Dash Panel FIX????

[rocmoc]

My '69 CJ5 dash panel & wiring was butchered by the PO. I was able to pick up a '78 CJ7 as a parts vehicle.

I have upgraded the steering column to the "78. Temp mounts made but not yet attached. Held in place with vise grips. I am using the '78 wiring to replace the '69 wiring. The wiring is currently still installed in the '78 dash panel.

The two dashes, '69 & '78, have different locations for the the column. The '69 is about 3 inches more towards the center & lower. The '78 replacement panels you can puchase have the hole of the steering column in the wrong place, I can use the '78 I have. One possibility is to purchase a steel replacement '69 dash. What have other people done to replace/repair the dash?

Thanks,
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

 

[tonkatrucksryan]

I took my old cutup dash and a big piece of diamond plate to my local metal shop and for 40.00 they cut in to match the old one and powder coated it. check my post for the pic and see it if you want. Good luck

 

[DHugg]

One possibility is to purchase a steel replacement '69 dash. What have other people done to replace/repair the dash?

Thanks,
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

This past Friday, I looked at a rebuilt dash assembly wherein a stainless side, satin-brushed steel, from a refrigerator was used to fab an instrument panel. It looked good enough to make me start thinking about it.

My '80 had an after-market diamond pattern steel panel, now so chopped full of holes that it probably whistles when at speed, but the roar from the 35's drown out the whistle.

 

[tarry99]

My '69 CJ5 dash panel & wiring was butchered by the PO. I was able to pick up a '78 CJ7 as a parts vehicle.

I have upgraded the steering column to the "78. Temp mounts made but not yet attached. Held in place with vise grips. I am using the '78 wiring to replace the '69 wiring. The wiring is currently still installed in the '78 dash panel.

The two dashes, '69 & '78, have different locations for the the column. The '69 is about 3 inches more towards the center & lower. The '78 replacement panels you can puchase have the hole of the steering column in the wrong place, I can use the '78 I have. One possibility is to purchase a steel replacement '69 dash. What have other people done to replace/repair the dash?

Thanks,
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

Rocmoc............
If you want to retain the original look of a 69 dash or steering wheel location its probably not going to happen with that column.

I am assuming you have already done a Saginaw conversion?

Using the later dash is not a bad thing as it moves the column up a little away from your legs, you would also probably have to change the location where it exits "Up" on the firewall so as not to have such a tight angle on the u-joint. That column length may also be a little long going into the engine compartment for the shorter early CJ5 .

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Get ahold of double d fab

https://sites.google.com/site/doubledfab/cj-center-dash-cover

I can swear Ive seen him make a dash for older CJ.. I'm sure if he has a CAD program for the older models and newer models that he could whip something up.

 

[rocmoc]

Thank you everyone. What I have decided to do -

Use my current '78 CJ7 parts dash with the wiring and address the dash fix later. After reading the post, I am going to focus on the wiring issue. This is easier using the CJ7 dash as everything is already mount and ready for use. Later after my '69 is running again I will address the dash. The steering wheel fits thu the existing open in the dash but all the way to the right of the opening. This will make it impossible to use the black plastic cover to hide the hole. Going from a many many small to med holes to one large hole, LOL! More important to get it running and address the dash fix later. Dash fix will be a NEW made locally, maybe even by myself, panel or cover. Will update later.

Thanks again!
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico