Hello, everybody. I'm Doug and new here to these forums. I bought a used 1997, 4x4, short wheel base, standard shift, Dodge Ram 1500. I drove about 4 hours to pick it up. I thought I got a good deal at $1800. Anyway, as expected, it needed a bit of work. I rebuilt the front end. I didn't drive it more than 2 weeks and thought to myself, "I gotta do something about the dashboard." Boy did I get into something completely unexpected. I disassembled the dash thinking I was going to be able to repair the cracks. Needless to say this didn't work. So, long story short, I bought a new dash pad from LMC Truck. It is near the same color as my old dash. It ought to give a nice highlight to the interior being a slightly lighter gray color; I guess I could paint it if I wanted to with their colorbond stuff. When I started to put it all back together I found the lower dash is as brittle as the top. In fact, I just broke out pieces gently moving it around to put the new dash pad on. I guess I joined this forum to try to find out if anybody knows where I can find a new lower dash. I believe Dodge has discontinued this part. I find a bunch for sale on 'Ebay' and such. I'm just weary of purchasing one used and finding myself in the same boat and several hundred dollars out of my wallet. Does anyone know of a new supplier?

I thank you in advance.

 

Welcome to DF!

I don't think you are going to find any lower dashes new. Others have looked for them as well, and so far as I know, no one has found one. Local junkyards may be a better bet, or maybe try car-part.com. (basically a parts locator service for participating junkyards, which is most of them. )

Check out the 2nd Gen Ram section.