1970 Rally Dash Swinger
Well...
You don't NEED the rally dash frame. You can modify a non-rally dash frame to fit the rally dash gauge cluster. That's what I did on my Duster to install a rally gauge cluster into the '74 dash frame.
Now, having done it, I would say that it's much easier to just get the right dash frame. Getting the rally cluster into the standard dash frame took a lot of fitting and trimming to get it to look right, and I had to weld in a couple mounting tabs and do a lot of flanging. And if you intend to run a stock radio that would be even more work, because the non-rally dash frame and the rally dash frame locate the radio in a different spot, by about an 1". I planned on running an aftermarket radio from the start, so I filled the radio cut out on my rally dash. I also removed the "dog leg" from the rally dash cluster, using a glove box trim piece to finish out my rally dash. If you wanted it to look stock you'd have to add the additional mount for the dog leg section.
I don't think I would do it again. But it can be done.
Here's what I did...
Stock dash and gauges
Stock dash frame
Modified to fit the rally gauge cluster
Finished product
Well...
You don't NEED the rally dash frame. You can modify a non-rally dash frame to fit the rally dash gauge cluster. That's what I did on my Duster to install a rally gauge cluster into the '74 dash frame.
Now, having done it, I would say that it's much easier to just get the right dash frame. Getting the rally cluster into the standard dash frame took a lot of fitting and trimming to get it to look right, and I had to weld in a couple mounting tabs and do a lot of flanging. And if you intend to run a stock radio that would be even more work, because the non-rally dash frame and the rally dash frame locate the radio in a different spot, by about an 1". I planned on running an aftermarket radio from the start, so I filled the radio cut out on my rally dash. I also removed the "dog leg" from the rally dash cluster, using a glove box trim piece to finish out my rally dash. If you wanted it to look stock you'd have to add the additional mount for the dog leg section.
I don't think I would do it again. But it can be done.
Here's what I did...
Stock dash and gauges
Stock dash frame
Modified to fit the rally gauge cluster
Finished product
