possible dash/heater core write up coming.

[Duranged84]

Just wanted to see if there would be any interest in a dash removal/heater core write up. Also if someone would like to host pictures so they will remain on the site from here on.

I did a complete interior swap last week from the Explorer to the Mountaineer. Including heater core change, without unhooking the AC lines. I've seen several old posts about dash and heater core removals but not really any info. Would like to give a little back to our community here. Not much info about it on the general web either, and none on youtube for our generation trucks. It was a little more simple than I expected after pulling several other dashes and then after pulling the explorer dash carefully to find out exactly what needed to come out and what stays attached to body and what stays attached to the dash board assembly. I personally thought it was easier than the 97-04 F150s.

I did use a few pointers from other threads here for some stuff like the console removal last year when I did my blend motor in the explorer, then one for the instrument cluster, I think the one for the Mounty gauge swap, stuff like that, and don't mind giving credit to those authors for the threads I looked at before tearing into it.

As a side note, the Mountaineer went from trashed, tore up, dingy, dirty tan, to very clean nice grey. Headliner, seat belts, the whole 95 yards..... lol. Very time consuming as well as most of the work was done outside below freezing. The auto dim mirror and harness plugged right in to the a-pillar harness and works as it should (if anybody seen my other post before changing parts). Also the Mountys heated mirrors worked without any mods to the explorer dash harness or control panel. Both trucks had cloth seats, 3rd row and power driver non heated. All were direct swap and plug n play. Both were also 03's. Yrmv.

 

[Hudsonf]

Hi Duranged84! For me; Any and all howto's are welcome. You could host your pics on Photo Bucket.

 

[Nomad8326]

Please do.

I'm thinking about trying to swap the tan dash out of my 04 xls this summer.

Some idiot smashed the hell out of the radio area that I didn't see till I pulled the trim panel for a radio swap and found the mess.

Depending on how much of a headache the swap ends up being I could kill 2 birds with one stone. less tan and radio and such will fit correctly.

 

[Duranged84]

I'll start a new thread with it after while, have a little running to do in this crappy snow and ice. It really wasn't that horrible to do, and barely any help, and actually didn't have help when I set the tan dash back in the Explorer to hook the steering and shifter back up so I would be able to move it. I'll see about setting up a new photo bucket, just know that as threads age, links go dead or hosted pics disappear. I will try to keep links live so other future users and search results will be able to access the full write up. Have a little patience with me, I will get it wrote out and posted, bear with me as my phone has been acting stupid and my auto correct is actually working opposite a lot lol. Time to find a new rom and re flash this thing again.


Nomad, getting rid of the tan will make you very happy and worth the work. like I said I did a full color swap and it made it feel like a different truck. And that's after driving the Explorer with that interior for 2 years. No regrets, very worth it.

 

[Duranged84]

Made a new photobucket account, Will start putting something together and get a new post together. Watch for updates!


Update --- Dash removal thread posted, Have some editing to do and pictures to add, but got a good start.