My First Restore
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Sheffield Alabama
My First Restore
This is my first resoration job. I recently bought a '79 Coupe. The drive train and suspension have already been worked. I am starting on the interior. I have purchased several interior parts from Corvette Central. So far I am a little dissapointed. I bought a new dash and T-top center roof panel. The pre-cut holes in the dash for the A/C vents are all too small. The T-top center roof panel is about 1/4 too short. Is this typical for reproduction parts or am I just expecting too much?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,160
Likes: 4,241
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi B94,
I think most people agree that many reproduction parts leave something to be desired. Ranging from poor quality to poor fit. Interior soft parts are among the most problematic.
Many people think it's wise to try to restore interior parts whenever possible, and buy new only as a last resort.
Sorry!
Regards,
Alan
I think most people agree that many reproduction parts leave something to be desired. Ranging from poor quality to poor fit. Interior soft parts are among the most problematic.
Many people think it's wise to try to restore interior parts whenever possible, and buy new only as a last resort.
Sorry!
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,293
Likes: 6
From: North of the Bay California
Hi B94,
I think most people agree that many reproduction parts leave something to be desired. Ranging from poor quality to poor fit. Interior soft parts are among the most problematic.
Many people think it's wise to try to restore interior parts whenever possible, and buy new only as a last resort.
Sorry!
Regards,
Alan
I think most people agree that many reproduction parts leave something to be desired. Ranging from poor quality to poor fit. Interior soft parts are among the most problematic.
Many people think it's wise to try to restore interior parts whenever possible, and buy new only as a last resort.
Sorry!
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
My advice would be to re-use all interior panels that can be salvaged. Even some cracking can be fixed by trimming loose edges off and filling with some polyester body putty. Clean the surfaces well and shoot them with SEM vinyl dye to recolor them and they will be as good as new. No reason to replace what came with the car, if it can be patched/re-dyed.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,614
Likes: 347
From: No Where USA
I installed a new dash in my 80. With a little patience I got it to fit and look good. I had to make brackets for the center gauge console. The dash stripped out. Ran some sheetmetal up the sides in the shape of the dash, put some screws into that to hold it on then attached the gauge cluster to that.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Sheffield Alabama
I have done alot of recoating of the interior hard parts. The soft parts I had were in really bad shape. They too many holes and scratches to try and restore them.
I was afraid that reproduction parts were the problem. However, I am glad to know that it is not just me that is having problem with these parts.
Thanks for the insight.
I was afraid that reproduction parts were the problem. However, I am glad to know that it is not just me that is having problem with these parts.
Thanks for the insight.
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 37
From: Sawyer MI
This is my first resoration job. I recently bought a '79 Coupe. The drive train and suspension have already been worked. I am starting on the interior. I have purchased several interior parts from Corvette Central. So far I am a little dissapointed. I bought a new dash and T-top center roof panel. The pre-cut holes in the dash for the A/C vents are all too small. The T-top center roof panel is about 1/4 too short. Is this typical for reproduction parts or am I just expecting too much?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 1
From: Belle River Ontario
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
The key to these reproduction parts (and these cars for that matter) is patience!
It takes several hours of dinking around but usually you can get a pretty appealing fit.
Good luck on the resto
It takes several hours of dinking around but usually you can get a pretty appealing fit.
Good luck on the resto
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 323
Likes: 8
How bad is your original dash? Can you post some pics? Itis more than possible to restore them to like new again. I am about to do mine, i have it out of the car on the workbench waiting. By the way, as many have said already, repro parts will never be as good as restored originals. If you have a little skill, some space, and time you can return that 500 dollar illfitting dash and restore yours. Use the 500 for something else.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
