my grand am dash install

[Squeek]

it's out of 2000 grand am, and so here goes....



decided to cut it out so it will be easier to remove. I may end up using the factory bottom part of the s10 dash





1st fitment


1st thoughts were, shit, i'm going to have to convert to a floor shift and move the key to the factory grand am spot. then my brain kicked in action and i realized i just have to trim the back part of the dash

so here is the first cut, and i am getting ready to go see how much more i am going to have to cut off

[orangesonoma]

should look good when it is done

[jman]

i'm interested in seeing this.

[Squeek]

I am very surprised at how well it actually does fit. if it wasn't just a lil to deep, i wouldn't have to do much other than make some fill panels for the pillar trim

[curt_minke]

cool, can't wait to see it done!

[Draggin88]

Gonna look good when it's done!

[98layinframe]

hell yeah! i love the looks of those dash boards. Cant wait to see what it looks like when finished!

[KILLYOU]

GET going on this man, ive really been thinking of doing this. take alot of pics!!

[Squeek]

yea i already have new pics, but the batteries are chraging right now. they died just as i plugged it in to dl them. lol

anyway I ended up having to cut the little studs that the factory dash sat on so that i could slid it back more. and like I thought, that first cut wasn't enough

oh and if any one was wondering I am using a utility knife to make the first cut in the vinal and foam. in turn that makes a good line to keep my hack saw strait. yes i said i am using a hack saw, and it works just fine. plus it's the only tool i have to really cut with.

[Squeek]

Quote: Originally Posted by KILLYOU

GET going on this man, ive really been thinking of doing this. take alot of pics!!

don't worry i am really workin on it, i have only had this dash about 30 hours. I would have more done but i am on here and my son went to bed really early last night so I had to get up earlier than usual

[blazerxtreme18]

ive always loved tese dashes in our trucks they look sweet keep up the progress...

[KILLYOU]

what size are the vnt holes in those dashes, would air ride gauges fit?

[Squeek]

they are 3 3/8 just a lil smaller if leave the vent cups in

[Squeek]

representin


this is what was getting in the way on both sides. grinder took care of it


2nd test fit. doesn't look much different




where it's hittin, and the main reason i am trimming the back


this is how much i have cut off so far






haven't tested fitted this since i took these pics

ok this is the pass anger side. it was hitting a weld in the dash

[83LOWrange]

i was wondering when somone was gonna go through and do this while taking pics. its gonna look really good when done. i know my galaxie dash id fit it, cut it, fit it, cut it.. .lol on and on and on. till i almsot said screw it! lol

[Diablo]

I'll have to upload some pictures of mine when I did the same thing in my 1st gen.

[digbmx4130]

What are you gonna be using for gauges? I have a grand am dash but I haven't started yet.

[dagreenmonster]

nice job with the pics...i look forward to seeing this done. keep up the good work!

[Squeek]

i think i am going to try use the factory s10 cluster for now

[1fast4by]

Looks sweet!


*subscribes

[purplepassion]

lookin good so far man

[rebels10]

looks really good so far.

[ßɭĬƮƵ]

thats gonna look sic when its done...

[Squeek]

thanks for all the encouragement!

[blazerxtreme18]

there was a s10 ant carlisle 2 years ago with a nice grand am dash swap it was blue....i think he used autometer gauges and it looked damn good...either way ya do it the dash still looks sick!! good job so far man

[gotphatdubs]

I once did a similar swap, but we put a s-10 dash into a ranger. Driver fit well, but too close to passenger seat. Lots of trim, fit, trim, fit, trim, fit, cut, ect

[Woody B. Low]

I can't wait to see this Grand Am dash swap completed Squeek!

[TA^Guy]

Haha, great thread!

I actually have the same dash out of a 2002 Grand Am sitting in my basement waiting for me to do my interior. I also have a center console that a friend is bringing by in a few weeks for it.

Great minds think alike.

Keep up the good work.

Quote: Originally Posted by KILLYOU

what size are the vnt holes in those dashes, would air ride gauges fit?

Yes you can fit gauges into them, it's where I plan on placing my air ride gauges when time comes.

[Squeek]

well it looks like my 6 year old red top has taken a shit on me finally. got to take it to get trickle charged cause i don't think my charger is working properly ( i let a girl use it and i think she connected the + and - wrong) anyways i have few more pics. i like to take pics if it's going to help some one else. I am going to be doing a lil bit of fiber glassing on here too. I'm not going to be trimming the dash back any further as i would be cutting in to the defrost vent.. I will be flattening out the back where it meets the glass. it flairs up in the back, and keeping it from sitting right. I looked through the window and realized how crappy that part looks.





should i fiberglass the airbag hole closed, or should i find an airbag. or should I just find the airbag cover and glass it in?



notchs for the shifter and the column has not been test fitted yet. i have only removed the foam at this point.




I have also started to notch the cluster mount so that i can try to fit my factory on in there

[TA^Guy]

Do you plan on fiberglassing the entire dash?

That's my goal is to fiberglass the entire thing after it's all cut and fitted. I personally am not reinstalling the airbag. My passenger side airbag is off all the time anyhow, I tell my wife it's called the "get out of your marrage switch". lol

If you plan on fiberglassing the whole dash you could always use something in that void to build it up close to the top, use expanding foam over thetop, then cut/sand it down so it's fairly level when you start to lay fiberglass over it.

[Squeek]

i was not installing the bag, just the cover. I don't think i am planning on fiberglassing the entire thing, just certain areas (two holes at the top, edges by the pillars, airbag hole) my main concern is at the front where it meets the windshield. I think that is going to be my biggest problem

[Draggin88]

Your best bet might be to pull the windsheild out, this way you can mount the dash and work on it while it's in the truck.

That's just they way I would do it. seems like it would be easy to work on it that way.

[Squeek]

hmm, it is an idea.that unfortunately is no where near my ability. and if i break it i don't have the funds, or ability to put a new one in

[Squeek]

oh and not much being done today as I am spending a some time with my family, and edges of the dash had came unglued in spots. I am reglueing them with automotive AMAZING goop and a light pressure from a c-clamp. this stuff is good and be found at autozone. i have tested it by glueing some screen door screen to an unclean peice of rusting metal. and it held really well!

[Draggin88]

Quote: Originally Posted by Squeek

hmm, it is an idea.that unfortunately is no where near my ability. and if i break it i don't have the funds, or ability to put a new one in

If you don't trust yourself, call a glass company to come out and remove it. It should only cost you a few dollars.

Hell if you were closer I'd do it for ya!

[Svaby]

looking good

[Merritt]

can't wait to see this thing done!

[Jimburban]

Is this the truck that you "SOLD"

[Squeek]

yes it is. I sold it to a friend of mine. he gave me some cash down and was making the payments on it. till he quit his job. i have repo'ed it from him, and will be paying it off on tax time finaly.

[Squeek]

sorry no updates cause i had to go to a funeral this weekend. wil start on it again here soon

[Jadesmarine]

wow i think that thing is gonna look pretty dang sweet

[S10wannabee]

that dash looks rather good in there, real good actually!!

keep it up man!, more pictures

[snoplow]

gonna be awesome when u get it done! keep up the good work!

[Squeek]

thanks guys. as of right now i think i am at a stand still other than making some filler peices. I don't have a heater in the garage, and my wife is just about ready to pop out our kid, so no fiberglassing fumes in the house. not to mention once our daughter is here, i'm be spending a lot more time with the wife and baby. i know i am sorry to disappoint you guys. but then again, i am supposed to fix some one elses body work, so i may end up buying a heater with the money i make off of that.

BUT i did manage to trade off my stock bed and bumper for a caddy tailed, and cali comboed bed and bed cover!!! strait swap! I think i am going to fill the caddy tails and and just put LED's in there. caddies are over done IMO

[Squeek]

where's me damn edit button??? i was going to add something on the first post.

for those of you that are going to be doing this as well here is a lesson from my mistake.

IF you do the same and cut away from the windshield part of the dash like i did, DO NOT try match your cut to the curve of the dash. i suggest cutting a lil bit out of the middle at a time, or just get a really big peice of card board and make a template first. since i didn't i am now going to making a lot more fill for parts i already cut off

[ih8hyts]

that is gonna look awesome.

[S-10_man66]

I love the dash in the grand am, my friend has one and I love how the gauges sweep when you start up the car...gonna be pretty sick

[Squeek]

well i think i am going to go look at getting some of the parts i need like glove box door, defrost vent, radio bezel. i might try to offer him something for the whole dash as it is

i really want to find someone that would want to take the challenge of making the grand am guages work with my factory harness

[Diablo]

Here are my pictures for when I did mine.

[boxbodyblazer]

Looks good so far. I put the same dash in my first gen, but I wasn't able to save the defroster. Even after cutting that out, my gear shift still hits the dash. Keep us updated, especially if you figure out how to wire in the factory guages.Oh yeah, here's mine (getting redone as we speak).