Opinions needed on dash swap

[woodtrucker]

After my new paint job is complete, sometime early spring, I'm going to move on to the dash replacement. I've decided I am going to replace dash versus a dash cover glued on. Since I am going that route, the heater core will be accessible. Should I go ahead and replace it too even if it's not leaking? Wasn't sure how widespread the leaky heater core problem is. I have 108k miles.

[deehammer]

Check out my topic on this subject I took some pics as well.....

LMC truck has a perfect fit dash for a good price. If ur doing the heater core I would do the AC Evap as well.

Edited January 14, 2017 by deehammer

[dripley]

I dont believe either the heater core or evaporator are weak spots in the Dodge. Like any other vehicle they can fail. If they are still working fine then you have a choice on replacing or not. I had a leaky evaporator and busted dash. I did replace the heater core while I had the box out. I had about 240k on mine when the evaporator started leaking. 

 I also used the LMC dash replacement. Fit great and still looks good after 4 years or more, @deehammerthread is good reference and Mike has a article here about pulling the dash also.

 

[woodtrucker]

Thanks guys. It's on the horizon! 

[CTcummins24V]

x2 on LMC dash replacement. TBo, member on this forum and a dodge tech, did mine and it looks factory, ever so slight color variation. LMC dash bezel is good too.

 

Even though I didn't have heater core or evaporator issues, I had the dash and all those parts replaced while it was apart.

[Sycostang67]

I would like to tackle this project this year as well.  The dealer slapped a plastic cover on my dash before I picked it up.  It looks ok, but the mounting holes for my bezel and headlight switch are broken and the cover doesn't help with that. 

[JAG1]

I think LMC is pretty Good. I just changed out the lower hinges on my 1st gen doors today and they are good quality. Not some nock off ,they are Canadian made.

 

Now no more whistling doors and they close nice without pulling off the inside panel.

[BBHD]

I have replaced 2 dashes with LMC's and they are nice pieces. Only bad thing is they aren't going to fix your headlight switch mount or some of your dash bezel holes as those are part of the main plastic frame. I was able to use some fiberglass resin and thin fiberglass material to repair headlight switch mount mounting holes. Hope this helps 

[jlbayes]

On another forum it was brought up the LMC dash is not reinforced but the Genos was. Just something to ponder.

[Sycostang67]

On ‎1‎/‎28‎/‎2017 at 9:35 PM, BBHD said:

I have replaced 2 dashes with LMC's and they are nice pieces. Only bad thing is they aren't going to fix your headlight switch mount or some of your dash bezel holes as those are part of the main plastic frame. I was able to use some fiberglass resin and thin fiberglass material to repair headlight switch mount mounting holes. Hope this helps 

That sucks, good to know ahead of time though so I don't freak out when it arrives.  Thanks for the heads up. 

[leon]

On January 30, 2017 at 10:12 AM, jlbayes said:

On another forum it was brought up the LMC dash is not reinforced but the Genos was. Just something to ponder.

Would like to know more about this. 

[dripley]

here they are for comparison. Genos price has come down since I bought my LMC several years back as I remember.

https://www.genosgarage.com/product/dodge-ram-replacement-dash-drd8-2/dashtops

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/de/full.aspx?Page=37

You get to be the judge now. I used the washers that LMC sells. Seemed like cheap insurance at the time.

[jlbayes]

10 hours ago, leon said:

Would like to know more about this. 

Sadly that is all I know about them. And after Wade had mentioned it I since have stop recommending the LMC dash.

[dripley]

I would like to know what they do to reinforce it. Just says reinforced. I bought the reinforcing washers that LMC offered with theirs. My oe cracked all over and not just from the mounting holes. I guess time will tell.

[Carbur8tr]

Just my 2 cents, I've done the LMC dash replacement and it's been holding up going on 3 years now.  Since you have it out I would go ahead and do both your heater core and your evaporator.  Those are two things you do not want to have to deal with later down the road.  I don't remember either of them necessarily being deal breaker with the price especially when you're comparing to the cost of the dash.