|
|
Nissan Hardbody Dashboard Swap - Dash Install - El Switcheroo, Part IIInstalling The New Dash From the August, 2003 issue of Mini Truckin' By Mike Finnegan Photography by Mike Finnegan
|
|
Last month, we began the process of replacing an old-style ('86 to '96) Nissan Hardbody dashboard with the sexy new-style ('97 to '98) dash. We started by taking a trip to California Minitruck Dismantlers in Montclair, California, to locate a donor truck. Once we removed the parts from our donor truck, we went back home and removed the dash out of our project Nissan. The dash swap is a bolt-on deal if you have the right parts. Not only do you need the dashboard, but you also need the subframe that the dash mounts to. In this installment of our story, we'll be swapping out the old subframe for the new one and installing our new dash parts. This will include the subframe, air-conditioning vents and ducting, and the dash. We're just about finished with this project, and next month we'll bring you the conclusion with the installation of a set of Auto Meter gauges. For more information on the products used in this article, contact the companies listed in the source box.  1.Picking up where we left...  1.Picking up where we left off last month, we are almost ready to install the new dashboard. First, though, we must swap out the old dashboard's subframe.  2.Beginning at the bottom...  2.Beginning at the bottom of the center subframe, we unbolt all the brackets.  3.The old lower bracket looks...  3.The old lower bracket looks nearly identical to the new, except for the fact that the new bracket is slightly wider and has additional accessory mounting holes. The same holds true for the rest of the subrame, which looks almost identical to the new parts.  4.Once all of the old bracketry...  4.Once all of the old bracketry is removed, the new parts are installed. The center subframe is the first item to be replaced.  5.The new subframe bolts into...  5.The new subframe bolts into the firewall and floor brackets with four 10mm bolts.  6.A,B,&COn the driver-side...  6.A,B,&COn the driver-side of the cab, a new section of subframe is installed. It gets bolted to the center section of the subframe and the cab. Once in place, the steering column is reinstalled with a pair of 14mm bolts that are torqued directly into this left-hand section of the subframe.  7.A&B Once the new subframe...  7.A&B Once the new subframe is secured, we can move onto the other items that need updating. The old air-conditioning vent system terminates at the dashboard with vertical openings. Because the new dashboard air-conditioning vents are mounted horizontally, the old ducting must be replaced.  8.A,B&C Just as the old dashboard...  8.A,B&C Just as the old dashboard was removed, the new dash is installed using four 10mm bolts along the top and beneath the windshield, while a pair of them are used at the lower corners. With the dashboard secured, the center section is popped into place and then fastened with Phillips head screws along the perimeter and in the middle where the air-conditioning controls are located.  9.The passenger-side of the...  9.The passenger-side of the dash trim makes up part of the glovebox perimeter as well as the air-conditioning vent exit location.  10.A,B&C Before the glove...  10.A,B&C Before the glove compartment door is installed, a metal backing plate is bolted in place, covering the air-conditioning blower unit and ducting. One the plate is in place, the door is secured with a pair of Phillips head screws.  11.The last item to install...  11.The last item to install on the passenger-side of the dash is the air-conditioning vent bezel. This item simply pops into the dash hole and slides into the ducting located within the dash.  12.A,B,&C Moving to the center...  12.A,B,&C Moving to the center of the dashboard, it's time to reinstall the head unit. Because we didn't cut any wires during the removal of the old dash, all we had to do was simply plug the radio's wiring harness back into the truck, plug in the antenna, and screw the old mounting kit into the new dash.  13.A&B The center dash bezel...  13.A&B The center dash bezel is installed after the hazard and dimmer light plugs are reunited with their respective wiring harnesses. Then the bezel is snapped into place and secured with four more screws located in the corners of the bezel.  14.The finishing touch to...  14.The finishing touch to the center bezel is the installation of the air-conditioning control trim panel. The panel and air-conditioning on/off button are pushed into place, and then the control knobs are reinstalled.  15.A&B We are now in the home...  15.A&B We are now in the home stretch of this modification. Moving to the driver-side of the dash, we pop the integrated bezel and air-conditioning vent unit in place and secure it with a single screw.  16.The next step is to bolt...  16.The next step is to bolt the lower dash panel in place. This will conceal the lower air-conditioning ducting and all of the hardware beneath the dashboard.  17.A&B The side dash vents...  17.A&B The side dash vents are popped into place along with the fuse cover, which is located in the lower dash panel.  18.Back at the center of the...  18.Back at the center of the dash, the lower air-conditioning vents are hidden behind this plastic cover, which is secured on the sides by a pair of screws.  19.And last but not least,...  19.And last but not least, the steering column shroud is installed. We had to use the original shroud because the one we robbed from our donor truck was broken. The column shroud is bolted in place with four screws, and we're done for now.
|
California Minitruck Dismantlers
4002 State St.
Montclair
CA
91763
Dept. MT
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximized - May 2013
Excuse me while I wipe the dust off of my keyboard *cough, cough*. There is an old saying that goes...
more
|
|