Anyone know how involved it is to change a dashboard top on a 2001 ram . Dealership wants 450 dollars for labor and 190 for the top. They say it takes 5 hours to do it.

 

http://www.coverlaymfg.com/index.php...on=show_detail

i would recomend doig it yourself. way cheaper, plus you get the satisfaction of a diy success. lol!

 

I've got a brand new one stright from Dodge sitting in my garage waiting to be put on my 98. The dealership said thats its not such a big deal. The hardest part is getting to the hardware in the front, up close to the glass.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...83942&rd=1

Supposably better quality cover here. I need one too, I'm just not in a hurry cause mine had a dash mat on it.

Lee, what kind of quality is the plastic on the one you have?

 

Its straight from the Dodge factory warehouse thanks to the dealership my Pops used to work at. It looks great, flexable, and the color match is perfect. The bad part is that they did say that they've done two on the same truck already; one that sits outside allot. So not sure if the factory material is as durable as those aftermarket ones. I'm just figuring that the fit is going to be dead on and thus making the install easier.

 

I don't know if it'll be any easier having to pull the whole dash down, It'll look better though.

 

Lee,

Is it going to take more than 5 hours like the dealership said? If it takes them that long , how long for a novice like me?

Thanks, Mike

 

There are about six small bolts up front that could turn into a PITA and the rest is simply like putting your whole dash back together. Dashes can get aggrivating sometimes. 5 hours is what their books say it will take in order to cover all their costs, etc. It may take you at least a few hours. Figure out if taking a half day to do your dash is equal or worse than paying them probably around 65.00 per hour. While your taking your dash appart just be real careful you don't break something else in the process. All of our parts get even more brittle over the years. I know the mounts around the stereo headunit has one broken off already. The original dash bezel in my truck shattered a couple years ago and it's on its second one already. Be prepared to maybe bust up someother parts. The dealership would break them as well and then probably call you to say that everything is going to cost more and you'll have to wait another day or so before that part comes it. It can be a snowball effect if you know what I mean.

 

The pic of the dash in the ebay ad that Fax Fader left looks like mine. Replacing it is next on my list of repairs. And by reading this thread i will probably do it myself

 

Yeah if it's an overlay I'll do it myself.