Suggestions Please - Dash Attachment & VIN

[gbledsoe3]

I'm at a point where I'd like some suggestions on finalizing how I'm going to attach my custom dash assembly. My thought is to clean up the windshield cowl area were I drilled out the spot welds by welding the holes shut, grinding them down for a nice surface like it was originally. I would cut plug weld the piece I made against the backside of the 'trough' up to the VIN tag piece on both sides. That piece allows me to attach the custom dash a couple of spots across the front. It bolts to the A-pillars on the side at the top and underneath.

My other thought was to cut the entire from section of the original dash (along the windshield cowl area) and plug weld it back in place. I'm not sure the contour of my custom dash lay smooth against it though for attachment.

Here are pictures showing the area in question.

This is marked where I "might" cut a section from the original dash and re-attach to the windshield cowl area.






This the area where spot welds from the original dash that I need to clean regardless of what I do.


This the custom piece (still needs cleaned up) that I would just plug weld to the windshield cowl area and my new custom dash will attach at several point along the front (before windshield installation of course).


This the area around the VIN that I need to put back on the car. The question is do I section just the area around it (will cut reveal window in new custom dash to make it visible) or section it along the entire length also cutting around the VIN area?