1978- 82 Corvette Dash Pad Replacement
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 3
From: Manchester, Dead Center in the Middle of TN 25 miles to Jack Daniels,10 miles to Geo Dickle, and .8 mile from the Liquor Store at I-24 Exit 114
St. Jude Donor '05
1978- 82 Corvette Dash Pad Replacement
1978- 82 Corvette dash replacements
A. Coverlay dash cover. Covers the top area of dash pad, black ABS plastic. Dye to match, RTV attachment.
B. Full dash cover. Unknown manufacturer. Covers the complete dash pad. Black ABS plastic. Dye to match, also attach's with RTV.
C. Reproduction of OEM dash pad. Replaces original unit. Dyes to match.
Well A&B are less than a hundred dollars shipped and C. weighs in at close to $400 with shipping.
Is it worth the price difference to go with the OEM Repo? Has anyone had any experience with the OEM replacement?
I am leaning on biting the bullet and ordering the OEM style Replacement dash. Thanks for any info, jim
A. Coverlay dash cover. Covers the top area of dash pad, black ABS plastic. Dye to match, RTV attachment.
B. Full dash cover. Unknown manufacturer. Covers the complete dash pad. Black ABS plastic. Dye to match, also attach's with RTV.
C. Reproduction of OEM dash pad. Replaces original unit. Dyes to match.
Well A&B are less than a hundred dollars shipped and C. weighs in at close to $400 with shipping.
Is it worth the price difference to go with the OEM Repo? Has anyone had any experience with the OEM replacement?
I am leaning on biting the bullet and ordering the OEM style Replacement dash. Thanks for any info, jim
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
Likes: 4
From: Guam
Go with the OEM reproductions, the caps and covers look cheesy. You can also repaint the repro dash parts if the colors do not match properly. The ones that I bought were very close to a perfect match.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
Overlay = junk indeed, you don't want it, even if you get it for free. Nothing will fit anymore, the stuff is too thick for the ***** & stuff to fit properly, your glove box will hang up, the console will not fit properly..and the thing creaks like crazy. They say you can install it w/ the dash in the car, well I don't see how. I installed it w/ the dash out, used lots and lots of glue and a whole bunch of c-clamps and it still doesn't fit quite right. That was 400$ wasted (incl. shipping & taxes) should have gotten a real dash.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 2
From: Flanders NJ
Originally Posted by guppie
I bought the dash pad coverlay off ebay. I thought it looked good. Does this mean I'll have problems with it. 
So far so good! If it does not hold up over time then I'll go the new route. I don't think I would go with the overlay that covers the whole dash because of what Twin Turbo said. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 910
Likes: 20
From: Shorewood IL
Originally Posted by guppie
I bought the dash pad coverlay off ebay. I thought it looked good. Does this mean I'll have problems with it.
This one just covers the top and it worked fine for me!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 3
From: Manchester, Dead Center in the Middle of TN 25 miles to Jack Daniels,10 miles to Geo Dickle, and .8 mile from the Liquor Store at I-24 Exit 114
St. Jude Donor '05
Thanks for the information and opinions. I was leaning toward the OEM Replacement anyway.
Here is one on E-bay for $389 "Buy It Now" and $30 flat rate shipping. from Vetteman904. I have bought from him before.
I plan on going to Corvette EXPO Saturday and who knows what I will come back with. I need carpet for two cars, along with a pair of door panels and a dash pad for the other.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...964292967&rd=1
I hope to find one at the show and save a couple of bucks. Jim
Here is one on E-bay for $389 "Buy It Now" and $30 flat rate shipping. from Vetteman904. I have bought from him before.
I plan on going to Corvette EXPO Saturday and who knows what I will come back with. I need carpet for two cars, along with a pair of door panels and a dash pad for the other.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...964292967&rd=1
I hope to find one at the show and save a couple of bucks. Jim
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by guppie
I bought the dash pad coverlay off ebay. I thought it looked good. Does this mean I'll have problems with it.
Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 910
Likes: 20
From: Shorewood IL
Originally Posted by mooneyd
I got one also, just covers the top of the dash. I put mine on and it fit perfect, can't even tell it's an overlay. I only had a bad crack on top of my dash and I got this on e-bay for $36, so I figured it was worth a try.
So far so good! If it does not hold up over time then I'll go the new route. I don't think I would go with the overlay that covers the whole dash because of what Twin Turbo said. Good luck.
So far so good! If it does not hold up over time then I'll go the new route. I don't think I would go with the overlay that covers the whole dash because of what Twin Turbo said. Good luck.
I bought one too for the top and have had no troubles with it.
I wasn't worried about the front of the dash, just the top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 2
From: Summerville SC
Originally Posted by PROSOUTH
Thanks for the information and opinions. I was leaning toward the OEM Replacement anyway.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: Davenport FL
Just capped my whole dash on my '81. For the $99 I spent, I think it was fine. (My whole dash was terrible, top and front.) Would a $500 dash look 5 times better? I know it would, but right now, I need that extra $400 for other things on the car. I didn't like the way the top speaker holes were not fully cut out, but until they blow, I can live with the fake grills.
Don't forget, like I did, to refinish the steering column and such while the dash is out the first time. Taking the dash in and out is not fun.
Thanks.
Don't forget, like I did, to refinish the steering column and such while the dash is out the first time. Taking the dash in and out is not fun.
Thanks.
