Replace dash 98 GMC Safari

[Stevo_]

Hi. The dash is really bad and lifted up from sitting in the sun for years. Someone tried to screw it down and fill with plastic filler. Also they broke the handle at the passenger side. I have a complete 2000 Astro dash I stripped out of my old van in perfect condition. This is everything including frame, wires, vents, tubes etc. Does anyone know if this dash can be used as a replacement excluding the cluster? Or if anyone has removed just the dash top itself how that is done. I could remove the 98 GMC dash partially and swap the tops out. Sounds like fun in any case and hopefully one of you have dealt with this?

Thanks so much for any suggestions.

[Stevo_]

I ended up installing the new dash, removed the wiring harness, taped everything off real good and cable tied harness in it's fixed channel areas in the dash frame. Looks like new!

[redfury]

I get to pull my dash this spring to fix a broken heater component...how long did it take to swap out the dash?

[Stevo_]

It took maybe 3 hours to remove. It took me a day (because Itook my time) to remove the wiring harness from the old dash and install it in the new dash and then install the dash itself. You would not have to do this if using the same dash. I had no help at all and had to prop the dash on my knee once inside the van to hook it on one side then the other and it just drops in place. I also took time to remove all the vent tubes swap and cleaned them real good. I opened the heater AC air handler and cleaned it real good, removed some old foam that was disintegrating and replaced it.

One important thing, there is a Vehicle Theft Deterrent relearn procedure you may need to do if you disconnect the wiring harness. There is a small box above the radio in the 98 dash that has a plug that did not stay connected when I did the install. The vehicle will begin to start then shut off. I plugged it in again (taped it good). I then found the procedures on the cardone dot com site which takes about 30 minutes to relearn the security.

I removed the seats. The dash has 4 major bolts holding the frame. You pull the trim, radio, switches, bottom panels. The steering column drops out of the way. Pull the wire plugs, bell housing. One thing to note is you are going to need to disconnect part of the wiring harness outside the firewall that connects to cruise control and wipers if I recall and pull it inside the cab.

The dash now looks like new and original! Now I would like to cover the steering with leather. I am glad this job is done.