So when you took it apart you didn't have to take a screw out of the area where the plug is, first you remove a small cover then a screw? So a total of 5 screws 2 on top of the dash under the rubber, same where the two parts meet under the rubber and one at the 120 v plug.
You should have removed the little cover and screw in this picture, I would be careful plugging things into that receptacle now since it is not screwed down. You are the only one that drives your truck so it won't matter, me I have to worry about a possibility of 3 other drivers.

 

nope.. no cover or screw from the front.

i removed the whole dash.. not each piece individually. So when i took the dash off.. the unit was still installed in the dash

there was a little L shaped bracket that had a screw on the side. In the front had like a square opening...behind the AC unit

when i took the dash off that piece was left on.. i didnt have to remove it.. i just pressed down on the thing that goes into the square on the front of the bracket.

so when i stuck it back on.. the screw that goes into the square just slid back in and popped back in place.

the ac unit was never really touched.. and its powered by a plug.. so i dont think there is going to be any electrical probs.. i didnt cut anything or whatever

and the bracket was never moved so when i push things into the AC outlet the bracket still provides support behind it, and when i take a plug out the they just come out.

I have plugged a few things in since i did this. And when i put something in, nothing flexes. and when i pull it out nothing seems to be coming lose. Everything feels as solid as normal.

So if anything starts to feel a little lose ill take some things back out and take a look at it.. but i have already had my laptop in and out of the truck a lot and everything seems to be fine.

when it was actually painted the whole vent and ac outlet insert just unclipped from the back.. kind of like the inserts to the grille.

when it was done being painted the inserts along with the ac outlet were snapped back in... then the whole dash unit was pressed back into place

see it was left in... just unplugged from the back

 

better shot

 

Okay just didn't want you to run into an issue later.

 

Alright, your dash just looks bad @$$. I love the look of my stock dash on my 09 ram, but this is just impressive. Can I ask who did this and what kind of paint they used? We have a CX-9 with the worst paint on the door trim. My wifes ring and everything else that touches it has scratched the hell out of the trim and Ive been thinking of just taking it to a body shop to see if they will paint them that shiny piano finish black to match the dash. Wasn't sure if a body shop is the best place to have something like this done. Wonder how she would feel about a tribal design on her door panels, lol

 

wow! funny I was just looking at my dash at lunch thinking how it might look with the center part around the nav and the shifter/cupholders would look gloss black! I have the silver on the sides and really think the middle needs something...yours is bad ****! Im not gonna go tribal but the gloss black part I definitely dig! So as asked above...what kind of paint? And how hard is it to achieve the smooth, glassy finish on plastic pieces?

 

sorry.. i didnt notice the question from a few days ago..

but i cant really answer because i was not there. So i dont knwo what kind of paint or whatever.

but if all your loooking to do is paint it piano style.. then that shouldnt be too hard for any painter.

the way i found my painter was through truckin magazine. I saw his name pop up on different articles and in sport truck mag and around my local show scene... so i knew he did great work.

so i contacted him and drove 1 1/2 hours to him and rented a car for a few days when i had to leave him my hood and gate. For my dash i just left that with him.

So i recommend looking through some mags to see shop in your area.. . or better go to a local show, see somehting you like and ask who did it.

cause if you just walk into a place.. even a nice looking shop.. you might find their painter is a guy they hired off craigslist last week. So get names a track them down lol..

BTW.. the guy who did mine for $200 including tribals and clear coated in is Vandemon (google him)... maybe you can just mail him your dash pieces.. he had others in his shop who did that

 

very good info! thank you! i must ask, because through my searching i've noticed nobody messes with the area in the middle of the console (surrounding the shifter, cubby hole, and cupholders). that is one of the areas i am wanting to paint. is it just impossible to remove or something?

 

i think it would be difficult because of the deep center drop and cup holders... maybe they could just spray it without sanding down there.. i dunno.

I dont think it would be too much more to get it off... theres a lil clip on top, remove the shifter... maybe some screws underneath.. prolly not hard

again.. talk to a local painter to see if he can do it

 

Looks good thought hopeull you can get it by her.