I purchased the panel listed at the link below. Like a dope I did not test fit it prior to the truck going to paint, with that said and my luck it does not fit. I went back to speedway and it is a crap shoot if it fits out of the box and may need some massaging. After reading the comments some guys grind the dash prior to painting, I do not have that luxury now and my only choice is to grind or find a way to trim the face of the panel. Has anyone done this if so, any recommendations on how to do it or what to use? Part two, they give you 3 half *** aluminum tabs that have to be mounted on the back of the panel someway so it can be attached to the dash.

Link to panel

Thanks
Mike

 

I don’t have any experience with the dash panel, but have done some work with aluminum. I wouldn’t use a grinder. The results are usually sloppy and grinding wheels tend to clog with aluminum quickly. I’ve had best luck using a tabletop belt or disc sander for shaping and rounding out aluminum.

Not sure how much material you need to remove, but as you get close use finer grits that can than be easily polished out. Also be aware that aluminum usually creates a burr so push material towards the back where it can be shaved off with a razor knife.

Get a scrap piece of aluminum about the same thickness to practice on. And also, aluminum will get HOT when sanding!!

 

So how far off is it from fitting in the hole? It is too large all the way around or just a little bit one way or the other? This type of aluminum is pretty soft and relatively easy to work with. If you can wrap some 80 grit around a sanding block, you may be able to go around the edge to bring it down enough to fit the dash hole. That's what I'd do, fwiw.

 

I used the same one in my 49, I was lucky and test fitted mine before I painted. I too had to grind the dash in a few spots at the top. Good luck

 

I also used that panel, and I had to do some gentle tapping with a hammer on a few spots on the dash where the panel was too tight to fit. As for those 3 retaining tabs, I did all this work many months ago, so unfortunately I can't remember the details other than the fact that they did nothing to keep the panel in place and I threw them in the garbage. I recall making new ones out of steel that were long enough to press firmly against the dash and hold the panel in place.

 

It is close, I can get 95% of it in. Depending on how you position it to go in 3 out of the 4 "corners" so to speak will go in and the last is too tight to push through.

 

You can try the sanding trick I mentioned until you get that "4th corner" in. Put some blue painters tape on the face so you don't accidently slip with the sandpaper. If you're feeling brave and you think it may be easier than sanding, you can try a couple layers of the blue tape on the dash opening, a wood block and small hammer can be used to very gently tap on the tight spots in the opening. This would work better on the straight areas. If it's the actual corner that's tight, sanding the aluminum may be better, easier and safer.