Finally!! The "Ram Tough" dash started cracking around two years ago in January. By May I could rappel into the cavern created. I bought a replacement dash from LMC truck and it has set in the office since, ohhh, around last January??
Have seen threads elsewhere of others replacing the dash pad, all day, having to cob things together(?) to get it to fit right, alter things and so on were stories I've heard. I waited for a time where I had nothing pressing going on. Well, yesterday came and I decided that I wanted nothing to do with fabricating, welding or contractors, being a mechanic on the other hand sounded like fun!! Yes, I was shocked at myself that I was enthusiastic about cranking wrenches again.
Started around 2:30, figured I had nothing going on for the next few days so if there were any issues I could handle them without being rushed. By 3:00 I had the old dash pad removed, dash assembly disconnected and rolled back. Spent 15 mintues cleaning years of dust off the inside of the dash with one hand while talking with one friend on the phone with the other. Once cleaned I popped in the new dash pad and got all the screw holes lined up then installed all of the front panel screws. Another phone call and speaker phone while I installed the defrost vent screws and mounting bracket screws on the back between the window. Pop dash back up, threw in screws to secure to the firewall, put steering comlumn back up and replaced the trim. 4 o'clock and spraying McGuires protectant on my new dash, new air freshener and complete.
No real issues, LMC dash replacement fit like a glove. The bezel around the gauges and heater/ac controls/radio has a small crack in it but I'm not spending $180 for that. Now I don't have to look thru my windshield and see the grand canyon replica, no more turning corners in the morning and watching my sunglasses falling into the abyss. Unfortunately though with the new dash I have now lost my convenient storage area for my otterbox case! Climb in the truck, clip into a broken piece of plastic hanging on what should be the dash. Think I'll be alright with that though, everytime I walk by the truck now I look at the dash and smile.
As far as doing it, easy peasy. Patience with some of the screws but pulling the dash or removing the windshield as one guy said he was going to do is overkill.