When Do I Need To Start Bracing The Car? For "jrouche" And Others Alike

Hey there, Starting to cut my dash out and was curious if I needed to brace the car anywhere so it wouldnt flex at all?

Also I plan on drilling the spotwelds out of the inner a pillar pieces and cutting some of that structure out behind the dash to tuck my roll cage bar into? If I cut that out should I run a brace up to the roof for support?

THANKS, James

P.S. I am thinking about a real dark flat army green for the body color now and painting the rest of the trim, bumpers, grill, chrome, etc. flat black along with the wheels. I want something thats just down right mean looking and I think if I stick with those really dark flat colors that I can do that.

I'm painting my wagon that color. It's called olive drab or OD green

Hey!! Dont throw my nym out there!!! LOL just kidding. Got my attention, not always a good thing though :) I have nuthing but mis-guided info :) And here is some more...

Believe it or not the dash has a major lateral support function. And just cause you asked means you see it too. So thats a good thing. Looking ahead..

The dash can mean everything, from the firewall out, or just the "insert" section. I draw the line from inserts to entire dash at the top of the dash. The top of the dash where it meets the windshield and eventually curves down towards the driver.

If you are cutting below that curve, just sectioning out the glove box and radio hole then no bracing is needed.

But if you are wanting to cut the entire "below" dash out. Below the curve, say putting in an entirely new lower dash then I would tack a heavy wall tube below the bottom of the lower dash, like just below the bottom of the lowest portion of the lower dash. Gonna be about two or three inches below the lowest part of the bottom edge of the lower dash. And it will be just tacked. Not fully welded. It will keep the lower A pillars from wanting to pull in. And they shouldn't want to pull in. Its a simple one bar stiffener to ensure they dont..

Gotta remember. These are sheet metal cars, no frame. The A pillar extends past the window frame, all the way down to the pan. The dash actually keeps it from turning in on itself. More so the firewall does, but that simple looking dash is part of the structural support too. Ever wonder why the dash is a solid piece of sheet metal??

But you sound like you want to place a bar of a roll cage in there.. I dont see any way to brace the dash where it will help. You are going to be cutting into the strongest point of the dash, that rounded section, right where it meets the A pillar.

I dont think a brace is needed cause you are only going into the dash as deep as you need to so the bar fits. You will still have the major portion of the horizontal part of the dash intact.

And as a side note, I dont cut any structural parts of the car out while she is on her suspension. I brace it up on the frame, in at least three spots along the frame (I have a frame now) or the major sub frame. And I dont hang the suspension in the air either. I lightly load it under blocks. Dont let it droop. But I like to have the car body supported with strong points, jack stands, not the suspension when I cut out any body parts.


OK!!! I have went on and on.. So solly :) But you get my drift now. The curve on the dash you want to cut out is minimal. Brace the subframe with jack stands, and cut the small curve out. Shouldn't be a problem. I went overboard in case someone wanted to replace an entire dash right.. Just covering all the bases..... JR

Well I kinda already cut a piece out of the middle of my dash. :o like as in almost from the windshield all the way down to build a new center console that will form right out of the existing dash. Did I pretty much screw my self or is there a way to check and put the bar in now? I do have another wagon that I probably could referance off of. If its off how would I change the distance or will it be a problem yet?

THANKS, James

Hey!! Dont throw my nym out there!!! LOL just kidding. Got my attention, not always a good thing though :) I have nuthing but mis-guided info :) And here is some more...

Believe it or not the dash has a major lateral support function. And just cause you asked means you see it too. So thats a good thing. Looking ahead..

The dash can mean everything, from the firewall out, or just the "insert" section. I draw the line from inserts to entire dash at the top of the dash. The top of the dash where it meets the windshield and eventually curves down towards the driver.

If you are cutting below that curve, just sectioning out the glove box and radio hole then no bracing is needed.

But if you are wanting to cut the entire "below" dash out. Below the curve, say putting in an entirely new lower dash then I would tack a heavy wall tube below the bottom of the lower dash, like just below the bottom of the lowest portion of the lower dash. Gonna be about two or three inches below the lowest part of the bottom edge of the lower dash. And it will be just tacked. Not fully welded. It will keep the lower A pillars from wanting to pull in. And they shouldn't want to pull in. Its a simple one bar stiffener to ensure they dont..

Gotta remember. These are sheet metal cars, no frame. The A pillar extends past the window frame, all the way down to the pan. The dash actually keeps it from turning in on itself. More so the firewall does, but that simple looking dash is part of the structural support too. Ever wonder why the dash is a solid piece of sheet metal??

But you sound like you want to place a bar of a roll cage in there.. I dont see any way to brace the dash where it will help. You are going to be cutting into the strongest point of the dash, that rounded section, right where it meets the A pillar.

I dont think a brace is needed cause you are only going into the dash as deep as you need to so the bar fits. You will still have the major portion of the horizontal part of the dash intact.

And as a side note, I dont cut any structural parts of the car out while she is on her suspension. I brace it up on the frame, in at least three spots along the frame (I have a frame now) or the major sub frame. And I dont hang the suspension in the air either. I lightly load it under blocks. Dont let it droop. But I like to have the car body supported with strong points, jack stands, not the suspension when I cut out any body parts.


OK!!! I have went on and on.. So solly :) But you get my drift now. The curve on the dash you want to cut out is minimal. Brace the subframe with jack stands, and cut the small curve out. Shouldn't be a problem. I went overboard in case someone wanted to replace an entire dash right.. Just covering all the bases..... JR

Come on I know your just dieing to help! lol :D

No, yer not screwed.. The A pillars should be taking the load right now. I just wouldnt move the car around too much till you can take some good measurements and document them. If you havent moved the car around she prolly hasent moved. And you can measure the other car. But they really do vary some from car to car, not much in that area cause they still have the same width dashes so the bodies can be off slightly from one to another but the dashes are prolly spot on.

Wow, you werent messing around. Cut the whole works out.. I LIKE!! Cant wait to see the progress.. PICS man!!! We all love them, even the ugly stages.. JR


Well I kinda already cut a piece out of the middle of my dash. :o like as in almost from the windshield all the way down to build a new center console that will form right out of the existing dash. Did I pretty much screw my self or is there a way to check and put the bar in now? I do have another wagon that I probably could referance off of. If its off how would I change the distance or will it be a problem yet?

THANKS, James

Come on I know your just dieing to help! lol :D

I really DO love trying to help. Any time. Always. Im retired now and the cars are my life.. Well, the wife and rug ratts are right up there LOL JR