My '83 K5 is void of upholstery from the front seats back, I use it as a pickup. Usually no top, when it rains I just fold the seats forward. My dash pad is a mess, can I just take it off and leave it without one or is there something that it holds together?
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Do I need to have a dash pad?
- Thread starter PaulZ
- Start date
toss it 
Nope, just a screw on each end you have to open the doors to get to, then the ones along the front. At least from what I remember.
I've been dashless for 2 years. Still have the gauge panel in. No problemo...
some pics...
I drove around the last few days with my dash just like Bigrays, I had just tossed in a new (used) windshield and ran short on time before I got the dash back on. Turns out you can put a windshield in these trucks without removing anything at all and I would have been wasting my time if I wasn't switching dashes anyway
nbrown2500
3/4 ton
Wasn't there a guy on here that took off all the foam on his dash pad and painted the metal skeleton. I think that would also be cool.
Yes! But there is a ton of holes to weld up for it to look nice. Ryoken did one.
Any chance they have some pics in a build thread?
Sure thing!
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/87-k5-build-hmmm-whats-that-ryoken-up-to-stay-tuned.194154/page-249
Just scroll down a bit....starts on that page.
There isn't any, just clips. It pulls out after you get the screws off the front.
stock is over rated .
do this in its place.
do this in its place.
I do wish someone offered sheetmetal skins/covers to go on the factory dash. I really like Kert's replacement dash but I just can't swing it. A couple of hundred bucks with of covers would be a nice quick fix.
Scrape off all the foam and vinyl from the dash pad frame. Get a can of 3m spray glue and a roll of automotive carpet and recover the metal frame. Spray the glue on the frame and carpet back. Let it tack up a bit and press the carpet on there like contact adhesive. Just ignore the holes and run the carpet right over the whole thing, wrapping over the edges. The carpet is stiff enough that you won't notice the holes underneath. I have done several this way and it works great. For about $30 and around an hour's work you get a really decent looking dash in whatever color you like. Auto carpet is usually pretty uv stable and will last for years.
Not a perfect photo but shows a dash done quickly with carpet and all the factory trim back in place.
But, if I fixed or replace my dash pad, I won't get to sweep out all of the little pieces of plastic and foam off of the floor after every wheeling trip.
