2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Removal of dash vents above radio for install of deck, gauges, etc?

[Evan A. Beck]

Anyone removed the two vents above the radio and installed another deck or gauges? I thinking about doing this, and was wondering if anyone here has done it. Pictures please!!! Thanks!

 

[DieselPuter]

I have been wondering about this for years. Anyone done it?????????

 

[Graphic man]

i have seen it done and it looks nice, i wish i had pics to offer but i don't.



i don't think it's a big job just need to close off or re-route the ducks and finish it off nice.





Scott

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Yeah, blocking it off doesn't appear to be too big of a job, and modifying the black bezel should be easy. There's gotta be someone out there with some pics and ideas. Let's see what Monday brings...

 

[DAWG-1]

I did it

I have a dash that I removed the vents and installed gauges in. I had 3 gauges in it. You can come by and look at it if you want. Evan give me a call first 425-355-3915. Sam.

 

[SMolteberg]

I did this when I got the Ram, never been a big fan of A-pillar mounts. I pulled the dash-cover and used a Dremel to get the vents off. Then I cut out a steel plate and made the holes for the gauges. Painted it semi-flat and J-B welded it to the dash-cover. The air-ducts where a little tuff to get out, but with violence and vaseline everything is possible. I filled the hole in the airduct with foam so I could get a good airflow to the rest of the vents, a rag or duct tape will do also to.

I'm very happy with this mod, and it looks pretty stock also. Only downside is that you have to be careful when disassembling the dash cover afterwards since the gauges are attached to the facing and not to the dash itself.

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[Evan A. Beck]

How has the cooling/heating been working so far? Also, do you have any pictures of the dash bezel removed? I was just curious to see how you have things plugged off in the air duct. Also was curious to see the back side of the bezel itself. Thanks a million!



And please, no more details about vaseline and viloence! LOL :-laf

 

[Cummins Pilot]

This is my setup. The bezel mounts is just a flat peice of textured plastic glued to the dash trim with holes cut in it. As for the vent I made a cover that is RTVd to the vent hole. It is dirt simple to do, just takes some time. On the far left vent I put my Espar controller. It all worked out really well.

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Very nice, looks clean! Any pics of the back side or of the vent duct?

 

[SMolteberg]

The air/heat works just as normal, just no dashvents and a little better flow in the other dash vents. You can just yank of your own bezel to see how it looks in the back. It kind of gives itself. Very easy to do, just put the gearlever in 1st and grab the bezel with your fingers at the top and pull back and then the lower part, it's just mounted with clips, no screws. The vents are mounted on the bezel itself and duct stays with the dash. I thought first to cut out the duct, but on closer inspection I found a joint and since the duct are in a soft type of ABS plastic you can squeze and bend it to get it out. It's tight in there, but when it's out you have plenty of room for the gauges. You might even not block the duct, but I did it for better flow in the other vents, no need for cool air inside the dash

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Thanks to all who have replied, you have been most helpful!



Will be tackling this project once the rainy season starts, and I am stuck inside with nothing to do. I will post a few pics so you can see how it all turns out!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

More BOMBing on the '01 eh? It's been awhile since you've done any significant projects on ol' faithful



Your truck was looking good as I followed you out of the track parking lot Saturday night

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Thanks, Vaughn



Yeah I got a couple ideas in the works, nothing too drastic though. I may be one of the few to say that my truck will be done soon!



BTW, got 23. 2 mpg on last weekend's trip... Mountain passes, plus a couple days of in-town driving. Not too bad...

 

[Alphacowboy]

looks pretty good. I wonder how hard it would be to re-route that vent down and along the "transmission hump" on the passanger side and to the rear of the center console? I dont have rear passangers very often, but I would think it would cool/heat the cab more efficently, and maybe help with the morning condesation on the rear windows? Ovbiously it would take some engineering and some work, but might be worth it. Might have to try it out when I gut the truck this winter!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Not bad at all Evan



Not to hijack anymore but at 150k+/- you should just be about getting nicely broken in, being you have the hard-wall taco block. Should get a ton of miles out of it. That's what my '01 had, so you were at least 2 for 3 ordering trucks with Mexican blocks back in 2000

Since the '01 I haven't done so well, my last 3 trucks have been Tupy blocks



25. 1 was the best my '01 turned, doing an easy 65 on the level. So far the best the '98 has done is 21. 4, but the auto kills it in town. It could definitely use some tweaking!



Vaughn

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Not bad at all Evan

It could definitely use some tweaking!

Vaughn

Yup, to the tune of 12 more valves.



Taco blocks rock! You gotta get that '01 back...