i have a 60 series (1937) and the dash structure bolts into the car at the door jambs and up at the windshield. I would like to put a 70 or 75 series dash in the car but i've been told the dash structure (not the facia which is a bolt in piece with the glove box door) is welded into those cars and does not "unbolt". Is this the case?
My question is Ken, why would you want to do that? Yours is a Fisher body and I think most of the larger series are Fleetwood. theres a good chance the dash is larger anyway but I could be wrong. My MPB dos not cover the panels.
Well the dash in my car is cut up and has had after marker Stewart Warner gages installed. I have already found an original gage cluster and updated the innards of the gages with new 12 volt units carefully installing the original needles so as to keep the look all original.
While it is a pretty nice car it is not going to be original. Some time ago, probably 20 or 30 years ago it had a Chevy Nova subframe installed and a 10 bolt Chevy rear. All of this work was expertly done and very nice. The body is not cut up and it is very solid. I intend to keep the "spirit" of the car and keep it as "Cadillac" as I can so the finished car looks all the world original-- even though it has some non- correct parts. I want to build it to my tastes but tastefully done.
So that's the long answer. The short answer is if I have to repair the dash I much prefer the 70 / 75 series dash to the 60 series.
I see where your coming from now. You still run the risk of the dash being too long but 2 years ago Thomas Lindholm posted he had a dash. Heres a link to that conversation.
http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=127600.20
Thanks for the info. I have the dash "facia" that is shown in that thread that is to mount to the dash structure in the car. While it is a little different in the speedo and clock spacing, everything else seems to lay onto the 60 series dash structure that bolts into my car -- and will work width-wise. However, the 60 series dash structure has only the center section "raised" and I would need to do metal fab work to make the 70-75 dash facia mount correctly to the face of the 60 series dash that I have that is already cut up. I prefer not to have to do that work to my dash.
I find that I can modify my 60 series dash structure to accept the new 70-75 series dash facia (with the chrome strips from door jamb to door jamb) but I would like to know if the dash structure of the 70-75 series does indeed bolt into the car. Sure would be a lot less work for me as I have found a series 75 donor car with a dash out of state with a "less than energetic" owner that could answer this for me.
thanks again for your help here.
ken
Hello Ken, the 75 and 85 series dash is held in place with simple clamps and bolts.
Ty Stinson
Great. Thanks Ty. You always come through! Now maybe if I tell the guy parting the car that he will be more apt to remove it for me.