Model A Dash from another car weld it in?

I see a lot of dashes from other cars put into Model A's. I have a 30 roadster, I'm planning on putting a 36 Plymouth dash in. My question do most weld the dash in, or make it removable? Welding in would of course be much easier. Right now the gas tank panel is bolted in, I guess if you do weld the dash in that panel should be welded in as well. Any help would be great.

 

Most guys seem to weld them in. I would bolt it in for two reasons

1. Easy access to anything you put behind the dash...electrical components,pedals,heater, etc.

2. What if you or the next owner want to change it in the future?

You will need to run a strong tube across the cowl inside the bottom of the dash to hang the column from.

 

metal man is right. You'll thank yourself when having to work on gauges and under dash wiring.

 

I think Metal Man nailed it. In the long run it works out a lot better to bolt it in. It lets you work in that area easier when you are building the car and when you wire the dash and instruments you can do it out on the bench rather than upside down under the dash while dropping stuff on your face.

 

all the time you spend now making it bolt-in will be saved when it comes to running wiring and everything else behind the dash.

 

Thanks guys, anybody have pictures of how you bolted your dash in a roadster? Gets tricky with the under the windshield area....

 

No roadsters (yet) but my '32 Chevy dash is bolted into my coupe and on my dads truck were using a '36 Chevy truck dash bolted in as well. Bolt it in, you will thank yourself later.

 

Give us an idea of what your challenge is. How much different is it compared to a closed car? Show some pics of your problems.
My answer to bolting the dash in is also based on tank mounting. My idea is that if there is that much of a problem with dash mounting, it will surely create more problems with trying to bolt on the fuel tank if there is that much of a problem with working room.
Open minded here.

 

Thanks guys... I think I will take a little more time and bolt it in...

 

I bolted mine in, on the original cover piece.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1928417&stc=1&d=1367715180

Dave L

 

very nice work!

 

I've seen in an A, where a guy made the dash permanent and made the gas tank removable with a threaded rod in the center where the gas cap went, and a welded nut inside the cap to hold it down it looked stock. Wouldn't work with an original gas tank intact, but he could access the backside of the dash just by removing the gas tank "cover". Not sure if he had the cowl band removed or modified to make it work. It seemed like a smart idea...

 

I also like to weld them to the dash rail cover and then bolt it in...

 

that's a good idea... I've seen this... kind of similar...

 

53 truck. I sectioned it, fellow HAMBer JW Johnston fit it. Bolted in.