Howdy all...I have one quick question. Tomorrow I am going to be doing some maintanence on my truck (including removing the tailgate to strip the rust off the bottom lip.) I am also sick of having my CB radio taking up a dang 12v plug so I am hardwiring it to the radio extension. How hard is it to remove the left-side dashboard on a 2001 F150 Ext. Cab? Is there anything in perticular I should be looking out for, and what about the CD player's surrounding thing (the extra piece surrounding the whole thing), how do I get that off? What do I do with the airvents...and steering-wheel (please tell me i don't need to TOUCH that!) Are there any wires connected to that section of the dash? Is it relatively easy to take off? Again do I have to watch for anything? I am rambling...but anyway thanks in advance for the help.
~Phil

 

the only piece you should have to take off is the one surrounding the actuall cd player. you can get to all the wires from there. all you do is wedge something in between the piece and the rest of the dash. just pry it off, it might feel like you are going to break it but it wont. the air vents are connected to the piece. the only other thing i can think of is if you have the spot to turn off the passenger airbag, then you'll have to unscrew that from the dash too, but its not complicated at all.

 

The hardest part is remembering what screws go where! As you can see you dont really get a whole lot of room, but you can atleast pass wires through the dash




-Patrick

 

god i fear the day when im going to remove my whole dash to get it painted!

 

Thanks guys...I tried it today couldn't figure out where to wire the darn thing. I am definately not good at electrical, but mechanical I can do lol. I ended up just running the same way just placing all the wires hidden (so at least it looks nicer.) Anyway Thanks guys I wish I could figure out the electrical but I don't get it lol.
~Phil

 

Just run the hot wire of your CB radio to the fuse(inside the fuse box) for your regular radio, then hook the ground wire to one of the other grounds under your dash.

 

Hmm I didn't even think about that :o duh lol. Thanks a lot I need to try that when I go home next (I think Easter break.) Would you connect it to the hot wires BEHIND the fuze box??

 

yah any wire on the hot side of a fuse is fine assuming you arent going to exceed the amperage of that circuit, causing the fuse to pop. And assuming that the fuse you are using is turned on and off when you want it to, meaning on when the truck is on, and off when the truck is off, for example.
-Patrick

 

oh man...... Patrick, seeing that torn down dash pic of your truck if that was mine i'd be going crazy, and with my luck I always misplace a screw or two

 

Tell me about the screws dude lol I put that brass lookin' one in the wrong hole and just noticed w/ patman's pic

 

which is better darren, a few dash pieces or this?