Dash swap questions

[dude772]

I know that this probably belongs in the interior section, but that doesn't seem to get alot of action...

I was having a brain fart this morning... Ive seen pictures and write ups of guys who swap a gen2 dash into a gen1, and i know that the early gen3s have the gen2 dash.
I am also lead to believe that theres not alot of difference in the ranger cab dimentions between 93+

So this brings me to thinking that theoretically a gen3+ dash SHOULD be able to bolt into a gen2 ranger.

Am i wrong in my thinking? will a gen3+ dash be able to fit and look right and be wired up in a gen2 ranger?

 

[Nutz-N-Boltz]

Probably not a direct bolt-in, but sounds reasonable.

 

[94STXRanger]

Man what the h3ll i was gonna ask this EXACT QUESTION!
Great minds think alike.
I like the rounded gen 3 dashs a LOT better and would also love to get one in my truck. You could probalby make the dash fit, triming or something. My question would be all the electrical hookups like radio, instruments, heater and cooling swithces and all the hvac plumbing.
I hope some one has info.

 

[dude772]

Man what the h3ll i was gonna ask this EXACT QUESTION!
Great minds think alike.
I like the rounded gen 3 dashs a LOT better and would also love to get one

I like it, but i could go either way... i want it partly for the space where the passengers side airbag would go.

im wondering if the steering column would have to be swapped over as well and if tey are the same shape around the windshiled and if they will physically fit in the same spot and if the instrument cluster can be wired up to work... i can make bolt locations and figure out the rest.

 

[94STXRanger]

Exactly. If it could fit with minor fab work, i would soon be on my way to the junk yard.

 

[dude772]

i would just go for it if i could get a freebee. But ive got to go out and buy a dash to try it and if it dont work im out the cost of a dash.

 

[Explorin94]

I did it for a buddy who rolled his 91 ex-cab. He bought an 87 that already had a suspension lift. Anyway we took his whole interior out of the 91 and put it into his 87. The 91 had a 4.0 and the 87 had a 2.9 that was gone. We put the engine and transmission in the 87 along with the whole wiring harness. Even the wiring harness under the dash along with the dash. The mounting points are a little different but it is doable. I remember welding some tabs onto the firewall to get more tabs to put screws in up by the windshield. The brace that goes to the brake and clutch pedal mount is different between the two so if you do that swap you will need that.

 

[ZMan]

ya the 2nd gen dash isn't a bolt in to a 1st gen by any means, only 2 of the 6 mounting holes actually line up, and it doesn't fit around the steering column supports at all, we had to do some cutting and breaking there..

To add to the 95+ dash, remember that the heater controls are all electric, so that will take some fabbing.

 

[dude772]

I did it for a buddy who rolled his 91 ex-cab. He bought an 87 that already had a suspension lift. Anyway we took his whole interior out of the 91 and put it into his 87. The 91 had a 4.0 and the 87 had a 2.9 that was gone. We put the engine and transmission in the 87 along with the whole wiring harness. Even the wiring harness under the dash along with the dash. The mounting points are a little different but it is doable. I remember welding some tabs onto the firewall to get more tabs to put screws in up by the windshield. The brace that goes to the brake and clutch pedal mount is different between the two so if you do that swap you will need that.

That doesn't really answer my question... yes it helps my understand that the gen1 and 2 are little different but its been done multiple times.

ya the 2nd gen dash isn't a bolt in to a 1st gen by any means, only 2 of the 6 mounting holes actually line up, and it doesn't fit around the steering column supports at all, we had to do some cutting and breaking there..

To add to the 95+ dash, remember that the heater controls are all electric, so that will take some fabbing.

Im getting the feeling that no one has sucessfully done this before...

Can someone post up pictures of the 95+ dash?
and has the dash changed from that style up to present? if so i would like to see pictures of that too if possible... i might want to try this. But if i do, i want to try it with the nicest looking dash the ranger came with

 

[94STXRanger]

Thats what i want to know too. Could a 95,96,97 or higher dash be put in my 94. Wiring differences, mounting, size, shape, HVAC, steering, etc.

 

[dude772]

Thats what i want to know too. Could a 95,96,97 or higher dash be put in my 94. Wiring differences, mounting, size, shape, HVAC, steering, etc.

I'll figure it out if you wanna pay for me to get a dash . Before I plan on doing this im looking for a heads up on things too look for and major issues to watch. Mostly i'd like to see the newer styles, and are the stereos a single din, din and a half, or double din?

 

[Jaymz9350]

Can someone post up pictures of the 95+ dash?
and has the dash changed from that style up to present? if so i would like to see pictures of that too if possible... i might want to try this. But if i do, i want to try it with the nicest looking dash the ranger came with

i know up to at least 2005 the dash was basically the same just with a different instrument cluster.

 

[94STXRanger]

I'll figure it out if you wanna pay for me to get a dash . Before I plan on doing this im looking for a heads up on things too look for and major issues to watch. Mostly i'd like to see the newer styles, and are the stereos a single din, din and a half, or double din?

If its twenty bucks id pay ten for ya! Beyond that, you do it first and ill follow! lol. If any one could just give us dimensions, measurements and such on their 95+ trucks, that would help.

 

[Ranger44]

I know the ducting for the heat and air are different from the early gen 3 dash to the later gen3 dashes. The mounting holes don't line up...the electrical is somewhat different. Basically to swap one in is a fab job.

 

[Roger]

Wow. I'm seeing some answers I wasn't expecting. If I get off my fat butt, I'll get my cab swap done. I'm replacing the 90 cab with a 88. 88 cab doesn't have a dash with it. I figured I'd have some mount issues, but only 2 of 6 match? Yikes. I was hoping to be able to use the existing 88 clutch/brake/throttle pedals, and the 88 steering column brackets. But not too sure now.

My only other real question is the wiring harness. I pulled the remains of the 88 harness through the driver's side opening. Will that opening accept the 90 bulkhead connector without too much alteration? After that, I think I have it beat (well, I will have to alter the radiator bulkhead for the 90 headlight buckets...

Great thread!