Shop Truck Heater box and Dash rebuild - 1996 Dodge Ram 

Looks great you did a good job

I share your pain...did the same thing with my '95,...had a faint coolant smell when the heater was on (I'm in AZ so when do I ever need the heater, right?) I wasn't going to pull the dash until either the A/C failed or the leak got worse (A/C is a must have out here). A/C compressor ate itself so I replaced EVERYTHING (as you know, you only want to pull the dash once). Lower dash broken all to hell. I used fiberglass and epoxy for my repair...lasted about 8 years, but is now failing (lower dash) in other areas. There is an aftermarket, replacement lower dash, but I just can't spring for a $1700 part. (DRT Parts if you are interested, '98-2002 so modifications would be required for '94-'97 trucks). Thanks for posting.

The dealer had to replace my heater/AC air box due to water leaking into the interior of my Odyssey. A couple of years later, I noticed they cut the frame on the glove box, instead of pulling the dash, to get access. Once done, they installed a couple of metal strips, where the glove box frame was cut, to reinforce it.

Then 360 Motors are good when you take that plenum gasket off and put a better intake

Liked and subscribed, how much difference is a 2000?

Blend Door USA makes a kit with aluminum doors last forever only for dodges

there is also several videos of installing 3rd gen dashes in the 2nd gen dodges

Did you drill out the rivets and install new ones?

"My love affair with the 2nd gen dodge truck is coming to an end" Yupp, I know those feels.. I've been brainstorming dealing with a cracked and broken lower dash, wanting to fabricate something so I can put on the new dash.. Chrysler should have to manufacturer new lower dash at cost for dodge truck owners.. They don't want us driving these 12v diesels, they want new truck buyers..

What is the part number for the whole lower dash??

Do you recommend taking the seats out or leaving them in to get the assembled dash in?

Transmission did you put in that pickup I got three of them

What tools are need to remove the dash core

Not fun! I had to replace both my dash top and the under plastic support because it was cracked and rattling badly on my 2001 Ram 2500. I got "lucky" found the correct and un damaged one piece dash support in agate (AZ code) at a local p-n-p yard. An educational learning experience, it took me 5 hours to get it out undamaged, but I learned a lot about taking my dashboard assembly out on my truck. For those of you crazy enough to do this, buy the LMC unit instead of the "G " unit. The G unit doesn't match the vent pattern like the original and you need to paint it to match if you don't like black and the mine required extensive trimming to properly line up the mounting holes for the top of the dash screws and the "A" pillar on the right side. It might be that my sample was poorly cut, but be warned that they advise you "that some trimming maybe required to fit properly." It took me over 10 hours to replace my dash top and under support, not including the time to replace the heater core, evap core, blend door actuator. If you have the dash and heater a/c box out, replace the heater, ac evap and heater actuator at the same time as it never fails that one of those items will fail shortly after you put the dash back in.