Switches
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 20
From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Depending on your year model, that whole section of the dash cover pops right off. After 03-04 somewhere in there, there are screws above the stock radio. Since you no longer have the stock radio in yours, you can likely grip it and rip it to pull that whole piece straight back toward you to make it easier to cut it out and install your switches.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 20
From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
I can confirm that on my 1999 2 wheel drive, that small section in question does not pop out and the back is solid without any outline to match the outside. However, like I said before the entire large piece surrounding the radio and gauges does pop out with no screws on mine.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 2,197
find someone with some wood working skills and have him make a wood frame with the opening smaller than the outline you are pointing to......use the wood frame as a guide for a roto tool to cut a nice hole out.....get some nice switches and have the wood guide made to mathc the needed hole...mount the switches on a black piece of plastic...screw the black plastic into the new hole ....mount the balc plastic in the back...nice chrome bolts from the front....simple.
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Tuned
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Brett Foote
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 20
From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
You mean that small section pops out or the whole dash trim?
Is your truck 4 wheel drive?
Is your truck 4 wheel drive?
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 282
Likes: 3
Just the square panel. It's a "blank" for those trucks without auto 4x4. It was also an excellent access point to get to my flasher when I went to led turn signals I had to get an electronic flasher. My truck is 4 wheel drive but has manual locking hubs.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 344
Likes: 7
I've got a '99 2wd and I swear that square doesn't come out without some persuasion from a dremel. I figure when I go to install my switched, I'll very carefully measure where my hole needs to be and carefully drill a hole for the switch to mount so it all looks clean. It might pop out on the later models, but it just doesn't pop out on the '99's.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 2
From: Oregon
I removed the upper dash, the panel does not pop out, it only appears to.
I will use a Carling 3 switch panel to install in that area, like this picture.
The Carling part number is VM3. They also make a single switch panel (VMS),
as well as a 6 switch panel and a modular panel.
I will use a Carling 3 switch panel to install in that area, like this picture.
The Carling part number is VM3. They also make a single switch panel (VMS),
as well as a 6 switch panel and a modular panel.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 2
From: Oregon
I watched a video that showed how to pop the headlight switch out of the dash.
Wrong year video.
It broke the front off the switch and I had to buy a new switch.
I removed the entire dash panel, radio, radio adapter, passenger air bag switch etc.
I reinstalled the headlight switch and airbag switch, so I can drive it enough to get my new shocks installed.
I've had my door panels off several times but still don't know the proper way to put them back in, so the top doesn't jump back out.
Which hooks should be attached first?
Wrong year video.
It broke the front off the switch and I had to buy a new switch.I removed the entire dash panel, radio, radio adapter, passenger air bag switch etc.
I reinstalled the headlight switch and airbag switch, so I can drive it enough to get my new shocks installed.
I've had my door panels off several times but still don't know the proper way to put them back in, so the top doesn't jump back out.
Which hooks should be attached first?