwise. If you see a switch with a few inches of harness and a relay box, that's your delay!

 

Many thanks for the info Bro. Much appreciation.

 

I found am '80s truck at the dump which I ripped out the delay box and windshield wiper switch.

I had to rewire a couple of wires in the connector going to the original harness to make it work. I don't remember which ones, but I did find the info with an internet search.

 

Where did you get your heated seats from? Kit with controls and heating elements? Was just thinking of doing this.....does it pull alot of juice? Where did you tie it in? Slick looking work!

 

I'm curious about the seat switches. I have volvo heated seats, but haven't wired up the heaters. Those switches look nice.

 

Hey, been a while, but i figured i'd recover this thread from the dead before it gets too late. The heated seat kits came from ebay, out of california. Likely built in china, but i rechecked all the soldering and connections, and reinsulated anything pulling hard power. The seats themselves are wired into a maritime bus/fuse block, same as one would use to mount lights, speakers, etc. on a boat. It's grounded to the frame through the firewall, and draws its own power from a separate, fused/switch relay off the battery.