dash & door conversion

[KRB64]

Check this out. A 2002 dash and door in a 1973.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...SS%3AUS%3A1123

[greg rider]

Other than wiring I'm wondering if it just "bolts in" ?

[KRB64]

Doubt it. Not familiar with an '02 but I believe the dash is deeper and way more curved at the windshield/firewall area.

If it was bigger overall onne could have trimmed to fit and then rigged a mounting system.

[greg rider]

I didn't think it would fit because the newer cabs are a bit wider. Somehow people have been putting the seats in though. If I had the time and funds I would put older in like from '78,, I like the look of those years,,even change the front end too.

[2x1972]

Width is about the same, but the dash definitely does not swap right across. A few people have done the 3rd gen ram dash swap into the 2nd gen's, but not without lots of time and effort. First thing I looked at was the gauges. No way he coulda kept the stockers operating, so he went with mechanicals. Here's a thread on a hemi motor/tranny + dash swap into a '97.

http://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-...ation-ram.html

[JeffTheMarine]

That is great. I love the look of it all but IMO it is in no way whatsoever worth all the fab work that had to do into making those door panels and dash fit. That is one of my favorite parts about owning and driving old rigs is the fact that they are simple and not all new and fancy. When you look at the brand new 2012 Ram trucks and look at the interior of those I would almost be afraid to use one as a work truck. They look more like luxury vehicles on the inside. I remember when trucks had rubber floor mats and hardly and sound proofing and they were big and rugged and the ride was rough as **** but **** that comes with the territory I though.....

Jeff

[712edf]

Today trucks are sissy trucks as far as interiors go. I want rust & cow manure on my floorboards. Our trucks have become soft because we have become soft & pampered.

Bucky

[74w300uteline]

Garden hose and a leaf blower

Cleaning the cab of the m880 is a snap. Blow the debris out, hose it down, blow it dry, done

[Chewie]

Dodge sent a rep to the rally in Fairfield one year and I asked him about why pickups were getting so much fancier. He said one reason is they make more money on a truck with options, (seemed obvious) and creating option packages keeps their costs down. But the next reason is that they don't sell enough trucks without all those options. (I would think fleet sales are pretty basic, but I didn't ask him.)
He said it seems if people are putting down the money, they try to get as much as they can.

I ordered a 93 Dakota in October of 92. Work Truck, (regular cab, long bed), 4x4 with a manual. I ordered it with three extra options: Tow prep, FM radio, and cloth seats. At first, the dealer refused to consider the order. The reason? Not enough options. He told me I had to at least get A/C before he'd do it. I refused. He said he'd never get it sold if I backed out. I won, but only because cash talks.

Trucks today are fancier inside than my living room...

[712edf]

And who wants to take a $50,000 truck and use it like a truck. Certainly not a po' boy like me.

Vehicles are not just means of tranporting people/cargo anymore. They are signs of STATUS. I have arrived. Look at me. I'm special. I'm somebody important. Don't you wish you were me.

Bucky

[KRB64]

Today trucks are sissy trucks as far as interiors go. I want rust & cow manure on my floorboards. Our trucks have become soft because we have become soft & pampered.

Bucky

Sad but true, sad but true...

[JeffTheMarine]

And who wants to take a $50,000 truck and use it like a truck. Certainly not a po' boy like me.

Vehicles are not just means of tranporting people/cargo anymore. They are signs of STATUS. I have arrived. Look at me. I'm special. I'm somebody important. Don't you wish you were me.

Bucky

Agreed

Jeff

[midMImudder]

"And who wants to take a $50,000 truck and use it like a truck. Certainly not a po' boy like me."

Some of us do. ;)

Haulin in beans this fall.

Believe me, that's the hardest this truck has worked. It leads an otherwise pampered life, hauling me the 12 mile commute to work (6 miles to and from) and the occasional trip up north.

And now I have the Dakota to take me to work and back.

JK