Structural question

[elgemcdlf]

Ok all you body professionals. Can any of you tell me if the dash in a bump is a structural piece? I am swapping mine out for a '57 Fairlane. The truck dash is welded in & the Fairlane normally is a bolt in. My plan was to make mounting tabs and bolt it in the truck so I could easily remove it for work behind the dash if need be. I don't want my cab folding up if it is a structural piece. I can just as easily weld it in just prefer to bolt in.

[knucklejs]

I'd say a good rule of thumb is that if it's welded it is, bolted it isn't. The bolt in dashes typically have a 'c' channel along the lower edge that the attaching brackets are welded to. Once bolted to the body that channel is what stiffens the framework. Without it the door frames would probably be weekened and you could end up with cracked paint at the top of the a pillars. I'd say as long as you have the '57 dash bolted in solidly you should be fine. It should look pretty cool too!

[hazelnut]

I don't think its a structural support, Its got the cowl thats one piece welded in and all the other boxing all around it. I think the dashes were welded in just because of the speed of manufactureing and there wasnt a lot of profit back then in trucks. Just a thought and i could be wrong.

[flyboy71]

Its not strictly structural but it helps stiffen the lower flange that makes up the windshield opening. There are three pieces spot welded along that lower flange so just be sure the cowl and the inner cowl are still welded together. Ive pulled the dash and cowl off a cab and was surprised how rigid it still was, but that would change when the truck is under driving stress.

See my thread for the gory details: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... &sk=t&sd=a