Hi all new to the forum but what a great place to find information Iam curious Ive read so many posts on this topic about the cracked dashes has any one ever attemted to change one out on there own,if so how much of a challenge is this job. I own a 2000 model that you could through a dead cat through the dash and i am planning on changing this out but would like to save some labor costs as well any info would be welcome thanks...

 

Its easy peasy. As long as you have some decent tools, you can handle it. A second person may come in handy at certain points, but its an easy weekend job.

 

welcome to DF, have you actually tried dropping said dead feline through the dash

 

You would.















Welcome!!

 

Welcome to the forums.

This is the route I plan on going someday:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

 

Sweet. Too bad I need one for my 97. It's cracking in about 8 places now.

 

a replacement dash from the dealer will be about the same price as the one from ebay. list price is $400, but pricing varies from 300-400. the dealer replacement is not the same pos as the original, but an improved version that will last. they'll do a vin check to make sure of color match.

i'm procrastinating on this one. mines cracked, but the pieces haven't fell out yet.

 

I got the hard but flexible cover from JC Whitney and it's been great. The summer temp down here in South Texas has avg over 100 degrees with 100% humidity and it's holding up fine. Easy to install and not expensive as a new one. It flexes with the different temp changes so it won't crack. They have all of the colors that Dodge makes and it's a perfect fit. Some of the guys here on the forum do not like those but you can't tell the difference. I posted some pics regarding the same back in April of this year if you are interested.

 

No offense, but you trust Dodge and their claims about an "improved" and "not the same POS" as the original dash, when they designed the POS in the first place? I've read and heard mixed reviews on the replacements, some claim they are good (such as yourself), others have them crack just like the old ones did.

I'll take my Made in USA, Lifetime Warranty dash please. The new Dodge dash, improved or not, will not come with that kind of warranty. Granted, warranties aren't everything and sometimes don't mean squat, but I will almost always give the longer warranty a try before I knock it.

 

How much of a PITA would it be to convert my 1997 to the 1998 and later dash?