Dash Panel Swap

[XCRN]

Are the dash panels/skins interchangeable on different year dash frames? I am wanting to swap a 03-06 dash panel, radio, radio bezel onto my 2000 but would rather not have to swap the whole dash and deal with moving the VIN tag over and changing out all the wiring. So could I just move the 03-06 dash skin over to my 2000 frame?

 

[macleanflood]

I swapped my 97 dash with a 2000 dash and moved my vin. Wasn't hard. Don't know about later years but the 2000 dash HVAC panel opening is 3/8" wider. Had to slightly modify my controls.

I mostly did this because my 97 dash metal sub frame had a healthy coat of surface rust. The 2000 dash was much cleaner. I seperated the plastic and primed and painted the subframe before reassembling and reinstalling. (And left my passenger airbag out.)

-Mac

 

[TJ4Jim]

Are the dash panels/skins interchangeable on different year dash frames? I am wanting to swap a 03-06 dash panel, radio, radio bezel onto my 2000 but would rather not have to swap the whole dash and deal with moving the VIN tag over and changing out all the wiring. So could I just move the 03-06 dash skin over to my 2000 frame?

The dash bezel will fit but it's not a direct swap since it does not have the same push pin fastener locations. My 99 has the later bezel that I added 2 small screws at the very bottom of the bezel to keep it in place. I doubt the entire dash would swap over due to the heater box configuration but not for sure.

 

[XCRN]

The dash bezel will fit but it's not a direct swap since it does not have the same push pin fastener locations. My 99 has the later bezel that I added 2 small screws at the very bottom of the bezel to keep it in place. I doubt the entire dash would swap over due to the heater box configuration but not for sure.

Thats why I was hoping to just swap the 03 skin onto the 2000 frame, avoid having to deal with other parts behind the dash.

The ultimate goal is to swap one of those factory style single din touch screen radios that fits in the stock 03-06 bezel. I did try and install an 03-06 radio bezel and the radio onto my dash as-is and it looks like I can fit the radio and bezel on with spacers but the dash in there now was hacked up pretty bad to make an aftermarket radio fit and there is only one bolt hole I can mount the new radio in. So I figured might be a good idea to get a better condition dash to start from scratch. Ill be getting a whole 03-06 dash so worst case I just deal with it and swap the whole thing on.

 

[hear]

I can fit the radio and bezel on with spacers but the dash in there now was hacked up pretty bad to make an aftermarket radio fit and there is only one bolt hole I can mount the new radio in. So I figured might be a good idea to get a better condition dash to start from scratch.

Had the same problem with my daughter's 97. How I have it installed works, but if I ever needed to change the stereo, it's gonna be work. And since she's using an ultra cheap chinese single-din car play unit, the odds are extremely high that it will need to be touched again.

 

[TJ4Jim]

Thats why I was hoping to just swap the 03 skin onto the 2000 frame, avoid having to deal with other parts behind the dash.

The ultimate goal is to swap one of those factory style single din touch screen radios that fits in the stock 03-06 bezel. I did try and install an 03-06 radio bezel and the radio onto my dash as-is and it looks like I can fit the radio and bezel on with spacers but the dash in there now was hacked up pretty bad to make an aftermarket radio fit and there is only one bolt hole I can mount the new radio in. So I figured might be a good idea to get a better condition dash to start from scratch. Ill be getting a whole 03-06 dash so worst case I just deal with it and swap the whole thing on.

I used the later double din bezel available on Amazon and fit it up to the 99 dash.

 

[XCRN]

I used the later double din bezel available on Amazon and fit it up to the 99 dash.

I got a newer bezel to fit fine older dash fine, the newer radio however will not fit without spacers and because of the hack job of install that was done previously and its now left with only one mount hole left so I cant really mount a radio with a single spacer.

 

[macleanflood]

I got a newer bezel to fit fine older dash fine, the newer radio however will not fit without spacers and because of the hack job of install that was done previously and its now left with only one mount hole left so I cant really mount a radio with a single spacer.

Can of minimally expanding spray foam will fix that...

-Mac

 

[TJ4Jim]

I got a newer bezel to fit fine older dash fine, the newer radio however will not fit without spacers and because of the hack job of install that was done previously and its now left with only one mount hole left so I cant really mount a radio with a single spacer.

I dealt with similar on my dash and was able to pop rivet a piece of aluminum sheet metal to the face of the original plastic radio opening.

 

[XCRN]

I dealt with similar on my dash and was able to pop rivet a piece of aluminum sheet metal to the face of the original plastic radio opening.

Thats a great idea, I did not think about that. I will probably just look into doing that instead

 

[TJ4Jim]

Thats a great idea, I did not think about that. I will probably just look into doing that instead

I was able to restore the original screw pattern that way.

 

[XCRN]

So to update, tried swapping just the skins from a newer dash and it works so far.