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Anyone have a good picture of the correct dash pad screws for a 1969 car?--the screws that are supposed to be painted the corresponding interior color. Do they have a wide washer that flares out or a flat washer? What is their color under the paint-black? Also, does anyone know if the radio access panel screws are supposed to have a washer for a 1969 car? I saw some repros on ebay that have the correct part number for the screws for the side panels but it also shows that the come with a washer!?! The listing says they are for car years 68-76.
Screws painted same color as interior..? Interesting.idea. mine are all chrome. When I started putting my interior back together, realized I lost the screws. Yes they are special with washers attached. Tried to find something at the local hardware. Nothing even close. Ecklers sells a screw kit that has every fastener you will need for your interior. Thinking it was 50$. Money well spent.
I’m not sure they are supposed to be interior color. I think they are chrome.
I also don’t think they are reproed correctly.
Go to the “for sale” section and look for the seller “Original GM Hardware”. He has lots of good stuff. Might have what you need and they will be original correct.
Last edited by ed427vette; Nov 4, 2021 at 08:34 PM.
Anyone have a good picture of the correct dash pad screws for a 1969 car?--the screws that are supposed to be painted the corresponding interior color. Do they have a wide washer that flares out or a flat washer? What is their color under the paint-black? Also, does anyone know if the radio access panel screws are supposed to have a washer for a 1969 car? I saw some repros on ebay that have the correct part number for the screws for the side panels but it also shows that the come with a washer!?! The listing says they are for car years 68-76.
I just did my windshield, dash pad and instrument cluster both driver and center. Maybe the paint thing was early 69 - mine was black or chrome color with the "funnel shaped washers". The radio access panel screws were similar.
Maybe the paint thing was early 69 - mine was black or chrome color with the "funnel shaped washers".
Those six philips head screws (three per side) were indeed painted interior color… That was the case from 1968 through 1972. There is debate as to how the screws were painted, but whatever the method, it wasn’t very effective as the paint typically didn’t adhere too well. The screws also used a special “bell” shaped washer/insert that was designed to prevent the screw from pulling through the dash pad.
There is nothing currently available in the aftermarket that accurately replicates the original special washer.
Stan, I agree. They should be painted on 68-72's. For non black interior, the screws tend to not match the dash exact and the paint is more of a flat nature vs gloss finish.
Those screws are of a special design. They have a steeper 'slope' on the side taper and the little 'ferrule' is unique to mate with the head. I've never seen another fastener with the same design. Whether the fasteners sold to replace the stock pieces are of the same design or of some "similar" configuration, I don't know. But I would be asking questions of the vendor before purchasing.
I think the best source of those fasteners is from salvaged C3 interiors.
Someone who is 'clever', and has an original screw/washer to guide them, could use stock hardware out of a local store and use a grinder to do a pretty fair job of copying the screws. Not sure how to duplicate the washers, though.
Those screws are of a special design. They have a steeper 'slope' on the side taper and the little 'ferrule' is unique to mate with the head. I've never seen another fastener with the same design.
You know, what you say makes perfect sense, but I never really thought to look carefully at the screws. I’ll have to check that out this weekend.
I think the best source of those fasteners is from salvaged C3 interiors.
I think that is the ONLY source for a correctly configured fastener.
Thank you for all the information! I just found a good picture in the 69 corvette judging guide (5th edition), on pg. 26. It is amazing how many cars I see with these screws not painted! Either chrome or just black.
Those fasteners look nothing like the stock items. Painting them interior color can only improve the look. I do believe those would hold the parts more firmly than the [smaller] original screws; but I've not had a panel held by stock screws come loose. GM/Chevy tired to make the screws less noticeable my making the heads smaller and painting them. In that regard, I think they succeeded.
P.S. The stitching on the C3 interiors always matched the interior color. Many folks think they put white thread on their [different] colored interior panels. Well, the thread in those panels was the same color when it left the factory. Years of sun-bleaching removed the dye color from the thread. If you are really OCD and you have in your possession a very small & fine artists brush and some vinyl dye matching your interior, you can make the thread match, too. And the interior DOES look better when you're done.
dash pad screws for 69
And the interior DOES look better when you're done.