Dash Swaps for OBS

[Justin_Inc]

did a quick search but didnt find much, I'm wondering if anyone around these parts know if a NBS (99-02 non-classic) Dash will fit into an OBS truck? I'm doing an interior swap in my 89 and I fell in love with the NBS dash. thanks!

[RedneckKris]

Well just the swap for 88-94 to 95-99 is a royal PITA. But can be done. Im sure anything can be done just time consuming and patience

[SimpleGreen]

To swap from 88-94 to 95-98 is IMO, a cake walk. Doing it right now.

Going from 88-94 to 99+ is a alot of time and effort as the dash is nowhere close to fitting properly in the old cab.

[MStefak]

Im with simple green.

In total I have about 3 hrs into my COMPLETE interior swap MAX.
That includes the complete column swap and heater controls and such.

[Justin_Inc]

I was thinking of doing a 95-98 swap, around here they are damn near impossible to find charcoal in color and in mint shape. (the only way i'll go) I also like the newer clusters a million times more. I also really want to do a double din deck in it

[SimpleGreen]

I was thinking of doing a 95-98 swap, around here they are damn near impossible to find charcoal in color and in mint shape. (the only way i'll go) I also like the newer clusters a million times more. I also really want to do a double din deck in it

Have you considered just finding a good dash and repainting it? Thats what I did.

Cant help you on double din stuff or clusters though :LOL:

[someotherguy]

I was thinking of doing a 95-98 swap, around here they are damn near impossible to find charcoal in color and in mint shape. (the only way i'll go) I also like the newer clusters a million times more. I also really want to do a double din deck in it
That's because charcoal was not an interior color option on OBS trucks.

There's light gray in the 90-94, medium gray for 95-up, and the first couple of years 88-89 had some weird combos like a medium gray with dark blue. Even the door panels are two-toned. I've got a couple here and it's freaky-looking. :D

Richard

[Justin_Inc]

Have you considered just finding a good dash and repainting it? Thats what I did.

Cant help you on double din stuff or clusters though :LOL:

the last thing i really want to do is paint a dash, IMO it looks tacky and generally painted or 'dyed' dashes do not last long and scratch easily.

hmmmmm, now i'm not really sure what to do. kinda had my heart set on a charcoal interior. the cluster and double din would be awesome as well.

[SimpleGreen]

the last thing i really want to do is paint a dash, IMO it looks tacky and generally painted or 'dyed' dashes do not last long and scratch easily.

hmmmmm, now i'm not really sure what to do. kinda had my heart set on a charcoal interior. the cluster and double din would be awesome as well.

Well you do know many dashes are painted right :think: Its only as good as the prep work. Ive gone out of my way to try and scratch my dash (in hidden spots, of course) and its just as good as a factory job.

Regardless, if you want a 99+ dash, its going to take a good deal of work to do right. Ive seen it done, and it looks nice, Its certainly not a day job like the 95-98 is though.

[someotherguy]

Yeah, the 95-up OBS dashes are all painted. The underlying plastic of the dash shell itself is sort of an ugly flat dark gray color. About the only place they scratch relatively easily is on the glovebox, I guess because of a slightly different material choice in the plastic. The ones I've seen scratch are usually a very close color underneath, like you'll see a neutral (light tan) glovebox scratched, and it'll be a lighter tan color underneath. I've seen a few where the paint rubbed through slightly on the passenger side where you get in/out, and the tops of the dash worn some from guys in work trucks that put binders or whatever up top. But on the whole they hold up pretty well.

Preparation and product choice are key; the dash has to be TOTALLY clean of all oils, and from what I've read, the SEM brand paint is the best stuff to use.

Richard

[88vert]

Installing a nbs dash is quite possible but is a LOT of work. Custom door panels, cutting out metal from behind the dash, building ac duct, change steering column to look complete and lots of in and out with the dash parts to get the fit right. I posted about my dash swap before and never have taken the additional time to complete the dash yet! It would make it a lot easier if you also swapped out the engine, then you could change all of the wiring, but that's a whole other story. I'm currently in the process of completing my air bag setup then I'll eventually get back to the dash. It is a awsome feeling to know that you have done something few people are willing to do!!

[Justin_Inc]

Installing a nbs dash is quite possible but is a LOT of work. Custom door panels, cutting out metal from behind the dash, building ac duct, change steering column to look complete and lots of in and out with the dash parts to get the fit right. I posted about my dash swap before and never have taken the additional time to complete the dash yet! It would make it a lot easier if you also swapped out the engine, then you could change all of the wiring, but that's a whole other story. I'm currently in the process of completing my air bag setup then I'll eventually get back to the dash. It is a awsome feeling to know that you have done something few people are willing to do!!

I am swapping all of the wiring. Just compiling parts right now and figuring out what i want to do.

[92_half ton_W/T]

What everyone else said x2

But that doesn't mean it can't be done. Yeah it won't be an easy one day job, but it would look pretty sweet I think. Best of luck!

And post pics when you're done. I'm interested to see how it turns out.