I just purchased my vehicle and the middle part of the dash has been removed, I guess it was where the air condition vents and a radio was once there. I would like to replace it if anyone knows where I can get one. Thank you Steve phone 740-286-7255

These had aftermarket a/c added when they were new. They roughly cut out the center of the dash and a plastic panel with the a/c unit behind it was installed. The radio, a/c controls and switch for the electric step mount to the bottom. Below is a picture of the one in mine.

Do you still have the a/c unit hanging in there? You are probably going to have to go to a junkyard to find one.

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Nick Taylor - Green & White 1974 Hall GTC.
www.NicksGarage.com == www.HallGTC.com == www.NicksTeardrop.com

Like Nick said, look for any Dodge based class C RV, B van conversion or just a regular passenger van from 71 through 74 for the after market plastic AC panel. They're made of either ABS or polyethylene and, as you will discover, extremely thin. I just upgraded the radio in mine and had to slightly enlarge the radio cut out to accept the new Sony, and when I attempted to push the face of the radio in to make it more flush with the enclosure it pushed right through. I'm now going to reinforce the back of the panel with fiberglass cloth and epoxy, and maybe install a pair of machine screws from the bottom to help support the weight better than depending entirely on the flimsy plastic.

Another thing is that the weight of the AC unit is supported by this plastic thingy with two screws on either side of the vent opening. If your AC unit is completely missing, you might want to find a donor vehicle and transplant the entire thing. I see 72 - 75 Dodge campers for sale on craigslist here in central California all the time for < $1,000, and virtually all of them have the same AC setup as the GTC.
Matt

Matt, does your panel look like mine? I've removed the radio from mine as it was junk. I have the switch for the step just hanging out of the radio hole.

I've looked at a lot of these in the junkyard and haven't found one that matches mine. I have seen some later ones where the a/c unit is not attached to the plastic but instead supported by straps attached to the dash. I believe our a/c setups were made by Figiking like the overhead a/c system. I've seen several other brands in vans in the junkyard but they all basically look like a similar design.

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Nick Taylor - Green & White 1974 Hall GTC.
www.NicksGarage.com == www.HallGTC.com == www.NicksTeardrop.com

From what I can tell from the photo, yes. My old radio was a replacement done by the prev owner and was junk right out of the box. A "Realistic" (Ha ha ha) by Radio Shack. Don't you have the hole in the dash for the switch?

I looked to see if attaching the condenser by straps would be possible, but it looks pretty iffy from what I've seen. I replaced the rubber insulation tape on the top side of the AC duct, and now it fits nice and snug with the plastic front cover. When I first decided to mess around with the radio and switches after I first bought it, I added aluminum straps on either side of the cover to better support the weight of AC and radio. That part works much better than the original setup, which is just a few screws spaced too far apart. If I can figure out how to make it work with our new Nikon 510 I'll take a picture of the setup. IF.

Next time I go to the junkyard I'll have to look at some more of them and if I see one with the strap setup I'll take some pictures.

As for the step switch hole, the switch was broken off and the wires were just hanging out behind the dash, the light wasn't there either. Also the switch is easy to break off when you pull the dog house so I figured I'd just let it hang out in the radio hole.

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Nick Taylor - Green & White 1974 Hall GTC.
www.NicksGarage.com == www.HallGTC.com == www.NicksTeardrop.com

Thanks for all the information, and feed back...I guess I just want a solid piece of plastic there, the A/C unit has been removed and i am not going to replace it, so I just want to cover the hole and make it look nicer. Thanks Steve

Steve,

You might try a sheet of aluminum, then you could mount the radio and any switches or gauges you might want to it. It's a big opening to span with plastic.

Nick.

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Nick Taylor - Green & White 1974 Hall GTC.
www.NicksGarage.com == www.HallGTC.com == www.NicksTeardrop.com

Or you might want to do some junkyard archaeological digs and see if you come up with an original solid panel.

You can replace the whole dash frame but you have to pull the windsheild out to get to the screws that hold it in at the top.

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Nick Taylor - Green & White 1974 Hall GTC.
www.NicksGarage.com == www.HallGTC.com == www.NicksTeardrop.com

Ugh.

Mine now is wood covered with fabric.. Just got to be careful not to go to thick on the wood. Looks/works pretty good.

Eric. Can you post a photo? Do you still have the AC??

I forgot to mention that there's a 73 Dodge class C for sale on the Portland CL for $500.00 Might be a good source of parts!

Only picture I could find.. Yes mine still has the after market AC.. Just need to try hooking up the belt and see if it gets cold.

Nice and tidy. What are those seats out of?

Ford Aerostar.

http://hallgtc.blogspot.com/2011/05/friday-13th.html

_________________
Nick Taylor - Green & White 1974 Hall GTC.
www.NicksGarage.com == www.HallGTC.com == www.NicksTeardrop.com