HQ-HJ,X,Z Dash conversion.

[sandman350]

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has had any experience doing one of these conversions?
I Bought a "rust and bog free" HQ tonner on ebay a while back. I didnt notice till i got it home that someone had attempted the conversion before with what i think was an axe! So the decision to do the conversion was already made.:errf:
I have progressed fairly well so far having made the panel and dummy fitted the pad, gauge mount and facia. I havnt done anything final yet, so if anyone can give me some tips from experience, that would be great.
Cheers.

[adam perth]

go into OZBOx's resto tip section, he has covered it in there...

[sandman350]

I never noticed that section before, alot of useful info in there. I couldnt find anything in there on dasboard conversion though......

[ozbox]

I never noticed that section before, alot of useful info in there. I couldnt find anything in there on dasboard conversion though......

yeh when i read adams comment i had to go look myself coz i could not remember doing one???
i did one years ago and ive seen some pretty bad ones over the years..best way to do the conversion is to unpick it back to the bulkhead/firewall and do the same with a hjxz one and then weld it back in again..fairly simple but time consuming...

[wbute]

I heard about someone doing it once and ending up with all the gauges sitting about 1/2" too far back from the facia.

[sandman350]

yeh when i read adams comment i had to go look myself coz i could not remember doing one???
i did one years ago and ive seen some pretty bad ones over the years..best way to do the conversion is to unpick it back to the bulkhead/firewall and do the same with a hjxz one and then weld it back in again..fairly simple but time consuming...

Probably a good way to go, i need to replace the HQ cowl panels with HJ-Z ones anyway. Might wait till i get my new shed i think.....

[ozbox]

Probably a good way to go, i need to replace the HQ cowl panels with HJ-Z ones anyway. Might wait till i get my new shed i think.....

that is the easiest way as the cowl section from the factory starts at the firewall,forward of compliance plates.and finishes where you attach the dash pad to...

[stickthis]

yeh when i read adams comment i had to go look myself coz i could not remember doing one???
i did one years ago and ive seen some pretty bad ones over the years..best way to do the conversion is to unpick it back to the bulkhead/firewall and do the same with a hjxz one and then weld it back in again..fairly simple but time consuming...

Done it this exact way before in a mates HQ ute. was time consuming! To be honest dont know why we didnt get a hj ute shell as whole front end we changed also. cowel lines and all.