hello, a question about swapping dashes from one car to another, i see alot of dash swaps but all are later dashes in a older car,ie: 59 impalas in mercs,50 fords in model a's as well as 40 fords in a's. what about swapping an older dash into a newer car? have seen it done but not many, reason i ask is i am contemplating a 55 chevy dash in a 62 nova convertible, modified engine and tranny, interior, and moulding removal. just curious about opinions about this type of swap. thanks hot rust
I always think of newer parts on an older car. 1939 lights on a 1932 car 1949 engine in a 1940 car 1940 wheels on a 1934 car 1940 dash in a 1936 car. Etc - the list goes on.
1986 chevette dash in an 1953 corvette? I like the dash in my '51- but I've contemplated customizing it. I'd be interested to see where this goes...
I think the question should not be old v new, but "does it make an improvement? I personally like 55 chevy dashes, ........and nova dashes? no-so-much. So I think the 55 dash is an improvement. (you also have to consider the theme of the car, but thats a separate question)
I saved a complete 1955 packard dash for a future swap, bought the whole parts car just because I loved the dash. No idea what to put it in so for now it sits on display. Swaps can look good or not turn out so good, styling has to match the car.
it's a matter of opinion of coarse, but, i don't care to much for dash swaps. it's not a matter of looks, i like to "see" what i'm driving. if i wanted to look at a 59 impala dash, i'd buy a 59 impala.
If the '55 dash looks better in the car than the '62 dash, then swap it. But it's certainly not common to put a '50s dash into a '60s car and you'd have to be careful to make sure it doesn't just look odd and out of place. You might consider just customizing the Nova dash rather than swapping it out.
Rules are unofficial. And rules are meant to be broken. But it doesn't mean it will be well liked or accepted. It's a weird line. But to me it mixes eras. Modify backward,not forward..with some exceptions (but this probably not one of them).
Ill have to find the pictures of my old 65 camino. I put a 55 chevy dash in it. Hell I must have the old timers cause there is a pic in my profile.Tim
I believe that the reason that you normally see a newer dash in an older car instead of the reverse is that the idea is to update your car not the opposite. I don't think that the rounded features of the '55 dash would lend itself well to the boxier Nova. I could be wrong but I just don't believe that it will look as nice as you think it would. What would lend itself well to the Nova would be the dash out of say a '64 Stude Avanti. it is a little more angular yet sportier than the nova.
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