Spent all day working on the under dash vent and ac control mount. Still have a couple pieces to make. Need to make the fourth vent mount to the left of the steering column and one piece to the right.

 

Kinda finished up the lower dash panel. I'm not a great metal worker but this came out pretty good i think. I TIG welded each little section together and was able to blend it all together pretty seamlessly. I didn't want to build a completely custom dash so this lower section bolts on and is easily removable so other under dash items can come out.

I still need to make the drivers side vent pod thats left of the steering wheel and order 2 more round vents.

Now that I'm almost done with the dash, I'm thinking it may have been easier to just go full custom...

 

Finished the other vent mount.

 

good job

 

That is well done. Could you tell us how you made it please. Mostly curious how you bent it and made it round.

 

I'm not great with metal so a little hackery goes into making these. I make a cardboard version first. Use scissors to cut relief lines so I can bend it.

Then cuThout the shape, I have a metal brake (bender) but they never make really tight bends so I use 2 pieces of 1x1 square tubing and clamp it between those and hammer over the flange. That gives me the straight flange. I use my shrinker as much as I can but the bend is too tight so I have to make relief cuts to get the full bend then tig (or mig) weld them up. As for the curved flange, thats a tougher one. I have a bead roller which i made what they call a tipping dies to make the start of that odd bend. But it can be done without that.

Plan out where the metal will need to shrink and stretch and make relief cuta. The use a dulled chisel to make a line where you want it to bend. You could hammer it with a wood behind it so it make thw dent easier. Once you have that done you could use pliers or adjustable metric wrench to help fold it over. I finished mine hammering the curve out with a toe dolly (Curved metal dolly). I also clamped a piece of pipe into my vice and used that as a mandrel to hamer the shape into it.

Basically I use what I have around or make something. The bead roller and shrinker are nice but I could do the same thing without them. What helps is making a cardboard pattern. It really shows you what needs to shrink, stretch or bend. I hack it by cutting and welding with TIG, that way i can hammer and bend it still but MIG can still do it.

Those guys that can make something like this without a welder are magicians! Some serious talent there.

 

I know this truck isn't for everybody. The screen here will probably lose some folks. Just doing my best to build something from junk.

I cut the radio delete plate so I could move it where I wanted. Cut and filled the radio hole. Made a place for the new radio. Worked on the door that will hide the push buttons for the 4x4 and made a mounting bracket for the radio.

 

Although it is not my cup of tea. I can appreciate the effort and skill that goes into a project like this. I’ve enjoyed following your build and seeing how you cope with different obstacles.

 

Thanks. I Appreciate the acknowledgement.

I forgot to mention that I still have to fabricate a radio surround to cover the bracket. If you notice, I also cut and spliced the stock speaker trim to be shorter and match the changed dash. It's not perfect but not awful.

 

I like it, but I'm more of a how can we modify it and make it better kind of guy anyway.

 

When it’s all done and painted I think it’s gonna look quite sharp and different. Remember that our forum is made up of people who are really into these specific trucks (myself included) but it’s your truck and if you are having a great time building it and doing it in a way that doesn’t break the bank then good for you!

I suspect you will find the same things that I did with my S10 swap on my 47 Fargo. I can’t stop for gas or park anywhere without having people come up to look at it and ask questions about it. 99% of these people are just regular folks who have never even heard of a chassis swap, and when you explain it to them they are enthusiastic and understand some of the benefits. I’m enjoying this thread just as much as I enjoy the various pure stock restoration threads that I follow.

 

I like what you've done, you're making it your own and certainly showing your talent..

 

I decided to sink the radio mounts into the dash so I can make a cover plate.

I was going to make it out of sheet metal but it could be tough to keep it flat and it needs a step so the radio face is flush.

Then I thought, I could 3D print the radio surround. I made a few gos at it and then printed one in a material that can withstand heat. I don't repeat it is as I ended up having someone in our R&D department at work printed the final design because they have much better printers than mine is.

The plan is to sprayed it all in epoxy and then wet sand it smoth an paint it body color. That said, the black looks kinda good to me.


I think the dash looks pretty good for a mash up of vehicles.

 

Not my cup of tea but then again I don't have your skill and imagination. I've always said keeping a truck stock is easier than customizing a truck. Can't wait to see your finished product.

 

Keeping a truck stock may be easier, but it’s not always cheaper.