I have for the most part completed the installation of a dash mounted grab handle for the wife.
It started with rounding up some left over gas pipe and elbows. The elbows used were 3/8" and the pipe was 1/2" so that when done grinding it would all be the same diameter.
After determening where to put it, how long it would be, and marking the dash for the holes, I welded the 3 pieces of pipe and 2 elbows together. By leaving a 1/16" gap or so for the weld I could then grind it all smooth without worry of the piesces breaking apart after grinding.
Once the holes were drilled in the dash it was reinstalled to determine what else would be in the way. A little of the plastic structure of the dash had to be removed and was acomplished with just a razor knife.The 2 additional holes drilled in the bottom of the dash pad are access for sheet metal screws that secure the grab handel to the conduit tubing, the dash pad is upside down in the pic.
Because this needs to be removeable I also used some left over 3/4" conduit for the permanent part of the mount that would be welded to the tube mount for the dash. This started with a 90* bend in the conduit and cutting it in the middle of the bend to get it close to the drop I needed to reach the dash bar. these were also cut to stop even with the dash pad when installed.
I removed the right outer and center pieces of duct work for access for tack welding the conduit onto the dash bar. I have a couple of leather welding aprons that were stuffed in and around the area to keep from burning up anything in the dash or cab and to keep spatter from hitting any windows. The dash bar will be removed for final welding as it is bolted in across the A pillars.
The final pics may be a little while because I am fiber glassing the dash pad due to the fact it was cracked and I had peeled all the original vinyl off for a good finish.
It started with rounding up some left over gas pipe and elbows. The elbows used were 3/8" and the pipe was 1/2" so that when done grinding it would all be the same diameter.
After determening where to put it, how long it would be, and marking the dash for the holes, I welded the 3 pieces of pipe and 2 elbows together. By leaving a 1/16" gap or so for the weld I could then grind it all smooth without worry of the piesces breaking apart after grinding.
Once the holes were drilled in the dash it was reinstalled to determine what else would be in the way. A little of the plastic structure of the dash had to be removed and was acomplished with just a razor knife.The 2 additional holes drilled in the bottom of the dash pad are access for sheet metal screws that secure the grab handel to the conduit tubing, the dash pad is upside down in the pic.
Because this needs to be removeable I also used some left over 3/4" conduit for the permanent part of the mount that would be welded to the tube mount for the dash. This started with a 90* bend in the conduit and cutting it in the middle of the bend to get it close to the drop I needed to reach the dash bar. these were also cut to stop even with the dash pad when installed.
I removed the right outer and center pieces of duct work for access for tack welding the conduit onto the dash bar. I have a couple of leather welding aprons that were stuffed in and around the area to keep from burning up anything in the dash or cab and to keep spatter from hitting any windows. The dash bar will be removed for final welding as it is bolted in across the A pillars.
The final pics may be a little while because I am fiber glassing the dash pad due to the fact it was cracked and I had peeled all the original vinyl off for a good finish.
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TRT2 here on mud put a bike bell on his so his wife can ring it when she's getting scared 
