Thread: 1995 - 1999 GM C/K Truck Double Din

That doesn't look all that great to me. IMO, since you're tearing it all the way down anyway, look for an ash tray from a '95 and the lower dash piece and relocate/hide your HVAC down there. If you're 2wd, then you can fit a 10.4" screen in there... Read through some of Nexson's threads, RDholtz's, TurboCad's, or a number of the other high-quality fabbers, to see what all is involved with properly modifying your dash bezel.

Another option I've seen that I've had mixed feelings on the look, is to drop the HVAC down where the slave CD is.

However, I've yet to see ANY kit out there for the OBS FSC (old body style full size chevy) that is a direct double-DIN conversion.

kl0wn, I saw you responded to my newbie post too. Are you pretty knowledgable about the 90's C/K trucks?

It looks to me with this kit, he did what you were describing and dropped the HVAC controls to the location of the CD player. The reason I really liked this kit is it appears to me that it maintains a very factory look. No seams or gaps, has the little rolled lips around the openings, and maintains the textures of the dash. I'll check out some of the threads you mentioned and see what they have to say.

It's the only body style I've ever owned... I currently have a '96 PU & a '99 'Hoe. And I've owned both gen interiors before.

I've looked at this issue for a few years now... Having never bit the bullet and put my 'Puter in any of the trucks, I can tell you what I have planned for my Tahoe: I'm planning on a 10.4" screen in the OEM HU/CD/HVAC location. With mine being 4wd, I will not only have to relocate the HVAC controls down into a custom '95 ash tray, but I will have to decide where to relocate the pushbutton 4wd selector. My original thought was to mount the selector switch back up in the overhead console. However, I'm planning on sanding and smoothing much of my dash, so I'll probably just wind up molding a new mount for it down about 2" from where it currently resides.

As for the HVAC relocate, I'll try to get you some pictures from fullsizechevy... A few members over there have done the relocate, and had good functionality success, but lacked the finishing touches. I've also seen simple "nibbles" taken out of the OEM dash, but looked too hack-job to me.

IMO, your best bet is to get into the junk yard, and get at least one extra bezel to work with. Use a Dremel tool to cut out the current HVAC surround (on the bezel). Then place & trace, and then cut out that area down where the HVAC will be relocated. You will also have to do trimming to the area where the slave CD was mounted, to allow the needed depth/width for the HVAC. Everything else is a lesson in cutting, moving, welding, and filling... And once you have the "black" portion of the bezel sanded, smoothed out, and filled properly, you'll prime, and use something like SEM Texture Paint to get the OEM texture back to the entire area. (you'll also learn to mask)

Where are you located at?

Well, Im in the Navy and stationed down in Norfolk, Virginia. My dad lives up in Maryland and the truck is currently up there with him. I showed him that site that I linked in my first post, and he's already talked about getting a second bezel from a junk yard. I'll have to look into it a little more, but maybe I can pull this off myself without dropping almost $200 for that kit.

After looking at that $200 kit, it appears to be flat plastic panels. I'd bet you could do the same thing on some "scrap" 1/8-inch black plastic from a plastic fabricator. Materials would be around $10 or less, and all the rest is careful measuring, cardboard mockups, and final fabrication.

. . . and thanks for serving.

Thanks rdholtz.

So I was up in Maryland this weekend and my dad and I were discussing the project and looking at the dash. First issue we ran into is that our 'Hoe has rear window defrost. We need to find the control unit out of a C/K truck or vehicle that didn't have it. Should be able to easily get one in the junkyard cheap. We looked at the kit again and it doesnt come with finishing supplies, you still need to get the SEM trim texture/paint to clean up the cracks and whatnot.

I think Im going to look into getting a bezel at a junkyard and I'll expiriment with it myself. Ive seen the trim/texture paint online for under $20 a can and Im sure I can pick up some plastic at the hobby store cheap. Im thinking what I might do is cut the openings for the LCD and then climate controls. Then I will glue some black plastic to the back of it for reinforcement. Then create a template and use the router attachement on my dremel tool to go around and round the edges off to give me that nice, molded, factory look.

Sound like a good idea?

Originally Posted by Sindri907

I think Im going to look into getting a bezel at a junkyard and I'll expiriment with it myself. Ive seen the trim/texture paint online for under $20 a can and Im sure I can pick up some plastic at the hobby store cheap. Im thinking what I might do is cut the openings for the LCD and then climate controls. Then I will glue some black plastic to the back of it for reinforcement. Then create a template and use the router attachement on my dremel tool to go around and round the edges off to give me that nice, molded, factory look.

Sound like a good idea?

Sounds good, except for one thing: the hobby shop plastic will be expensive, and they'll have a limited selection. Look in the yellow pages or online for your area, and find a plastics fabrication shop. Tell them what you're doing, ask for a recommendation, and buy their cutoff scrap. I bought a 2-foot by 4-foot (61cm x 122cm) piece of 1/8-inch (3mm) black polyethlene for $8, and it was in perfect condition. To them, it was scrap; to me, it was all I needed and far more -- cheap. Fabricators in your area will probably be able to provide the materials and the thicknesses you need.

Last summer, I went to a steel fabricator in town, and said I was looking for about a square foot of low-carbon steel plate, maybe 1/8-inch thick. The owner walked me out to the scrap pile, picked up a piece just about that size, and asked if that's what I needed.

"Yep," I said, "that's perfect. How much do I owe you?"

"It's Friday afternoon," he said. "Have a nice weekend."

It's pretty hard to beat a price of zero. I'm a firm believer in using scrap; the cost is low, and sometimes you can get good advice on fabricating and finishing techniques.

Getting back to the plastic: I suspect you'll be happiest using ABS. It machines and sands well, and it can be glued. I'd stay away from polyethylene and polypropylene, because they don't accept glues. About the only way to connect them is with plastic welding. I'm stuck with PE because that's the material used in my dash; otherwise, I'd work in ABS.

Take a look at TurboCad6's threads, especially the one on the FX35. You'll find some other good information on working with ABS in this Fabrication forum, too.

Plus, as far as I can tell, the dash bezel is ABS. Through the trials of messing around with a few spare bezels, the ABS welds perfectly to it. Even the cheap ABS glue you get at the hardware store seems to bind the two quite nicely.

Thanks for all the tips and advice. Im getting pretty excited about this project, Im gonna start looking around for a bezel to practice on today after work. For now, here is a preview of the project.