Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Dash compatability

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 09:07 AM
  #1  
53OlderThanMe's Avatar
53OlderThanMe
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village, TX
Dash compatability

I don't think this would work but does anyone know if a 56 dash can be put on a 53 cab?

I like the 56 instrument panel better, but really can't see clear to replace the whole cab for it.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 09:12 AM
  #2  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
i dont see why not . might require a little trimming and youd have to fab or cut out the "extensions " that run into the door panel on 'em . thought about it with my 55 as i had a f-600 that was way beyond hope and it had a nice dash in it . prbably the only peice of sheet metal that wasn't eaten through ! the roof is the only thing i know of different from our slant cabs , and the doors due to the new roof line up front .
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 09:23 AM
  #3  
53OlderThanMe's Avatar
53OlderThanMe
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village, TX
Originally Posted by 55 f350
i dont see why not . might require a little trimming and youd have to fab or cut out the "extensions " that run into the door panel on 'em . thought about it with my 55 as i had a f-600 that was way beyond hope and it had a nice dash in it . prbably the only peice of sheet metal that wasn't eaten through ! the roof is the only thing i know of different from our slant cabs , and the doors due to the new roof line up front .
Thanks 55, next post puts you over the top, that mystical 4 figure land of legendary posters.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 09:29 AM
  #4  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
does that mean i talk too much ??????????????????
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 09:37 AM
  #5  
53OlderThanMe's Avatar
53OlderThanMe
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village, TX
Originally Posted by 55 f350
does that mean i talk too much ??????????????????
Nope, just means you are on your way to the mission statement in your signature.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 10:27 AM
  #6  
LEckart's Avatar
LEckart
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City area
I believe the dashes are welded in so you would have to cut, fit, and reweld the 56 into the 53. It can be done, just a fair amount of work.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 12:47 PM
  #7  
Truxx1956's Avatar
Truxx1956
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,344
Likes: 11
From: I live in Leitchfield, KY
Talking

Hey 53, it may be a little work, but I think it would be well worth it!! I dont' much care for the slant cab dashes. The guy who won Truck of the Year in Knoxville year before last, went the WRONG way. He had a '56 and he put a slant cab dash in it? The truck was awesome, but ???????????


On my '56 I'm going to put a '56 Ford car dash in it. I'm goin to cut mine out, and I'm goin to make brackets and such to bolt in the car dash, so I can paint it out side of the truck. Plus I can do all my wiring and stuff better with the dash out of the way. I'm goin to use the center speaker grille for the '05 F150 radio with 6 CD changer in it to go up and down with a linear actuator. That way when it's down, it will look like a "stock" dash. Except for being in a truck? I'm also goin to redo my door panels and use the stainless trim and armrest from the '56 Ford car. All this is on my "to do list" But I do love good dash swaps. Not like the one that Roger posted under "custom?"

Later dude, and thanks again for posting pics of Pegysu
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 01:18 PM
  #8  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
spot welded at least the 56 and 55 i had were . and i am already all knowing ! iknow i'm always full of sh-- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-3

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-6

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 04:11 PM
  #9  
53OlderThanMe's Avatar
53OlderThanMe
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village, TX
Upon further review I don't think I can handle the amount of fab work needed in my home garage. I didn't realize the dash formed the bottom edge of the windshield mount lip. The wrap around edges on the 56 would make this tough on my 53. Also the depth of the 56 looks much deeper than the 53.

Oh well it was a fun daydream while it lasted.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 04:26 PM
  #10  
CIAF's Avatar
CIAF
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: Adams,CO.
Whatever you put in your ride, be VERY careful when cutting out a dash. I have cut a few out and be cautioned that the cab will have a tendency to collapse and buckle. After cutting out the 56' dashes and looking about at the inner structure it become quite apparent why this happens. I would strongly advise that you cut the dash leaving a 1" or so border near the windshield. I can't recall my 55's or 53' but I think the lower part of the dash at the bend can and should be left intact as it is a side to side brace. I have seen 56's with "new" dash seam under the defrost strip to cover the weld bead. Seems like a good place for the upper seam. I would just "hump " it as I did on my right side, just use the entire portion to properly fit the gauge insert. See gallery. Sounds like a fun time.

Jon
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 06:19 PM
  #11  
53OlderThanMe's Avatar
53OlderThanMe
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village, TX
Originally Posted by CIAF
Whatever you put in your ride, be VERY careful when cutting out a dash. I have cut a few out and be cautioned that the cab will have a tendency to collapse and buckle. After cutting out the 56' dashes and looking about at the inner structure it become quite apparent why this happens. I would strongly advise that you cut the dash leaving a 1" or so border near the windshield. I can't recall my 55's or 53' but I think the lower part of the dash at the bend can and should be left intact as it is a side to side brace. I have seen 56's with "new" dash seam under the defrost strip to cover the weld bead. Seems like a good place for the upper seam. I would just "hump " it as I did on my right side, just use the entire portion to properly fit the gauge insert. See gallery. Sounds like a fun time.

Jon
Jon - Good idea I didn't think about just grafting the hump. Your interior is awesome, first time I looked at it.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 06:19 PM
  #12  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
ok so it's gonna be a pain . why not cut the area of where you're gauges are out and the same to the 56 and do it that way ?????
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 06:22 PM
  #13  
53OlderThanMe's Avatar
53OlderThanMe
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village, TX
Originally Posted by 55 f350
ok so it's gonna be a pain . why not cut the area of where you're gauges are out and the same to the 56 and do it that way ?????
Thats kinda what I'm thinking now. If anyone could post some dimensions on the hump such as width, depth and height I would apprecate it.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 07:51 PM
  #14  
jon6foot4's Avatar
jon6foot4
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Kent, WA
Hell, why not - I'm putting a '72 Bronco speedo in mine I'll just go the plywood route like the stereo in the 'Custom???' thread!

Kidding about plywood... serious about the speedo
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2008 | 08:25 PM
  #15  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
i gotz a sheet of properly aged plywood ill give to you !!!!!!!LOL
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:35 PM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE