Thread: 55-56 Chevy Instrument Bezel/Dashboard Mod for a 40 Chevy

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I'm in the slow process of gutting my 1940 Chevrolet coupe to do a total frame off rebuild. This is my very first build and I'll be honest, sometimes I get overwhelmed. Anyway, I have been thinking of different things I would like to do to it. For the past several weeks I have been thinking about a dash mod that would incorporate the 1955 instrument bezel and I believe it was a speaker on the passenger side. I think modding the two humps into the dash would look good inside the car because of the curves of the fenders. I had searched on the internet looking for a 55 or 56 Chevy reproduction dash or even an old one someone removed from their car. My original plan was to cut it down to fit my coupe. But, no such luck finding one. My next option was to buy a new or used bezel and mod it to my original dash. But after looking closely at different pictures of a 55 bezel, I think my whole idea may not be possible. My question concerns the bottom of the bezel that connects to the steering column. I don't know what this is officially called, so, due to my ignorance, I'll call it a steering column bracket. I'm assuming that the inside of this bracket was manufactured at a certain angle to match the angle of the steering column of the 55-56 Chevy. I'm also assuming that without re machining the inside of this bracket, the angle of the steering column can not be changed. Would I still be able to mod my dash using the 55-56 bezel and without re machining the bracket, have the steering column at the same angle as it was on a 55-56 Chevy? Some additional information that may help. The entire body is stock. The frame has had three different front suspensions. It has also had a V-8 in it since 1976 and no additional cross members were ever installed. I have decide that this Winter I will be ordering a new rolling chassis specifically made foe my coupe, from Fatman Fabrications. Thanks in advance for any info, advice, tips, and thoughts.
Bill

Good luck with the build. Look forward to seeing the progress...

Not to sure about your 40, but I really did not have that much trouble putting a 78 Mustangll dash in my 38. I guess if you want it bad enough you can and will make it work.. Spend a lot of time measuring.

Your assumptions on the column and bracket angles are correct Bill. I see no reason a lower cover couldn't be fabbed (or modified) to match your column angle. The lower cover does nothing to retain the columns in any of the tri-fives. The column itself bolts to the lower protion of the dash and the cover simply bolts to the bottom of the column via a welded on bracket and one screw.
The dashes on these cars are welded in so finding one "loose" will be a trick. Go here:
TriFive.com, 1955 Chevy 1956 chevy 1957 Chevy Forum , Talk about your 55 chevy 56 chevy 57 chevy - Belair , 210, 150 sedans , Nomads and Trucks, Research, Free Tech Advice
There is a 55 being parted out right now and you can ask if anyone has a loose dash.
Mark

Mark,
Thanks for the info and the link!

Bill