Okay so I went out and got a whole dash the other day. It was just unbolted from the truck and sold too me for 40 bucks.
I have a couple questions.
can I take the dash out of my truck with out removing the windshield?
When I do this is there going to be some special tool or knowledge?
I looked it over looks like I just unbolt the old one, pull the wire harness off, and heater connections.
then just bolt on the new one after re-installing the wires and heater cables.

When I went out and got this I thought I was just getting all the trim pieces but he just handed me the whole dash. My dash's metal pieces are all bent drilled and in terrible shape this one has a couple cracks in the pad and the defrost vents are broke at the mounting holes. Otherwise it is complete and in really good shape, it has the radio, all the heater controls, cluster, and everything. Only down side is no tach. But I don't really need a tach and never find them all that useful anyhow so I am fine with that. Maybe I will just pickup a aftermarket one someday.

 

Here is what I got.
image by Schnayke, on Flickr

 

yes you can do it with out taking out the windshield.
maybe send TrekkerPaul a PM to ask him the procedure.
I am pretty sure you need to take the dash cover off first.
I saw him do it a few years ago..

 

Or Give me a PM.. Very do-able and well worth it.. Just a lot of work. This thread has a few pics of my work (at the bottom of page 6 and page 7)..But I'll defer to Paul anytime..good luck

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f197...81/index6.html

 

wow nice piece! not sure but is the older cluster plug and play? That dash is older than 83. that cluster is 79-81 I believe. still isn't a problem just use your cluster. radio is smaller, and climate controls are different.

 

Yeah Its older and I am going to use the cluster, and get another heater control, probably put a cb where the radio is, and I am going to install and center console/CD mount for the radio. I really wanted to just replace the plastic but the metal on mine is so messed up I can't even install these plastic pieces.

 

which climate control are you going to use the older version or the newer? I think the older one is what you need. I have the one for 83 I bought to try to make work in the beginning, but the cables are backwards I think, and newer dash (82-83) had hole in it for climate control instead of the slits. Try to get the one out of that donor truck if possible. I have the 83 setup if you want it. Think it would be easier now for you to get the controls from 79 80 models maybe 81, but for sure bout 79 80.

 

Well, my heater core/unit is in bad shape so now I am looking to get a new one of those. I had planned to get one to match the new dash, however if I have access to the later heater controls I can just get any year heater unit. Its an idea I think I am going back to where I got this dash next week to try and get some vents and possibly the other dash for another member on here. While I am up there maybe I can find a good heater unit. I will let you know what I end up with.

 

not sure what changed but EPC shows 4 heater boxes throughout our years 8/78-8/81 regular and heavy duty and 8/81-7/83 regular and heavy duty. Not sure on differences.

Dash controls are flipped earlier model is stacked with:
defrost,heat,bilevel, vent on top
temperature of air in middle,
and recirc or fresh on bottom.
fan switch on left

newer is exact opposite. I think it would still hook up right as long as you have cables. Get older setup from donor truck definitely if possible. I don't think the arms from newer setup will slide into older dash.